Dear Friends,
I'm very happy to present the result of latest VirtualRobotix's development: the new VRX GPS NEO-M8 .
I'ts the first Virtualrobotix's Multi Constellation GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS), engine, using Ublox NEO-M8 receiver.
The NEO-M8 is a 72-channel high sensitive engine that boasts a Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) of less than 1 second.
The dedicated acquisition engine, with over 2 million correlators, is capable of massive parallel time/frequency space searches, enabling it to find satellites instantly.
Innovative design and technology suppresses interference sources and mitigates multipath effects, giving NEO-M8 GPS receivers excellent navigation performance even in the most challenging environments.
VRX GPS NEO-M8 is equipped with a Panasonic Amplifier for better reception and a backup battery for quicker warm restarts.
The VRX GPS NEO-M8 also integrates Honywell's latest high precision digital mag (HMC5983).
The HMC5983 can be used either in SPI or in I2C (selectable via a solder Jumper), it has a 200Hz output rate and it's temperature compensated, giving the best experience for our vehicles.
The VRX GPS NEO-M8 is fully compatible with APM:Copter's firmware and it's plug and play on VRBRAIN5, VRuBRAIN5, APM 2.5+, PixHawk and all boards that mount the DF13 connectors.
If you don't have a DF13, you can easly solder standard servo pins on the exposed pads.
Now The order is open at:
VRX GPS NEO-M8: http://www.virtualrobotix.it/index.php/en/shop/accessories/gps-ublox-8-detail
VR uBrain 5: http://www.virtualrobotix.it/index.php/en/shop/autopilot/vrbrainmicro51-detail
The delivery time could be 3/4 weeks
If you are interested in more info to the product send a mail to info@virtualrobotix.com
The VRX GPS NEO-M8 has been tested in the field with our VRX300 "Personal Fly Robot SDK Platform" here are some photos and graphs from latest flights.
Flight Controller: VR Micro BRAIN
GPS: VRX GPS NEO-M8
Compass: HMC5983 mounted on GPS board
ESC: 12 A Kiss ESC
Motors: RCX - ZMR
Propellers: APC 6x4
Lipo: 2200 mAh
Radio: Taranis with SBUS receiver X8R
These are the vibration graphs on the VRX300
The number of satellites during this flight started at 11 and arrived to 15, the hdop was from 1.3 to 1.5.
During my tests we have seen up to 18 satellites with an hdop of 0.7 .
With standard GPS module some times it is possible to see only 5 with an high HDOP
Here is possible to see the Altitude from Baro vs Altitude from GPS is not so bad :)
Some RTL and Loiter tests in the Field with precision of less than 1 meter.
Features and Specifications:
- ublox NEO-8 module
- Concurrent reception of GPS/QZSS, GLONASS, BeiDou
- Industry leading –167 dBm navigation sensitivity
- 3,3V or 5V Inputs, with low noise 3.3V regulator.
- 5 Hz update rate
- Rechargeable 3V lithium backup battery for high efficient warm start
- Panasonic Low Noise Amplifier for antenna signal with high gain (19dB)
- EPCOS SAW high quality low-loss RF filter for GPS application
- 25 x 25 x 4 mm ceramic patch antenna
- Dedicated I2C EEPROM for receiver configuration storage
- High resolution compass (2 milli-gauss) and high speed (2 milli-gauss)
- Power and fix indicator LEDs
- ArduPilot Mega compatible 6-pin JST connector
- Exposed pads for simple soldering connection
- 38 x 38 x 8.5 mm total size, 19 grams.
- Receiver type NEO 8
- 72-channel u-blox M8 engine
- GPS/QZSS L1 C/A, GLONASS L10F
- BeiDou B1
- SBAS L1 C/A: WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS
- Navigation update rate:
- Single GNSS up to 18 Hz
- Concurrent GNSS up to 10 Hz
- Position accuracy: 2.0 m CEP
- Acquisition (NEO-M8Q/N)
- (Default mode, GPS/SBAS/QZSS+GLONASS with TCXO)
- Cold starts: 26 s
- Aided starts: 2 s
- Reacquisition: 1.5 s
- Sensitivity
- (Default mode, GPS/SBAS/QZSS+GLONASS with TCXO)
- Tracking & Nav: –167 dBm
- Cold starts: –148 dBm
- Hot starts: –156 dBm
- Connector : Serial Bus , I2C Bus and SPI as option plug and play fully compatible with : VR Brain , APM 2.x , PX4 and Pixhawk Flight Control . Available also solder pad for OEM Application .
Best
Roberto and Emile
original blog post :
Comments
@Oz wrote: " I would think with all this new tech it would be better than "Some RTL and Loiter tests in the Field with precision of less than 1 meter". Anyways looking for new tech, thanks for sharing!"
@Oz it is not about absolute precision. This is bound to actual GPS technology. Normally GPSs states a 3m error as a maximum precision.
This GPS ensures a more reliable performance in normal and extreme conditions.
Normally our UBLOX 6 (the one sold with APM) uses 1 constellation, so during the day you may experience poor satellite count. This is not necessarly due to obstacles, but where the satellite are in regards to horizon. So having 7 satellites could (note that it is not always predictable) lead to a huge error or a very unreliable position.
With M8, I experienced a really strong reception throughout the day with never than 12 satellites used.
I also saw a 3D fix in a concrete underground basement with only a small 1x1m top window. That was quite impressive.
So in the worst cases you will still experience a 1-2 meter accuracy, while in best situation you can achieve almost 50cm accuracy.
Emile
Hi Euan ,
there are different option , you simply can disconnect your cable from old gps and connect to new one . It's plug and play . The cable available are PX4, APM2.X , VRBRain 5 .
Normally we send the cable for new 32 bit platform .
Other option is to solder the pad , you can see the pad in the picture above , with your custom cable more simple and you can customize in easy way y
Awesome! The form factor, amp, and plug and play are a huge plus.
Do you provide the cables to fit the APM2.5/pixhawk? What cables are needed?
I ask because the 6/5 3DR ones are always too short, and too proprietary.
Use, by as part of IMU\INS :)
I see that in the page that you send to me there are info about the configuration ... so you can connect by Ublox Center set the right configuration and send and save it to the GPS .
The Paparazzi FC don't use magnetometer ?
best
Roberto
http://wiki.paparazziuav.org/wiki/GPS
I think yes, but for sure...
Hi Vladimir , could be , send me the link to your Paparazzi FC so i can check .
best
Roberto
Is this amazing device work with Paparazzi AP's?
Ah ok yes . I agree with you . Infact when we work on VR GPS 8 the first point was integration of best magnetometer available on the market with best GPS Module :) I think that cgs shop develop general pourpose module adapt for a lot of application where the magnetometer is not so important in our application a good magnetometer is the must !
In the design is very important to have also a good low noise power conversion unit because this kind of sensor is very sensible to bad power supply.
best
Roberto
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