Quanta UAV INS/GNSS improves UAV-based surveying

SBG Systems will present its Quanta UAV series at AUVSI’s Xponential show, which takes place April 30-May 2 in Chicago. The Quanta UAV series is a line of inertial navigation systems (INS) dedicated to UAV-based surveying integrators.

Because SBG Systems wants UAV surveyors to save autonomy for additional survey lines, the company has designed a small, lightweight, and low-power INS offered on two levels of accuracy. Quanta UAV and Quanta UAV Extra have been developed for compact lidar to high-end BVLOS mapping solutions. They provide precise orientation and centimeter-level position data delivered both in real time and post processing. This direct geo-referencing solution eliminates the need for ground control points and greatly reduces the need of overlapping.

Qinertia, SBG’s post-processing software completes the Quanta UAV offer. It gives access to offline real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections from more than 7,000 base stations in 164 countries, the company said. Trajectory and orientation are greatly improved by processing inertial data and raw GNSS observables in forward and backward directions. This advanced software also computes the base station position to quickly provide centimeter accuracy. Qinertia comes free for one year with the Quanta UAV sensor.

Robotics and surveying. Quanta UAV is the result of SBG’s expertise in both miniaturized technology for drone navigation and high-end sensors for mobile mapping. Designed as a geo-referencing solution, it can also be used as a high-end navigation solution to feed the UAV autopilot.

Quanta UAV benefits from a tight integration with in-house IMUs, advanced calibration techniques and algorithms that ensure consistent behavior in all weather conditions, as well as robust position even if the UAV gets close to buildings, electrical lines or trees.

Quanta UAV embeds a web interface for an easy configuration with a 3D view showing all parameters. The calibration tool automatically aligns the lever arm between the two antennas and the sensor, and re-estimates it in flight for more precision.

The ITAR-free Quanta UAV INS are available for order.

Featured photo: SBG Systems