Helix Geospace is happy to announce its selection for the Zenzic CAM Scale-Up Programme Exploitation Phase, an initiative targeted advancing connected and automated mobility (CAM) technologies in the UK.
Working in collaboration with Sony Semiconductor Solutions (‘Sony’), Helix Geospace will develop an Advanced Adaptive Antenna that overcomes GNSS resilience challenges in urban environments.
While standard GNSS solutions, such as GPS, typically offer positional accuracy of 5–10 meters, this technology delivers resilient, centimetre-level precision, representing a significant leap forward for micromobility and CAM systems operating in dense urban landscapes.
Urban environments present notable obstacles for reliable GNSS navigation due to limited satellite visibility and signal interference caused by tall buildings, infrastructure, and high device density. These challenges lead to:
- Multipath errors and atmospheric interference: GNSS signals reflecting off buildings create multiple paths before reaching the receiver, while atmospheric conditions exacerbate errors
- Limited satellite visibility: Obstructions reduce the number of satellites a receiver can access, hindering precise position calculations
- Signal crowding: A high density of devices competing for satellite connections leads to signal congestion
- Design constraints: Tight device enclosures and surrounding metal components impact antenna performance
The adaptive GNSS antenna system integrates technologies to tackle these urban GNSS challenges, combining cost-effectiveness with energy efficiency to ensure reliable position in dense, signal-restricted environments.
The system is built on Dielectrix technology, a dielectric-loaded, multi-filar antenna design that minimises intra-element coupling. Enhancing the antenna’s capabilities, Sony’s CXD5610 chipset adds multi-constellation GNSS support (L1 and L5 bands) for improved accuracy and operates with ultra-low power consumption at just 5.6 mW in low-power mode.
Additionally, its compact 3.2 x 3.7 mm XFGBA footprint makes it well-suited for space-constrained applications. The inclusion of a disciplined Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) further increases accuracy by utilising sophisticated algorithms to maintain reliable navigation even when GNSS signals are weak or unavailable.
By combining multi-band capabilities, advanced algorithms, and energy efficiency, the system enhances battery performance and reduces costs, making it a great choice for mass-market IoT and mobility applications.
The system is anticipated to support the evolution of connected and automated mobility by ensuring consistent and accurate positioning in the challenging urban areas.
Through its participation in the Zenzic Partnership Phase 3, Helix Geospace is collaborating with industry leaders, government bodies, and academic institutions to advance the UK’s position in the global CAM sector. This partnership enables us to contribute significantly to the development of safer, more efficient, and sustainable mobility solutions.
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