Real Time Kinematic (RTK)

Real Time Kinematic (RTK) is a technique used to enhance the precision of position data derived from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou or Galileo.

In order to achieve a positional accuracy of ±1cm so-called correction data is used which is generated by a (usually locally fixed) Base Station. The correction data fundamentally is the difference between an exactly known and currently detected GPS/GNSS position of Base Station and is caused by ionospheric errors and thus are responsible for the GPS/GNSS position deviations between actual position and detected position of GPS/GNSS receivers. The errors affect all GPS/GNSS signals in a given area equally (~ radius 20 km around Base Station).

Via the RTCM Link the RTCM (Radio Technical Commission for Maritime services) correction data is transferred from Base Station to the moving GPS/GNSS receivers called Rovers. By internally applying it in Rovers to the received GPS/GNSS positions, the Rovers positional accuracy is reduced to ±1cm.

A GPS/GNSS RTK system consists of the following components:

Base StationA GPS/GNSS receiver for acquiring correction data
RTCM LinkA medium to transport the correction data stream from the Base Station to the Rover
RoverMoving GPS/GNSS receiver which uses correction data to increase the accuracy of position data up to (±1cm)!

 

RTK applications

Due to their very small and robust design and the antennas connected via cables, the 2D RTK modules (2D mobile RTK Base Station & 2D RTK Rover) can also be used very well in applications with very limited installation space. The use of up to two antennas on one rover or the use of several individual rovers in conjunction with the 2D analysis software allows a wide range of applications to be realized!

Automotive

  • Tests and validation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): With two individual 2D-RTK-Rovers (two antennas on two vehicles) the directional vector between them can be calculated with 1 cm accuracy up to 250 km/h, due to 2D’s proprietary GPS/GNSS position correction algorithm, e.g., for active cruise control validation.
  • Slide slip angle: With Rover with two 2D-RTK-antennas (two antennas on one vehicle) the directional vector between them can be calculated with 1 cm accuracy up to 250 km/h, due to 2D’s proprietary GPS/GNSS position correction algorithm, e.g., for slide slip angle calculations
  • Vehicles inclination/tilting while driving: With Rover with two 2D-RTK-antennas (two antennas on one vehicle)
  • Full three-dimensional trace of driving line

Racing

  • High accuracy driving line analysis
  • Distance to Apex calculation
  • Track limit calculations
  • Jump height detection (Motocross)

Industrial

  • Bending of crane booms under load
  • Load positioning (ships, forklifts, cranes, …)
  • Ship loadings
  • Autonomous vehicles/objects

Downloads

 

Links