To develop the next generation high-end GNSS receiver products.

Machine automation is moving towards fully autonomous solutions, which brings higher productivity, cost savings and operational advantages to the customers, while requiring high accuracy GNSS position and attitude determination, as well as integrity and the ability to operate in very difficult environments. As the level of competition in high-end GNSS receivers increases worldwide, there is a need to innovate and to improve the time to market.

The proposed activity aims to develop new hardware and software building blocks, to be integrated in the next generation of AsteRx-U and AsteRx-SB GNSS receivers, as the current generations are becoming obsolete and need to support advanced functionalities. The activity will also address the development of a new antenna OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) technology, to be used both as a standalone product and as a part of a smart antenna bundled with GNSS receiver. For the second option, the objective will be to reduce the overall product cost and address future market challenges.

The four products to be developed in the activity are the following:

- AsteRx-U NG: the new generation GNSS receiver will support multi-frequency, multi-constellation positioning, GNSS heading, L-band positioning, several wireless communications options (cellular modem, Bluetooth, WiFi, UHF radio) and will be packaged in rugged IP67/68 housing.

- AsteRx-SB NG: the functionality includes multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS positioning, several wired and wireless communications options (Ethernet, serial, USB, Bluetooth, WiFi), and optionally GNSS heading, L-band positioning. It will be packaged in rugged IP67/68 housing.

- A standalone antenna in a connectorized and rugged housing, miniaturized, supporting high and low L-band GNSS signals.

- NGSA (Next Generation Smart Antenna) integrating the OEM antenna and a multi-frequency multi-constellation GNSS receiver, with different wireless communications options and a rugged IP67 housing. This design will re-use existing building blocks from past developments. All GNSS receivers front-ends will be equipped with the Quabanatu RFIC component developed in a GSTP Element 2 activity completed in 2019 (G626-049ET).

These new products will embed a number of modular software building blocks and user interfaces, which will be developed during the activity. All the developments will include design work, hardware and software developments and testing.