When it comes to vehicle positioning, GNSS is foundational. From turn-by-turn navigation to advanced ADAS and autonomy systems, reliable location data underpins almost everything. But while GNSS works well in open environments, its performance often breaks down in the real world — urban canyons, tree cover, sound walls, and compromised antenna locations all degrade accuracy and reliability.

S-GNSS® Auto is a software-based upgrade from FocalPoint that improves the performance of GNSS receivers under exactly these kinds of conditions — with no hardware changes required. Delivered via firmware, it can be applied even to vehicles already on the road. This post details what S-GNSS® Auto is, where it fits in the GNSS stack, and why it matters for automotive developers and OEMs.

What is S-GNSS® Auto?

S-GNSS® Auto is a GNSS performance upgrade that lives inside the GNSS receiver. Developed by FocalPoint and built on our patented Supercorrelation™ technology, it enhances the way the receiver interprets satellite signals. The result: cleaner, more trustworthy GNSS measurements, even in difficult environments.

Unlike traditional GNSS enhancements that rely on additional sensors or correction services, S-GNSS® Auto works entirely inside the receiver itself, delivered as a standard firmware update. That means:

• No new hardware.

• No additional infrastructure.

• No integration burden for the OEM, once it’s available in the chipset.

This last point is important: once integrated into the GNSS chipset by the chipmaker, S-GNSS® Auto becomes a hands-off upgrade. OEMs and Tier 1s can apply it just like any other firmware update — but it delivers real-world improvements in environmental performance, antenna resilience, and signal integrity.

Where does it sit in the stack?

S-GNSS® Auto is implemented inside the measurement engine of a GNSS receiver. This is the part of the chip that generates raw code and Doppler measurements before they’re passed to a position engine (either on-chip or external).

There’s no need to change antennas, front ends, or downstream positioning logic. The firmware simply replaces the standard signal processing logic with an upgraded one, yielding better-quality measurements from the same signals.

Core Advantages of S-GNSS® Auto

1. Reliability across all environments

Urban canyons, tunnels, underpasses, dense foliage — these environments are all challenging for GNSS. S-GNSS® Auto improves tracking and positioning in these conditions by reducing multipath errors and boosting signal quality, even when direct line-of-sight to the satellite is compromised.

2. Virtual antenna upgrade

Automotive designs often force antenna trade-offs: compact form factors, shared enclosures, or budget constraints can all limit antenna quality. S-GNSS® Auto helps compensate for these limitations in software, acting like a “virtual antenna upgrade” that restores lost performance without changing the hardware.

3. Enhanced security

GNSS spoofing and jamming attacks are increasingly relevant in automotive security discussions. S-GNSS® Auto enhances the receiver’s ability to reject false or anomalous signals, adding a layer of signal-level protection without relying on external threat detection systems.

Avoiding Common Pain Points

In addition to its core performance benefits, S-GNSS® Auto helps avoid several common friction points that developers and OEMs often face when trying to improve GNSS:

✅ Works via firmware — even OTA

S-GNSS® Auto can be delivered as an over-the-air update, meaning vehicles already on the road can benefit from it. There’s no need to redesign hardware or wait for a new model year.

✅ Compatible with your existing positioning setup

It plays nicely with all major GNSS configurations — whether you’re using GNSS-only, integrating with IMUs and sensor fusion, or layering on RTK or PPP correction services. It supports all major bands and constellations.

✅ No work for the OEM

Once a chipmaker has integrated S-GNSS® Auto, OEMs and Tier 1s can deliver it as a standard firmware update. There’s no need for new tooling, calibration, or validation. From the OEM’s perspective, it’s just another firmware version — but it’s an actual upgrade to the end-user experience.

Who is it for?

S-GNSS® Auto is designed for:

• Automotive OEMs who want better GNSS performance without increasing hardware cost or complexity

• GNSS chipmakers and module providers looking to differentiate in a commoditizing landscape

• ADAS and AV developers who need more robust positioning in real-world environments

It’s already in the process of integration with leading GNSS chipsets — once complete, it becomes available as a standard part of those platforms.

Conclusion

S-GNSS® Auto offers a rare combination: a real performance upgrade delivered entirely in software. By improving the way GNSS receivers process signals — without requiring new hardware — it opens up a path to better accuracy, higher integrity, and greater resilience across the automotive landscape.

And best of all, once integrated into the chip, it just works — with no extra effort from the OEM.

To learn more, contact us at contact@focalpointpositioning.com.