As the concept of software defined vehicle (SDV) continues to gain traction in the automotive space, and the automotive supply chain gets more complex and technical, OEMs need to be in contact with details on the different software products available that were previously buried under Tier 1 or Tier 2 systems. Nowadays, almost all hardware components are driven by software; and GNSS is no exception. Software upgrades are crucial to extract the best possible performance out of the existing hardware. In this blog, we will explain how our innovative software upgrade enhances the performance of existing GNSS sensors and how OEMs work with FocalPoint to build S-GNSS® Auto into their vehicles.

While new platforms are inevitable and necessary in the automotive space, their planning and implementation is costly, complex and time consuming, and given a significant part of the performance of hardware components is determined by their software driver, it makes a lot of sense for OEMs to tend towards SDVs. Nearly all new vehicles include an onboard GNSS to provide various functions, including route guidance, map localisation and ADAS to name a few. OEMs should look to maximise the performance of this existing GNSS using S-GNSS® Auto, a software upgrade to an existing GNSS chipset.

Fig 1: the 4 main use cases for GNSS in vehicles

S-GNSS® Auto, a GNSS solution for challenging roads

Environments like under foliage or urban areas where there is multipath have always been challenging to GNSS, and receivers have struggled to maintain adequate performance. S-GNSS is an upgrade to the GNSS receiver that works by using a synthetic aperture to exploit angle-of-arrival and target line-of-sight signals. In doing this, unwanted signals from bounces are automatically rejected and signals from the desired line-of-sight are boosted resulting in dramatic accuracy, sensitivity and reliability gains versus standard receivers. While the performance benefits have already been covered in detail in various other content (accuracy, sensitivity & reliability), this blog aims to address some of the nuances of S-GNSS – particularly its place in the vehicle ecosystem and how we work with OEMs and their supply partners.

S-GNSS® Auto is powered by our award winning Supercorrelation technology, and works by enhancing the GNSS receivers measurement engine. This means that an implementation of S-GNSS is tightly coupled to the specific receiver, and is why we need to work with the chip manufacturers to bring S-GNSS to OEMs. Once the specific implementation is developed, it may be possible to run S-GNSS downstream from the GNSS chip, depending on the surrounding architecture.

Fig 2: where S-GNSS® Auto operates in the vehicle ecosystem

How FocalPoint collaborates with OEMs

Now you know where S-GNSS sits within the GNSS/SDV ecosystem, you need to know how OEMs can work with us. The steps below are a rough guideline for OEMs on the first steps to engaging with FocalPoint:

• Introductions: new contacts can request an introductory meeting to get product overview and help us understand their needs. You can request a meeting via the contact form on the website.

• NDA: in order to answer some more technical questions about S-GNSS and to enable open Q&A, we typically engage a mutual NDA early on. This will allow us to share much more information on S-GNSS and commercial next steps.

• Demonstration: We can demonstrate S-GNSS performance benefits using existing data from either our in-house S-GNSS EVK or from partnerships with GNSS chipmakers we have already started working with.

• Supplier Engagement: OEM requests evaluation from their suppliers (this may be via Tier 1’s or possibly directly to chipset manufacturers). This typically involves including S-GNSS in an RFI/Q or an ECN.

• Proof of Concept: FocalPoint works in partnership with suppliers to deliver demonstration of performance to be jointly presented back to OEMWe are already working with many chipset partners, so this may already be underway or available

• Commercials and contracts: once OEMs have seen the proof, we can start to work on commercial details and timings.

Introductions: new contacts can request an introductory meeting to get product overview and help us understand their needs. You can request a meeting via the contact form on the website.

NDA: in order to answer some more technical questions about S-GNSS and to enable open Q&A, we typically engage a mutual NDA early on. This will allow us to share much more information on S-GNSS and commercial next steps.

Demonstration: We can demonstrate S-GNSS performance benefits using existing data from either our in-house S-GNSS EVK or from partnerships with GNSS chipmakers we have already started working with.

Supplier Engagement: OEM requests evaluation from their suppliers (this may be via Tier 1’s or possibly directly to chipset manufacturers). This typically involves including S-GNSS in an RFI/Q or an ECN.

Commercials and contracts: once OEMs have seen the proof, we can start to work on commercial details and timings.

The critical importance of enhanced GNSS accuracy for ADAS and AV systems

GNSS is the only sensor capable of helping the ADAS to determine the vehicle’s absolute position and trajectory. With S-GNSS® Auto we have a reliable solution that mitigates reflection suitable for hand-free driving in cities. Enabling cost-effective mass vehicle deployment, S-GNSS Auto® provides an affordable way for automotive OEMs and Tier 1s to significantly boost GNSS receiver accuracy, integrity and security – both for today’s ADAS systems and for tomorrow’s fully-autonomous vehicles. If you’d like to learn more about S-GNSS® Auto, visit auto.focalpointpositioning.com or get in touch.