We asked Srdjan Sobol, airborne product manager at Trimble Applanix, to tell us more about how GNSS+INS OEM solutions are leading the latest revolution in mapping and surveying. Here, he explains how the integration of high-precision navigation with the capabilities of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs or ‘drones’) offers even faster and more accurate data capture, while also opening up new opportunities in various industries: “The APX RTX system is designed to automate workflows, increase efficiency and reduce the cost of mapping deliverables.”
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How would you describe the 4th-generation Trimble APX RTX in a nutshell?
The Trimble APX RTX is a high-performance (GNSS+INS) OEM solution offering supreme efficiency and cost reduction for mapping using UAVs. It does so by leveraging Trimble’s global Centerpoint RTX Correction service to produce real-time and post-processed positioning with centimetre-level accuracy without reference stations. In addition to Centerpoint RTX, the APX RTX uses a full Trimble GNSS and inertial technology stack. This includes a low-noise and high-precision Trimble Maxwell survey-grade multi-frequency GNSS receiver, supported by Trimble ProPoint GNSS technology for improved integrity, enhanced constellation support and advanced signal filtering. This is combined with Applanix InFusion+ aided inertial software technology and Applanix SmartCal IMU calibration technology for highly accurate and robust positioning and orientation.
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What are the main advantages of direct georeferencing for UAV platforms?
The direct georeferencing (DG) method is a way of assigning the absolute geographic coordinate to the property of a mapping sensor (i.e. pixel/voxel) by computing the position and orientation of imaging payload with respect to the Earth to a very high degree of accuracy and precision, without the need of establishing or using ground control points (GCPs). Direct georeferencing directly increases the efficiency and productivity of mapping with UAVs in several ways.
Firstly, DG increases the value of your UAV mapping platform by making it mission-type agnostic and enabling mapping anytime, anywhere – including in hazardous, inaccessible areas or long transmission corridors. Secondly, the DG method used in photogrammetry applications does not depend on pixel-matching techniques or require extensive image overlap/sidelap. It is directly applicable to flight mission execution, allowing for the coverage of larger areas with fewer flight lines. This results in a virtual extension and optimization of your UAV battery life, relative to the coverage area for a given project. Direct georeferencing is applicable to all mapping sensors (RGB, thermal and multi/hyperspectral cameras, Lidar, radar…). Its ability for ultrafast georeferencing reduces production time of the final deliverable.
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What benefits does the Trimble APX RTX offer to mapping and surveying professionals?
The Trimble APX RTX combines the best technologies – DG and the Trimble CenterPoint RTX high-accuracy correction service – to deliver an efficient and cost-saving solution to mapping and surveying professionals. This efficiency is achieved through the RTX Complete licence applied directly in the hardware. All the advantages of direct georeferencing translate into significant cost reductions by saving time and money at every stage of the project: from mission planning, to flying and data collection, to map production.
Moreover, our RTX Complete service offers ‘freedom to fly’ in multiple ways. For example, it removes the need for a ground base station as a GNSS augmentation source for real-time RTK or post-processing use. This reduces the amount of hardware required, saves setup time in the field, and allows for the quick and efficient generation of mapping products. Meanwhile, unlike single-base solutions in which performance is limited by baseline distance, RTX corrections are global. This eliminates planning complexity and enables missions to be flown anytime, anywhere, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Additionally, the consistent mapping frame datum definition keeps workflows automatic and reduces support costs by providing a consistent frame of reference for computed positions. And lastly, POSPac UAV allows immediate post-processing in the field without the need for internet access or additional processing licences.
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What is the primary target audience for the APX RTX system?
While the benefits and advantages of the APX RTX system are visible and applicable to mapping and surveying professionals such as flyers and end-users, it is primarily an embedded OEM solution tailored for payload integrators and manufacturers of sensors and UAVs. The lightweight design of 56g, small footprint of 60x67x15mm and volumetric size of just 60cm³ allow for compact hardware integration with a variety of mapping sensors, without being a limiting factor in terms of overall load and payload capacity for drone support. Utilizing a unique dynamic modelling software technique, the APX RTX supports all types of drones, including fixed-wing, rotor and hybrid vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). It also comes in four different performance levels to address the accuracy requirements of a specific mapping sensor and flying attributes of the UAV platform.
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Is there anything else potential users should know about this new platform?
As mentioned above, post-processing is supported through POSPac UAV without the need for separate licences. POSPac PP-RTX, as well as traditional processing methods like Single and SmartBase, are all included as part of the Centerpoint RTX Complete service and are enabled on the hardware firmware. The POSPac suite also features add-on modules such as Camera QC and LiDAR QC for payload boresight calibration, and seamlessly integrates with Lidar systems to perform trajectory optimization during weak GNSS conditions.
About the APX RTX
The evolution of UAV technology has revolutionized the field of mapping and surveying, offering unprecedented access to data and imagery with remarkable accuracy and efficiency. The Trimble APX RTX, as a cutting-edge GNSS+INS own equipment manufacturer (OEM) solution, stands at the forefront of this technological advancement, embodying the integration of high-precision navigation with the flexibility and reach of UAV platforms. This synergy not only enhances the quality and speed of data collection, but also opens up new possibilities for applications in various sectors including agriculture, construction, environmental monitoring and urban planning.
One of the standout features of the APX RTX system is its utilization of Trimble’s Centerpoint RTX Correction service, which provides global, centimetre-level accuracy without the need for traditional ground control points. This capability significantly reduces the time and cost associated with mapping projects, while also enabling operations in remote or difficult-to-access areas where setting up GCPs would be impractical or impossible.
Moreover, thanks to its adaptability to support all types of drones, plus its compatibility with a wide range of mapping sensors, the APX RTX system is a versatile tool that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of various mapping projects. Whether for detailed agricultural field analysis, construction site monitoring or environmental conservation efforts, the APX RTX system provides a robust platform for generating high-quality geospatial data.
The Trimble APX RTX represents an efficient and cost-effective solution for meeting the ever-increasing demand for accurate and timely geospatial information. As a result, it empowers decision-makers with the data necessary to make informed choices in managing resources, planning development projects and protecting the environment.