JV to bring high-precision GNSS services to mass markets

Technology companies Bosch, Geo++, Mitsubishi Electric and u-blox have announced the creation of Sapcorda Services, a joint venture that will bring high-precision GNSS positioning services to mass market applications.

The JV came about when the four parties recognised that existing solutions for GNSS positioning services do not meet the needs of emerging high-precision GNSS mass markets. As a result, they decided to join forces to facilitate the establishment of a worldwide available and affordable solution for system integrators, OEMs and receiver manufacturers.

Sapcorda Services will offer globally available GNSS positioning services via internet and satellite broadcast and will enable accurate GNSS positioning at centimetre level. The services are designed to serve high-volume automotive, industrial and consumer markets. The real-time correction data service will be delivered in a public, open format and is not bound to receiver hardware or systems.

“We are looking forward to collaborating with our partners in this joint venture,” said Jumana Al-Sibai from Robert Bosch GmbH. “Together, we want to create a GNSS positioning service that fully supports the requirements for positioning sensors in the automotive sector. Only with built-in safety and the highest levels of precision will we be able to make automated driving reality.”

“Geo++ anticipates defining the future of high-precision positioning services with our partners at Bosch, Mitsubishi Electric and u-blox,” said Gerhard Wübbena, founder and president of Geo++. “The combination of the partners’ longstanding leadership in automotive and mass market solutions with Sapcorda’s commitment to push open formats will pave the way for a raft of next-generation GNSS applications.”

“Mitsubishi Electric aims to create a borderless global market for high-precision positioning systems where receivers will be able to enjoy real-time correction data services potentially interoperable with the Japanese Government’s Centimeter Level Augmentation Service (CLAS) via the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System,” said Masamitsu Okamura, an executive officer at Mitsubishi Electric. “We believe that this venture will accelerate adoption of automated driving and safe driving support.”

“We believe this initiative with Bosch, Geo++ and Mitsubishi Electric to create Sapcorda Services will bring a truly disruptive GNSS service offering to the market,” said Daniel Ammann, executive VP and co-founder at u-blox. “Key characteristics such as security, safety and mass scalability, coupled with an attractive business model and an open approach … will be a game changer across a large number of established and emerging applications.”

More information will be made available later this year at www.sapcorda.com.