Skip to main content

u-blox GPS satellite receiver module aids unmanned microdrone flight

Equipped with an on board u-blox GPS satellite receiver module, a microdrone from German light-weight vertical take off and landing vehicles (VTOLs) manufacturer, microdrones, has successfully completed a high-precision aerial journey over the Alps from Switzerland towards Italy. Precise GPS coordinates and elevation were crucial for navigating obstacles and completing the flight in punishing weather conditions. Carrying a high-resolution video camera, the autonomous microdrone completed 18 pre-programmed
July 2, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
Equipped with an on board 602 U-Blox GPS satellite receiver module, a microdrone from German light-weight vertical take off and landing vehicles (VTOLs) manufacturer, microdrones, has successfully completed a high-precision aerial journey over the Alps from Switzerland towards Italy.

Precise GPS coordinates and elevation were crucial for navigating obstacles and completing the flight in punishing weather conditions.  Carrying a high-resolution video camera, the autonomous microdrone completed 18 pre-programmed flight segments, mapping designated landmarks along the way.
 
“This successful journey of our microdrone demonstrates the robustness, reliability, and versatility of our autonomous drone technology which is being increasingly used for aerial mapping, surveying, search and rescue, security, utilities inspection, and aerial photography.” said Sven Juerss, microdrones CEO, This autonomous flight would not have been possible without the robust, ultra-precise, real-time satellite positioning technology from u blox.”
 
“Fully automated devices are increasingly used to do tasks that are too costly and dangerous for human operators,” said Herbert Blaser, VP Business Marketing at u-blox, “this is an application that exploits all the features of our satellite navigation modules; fast, accurate-fix, low-power consumption and reliable operation in extreme environmental conditions.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New ANPR solutions overcome variables
    May 18, 2018
    The sheer range of variables makes it difficult to find a single algorithm to ensure a 100% standard of ANPR. David Crawford investigates new processing technology. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), using optical character recognition and image-processing to identify vehicles, plays key roles in traffic monitoring and law enforcement, access and parking control, electronic toll collection, vehicle security and crime deterrence. Overall, system performance is well rated, with high levels of
  • Report forecasts rapidly changing market for drones
    February 19, 2015
    A new IDTechEx report, Electric Drones: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAVs 2015-2025, examines the market for drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), saying that most of the market value today lies in military applications, both for electric and - the big money - non-electric versions. Nonetheless, small UAVs are increasing in sales fastest and that is primarily down to non-military applications. From 2026, civil uses will greatly exceed military in market value. The report forecasts it all but concentrates o
  • German authorities use CB-radio message to reduce accidents in roadworks
    April 8, 2014
    Citizen Band radio is proving useful to prevent accidents in Germany’s roadworks. In common with other German Länder (federal regions) with large volumes of commercial vehicles using their trunk road networks, Bavaria had been experiencing high levels of road traffic accidents (RTAs) involving heavy trucks in the vicinity of minor motorway maintenance sites. This was despite the extensive visual warning regulations published in the German federal road safety audit (RSA) guidelines for the protection of site
  • Bird blocks micromobility use on pavements
    October 19, 2021
    The technology is currently being piloted in Milwaukee and San Diego