Septentrio Announces the AsteRx-m, an Ultra-Compact RTK Receiver with the Lowest Power Consumption on the Market

Leuven, Belgium – Septentrio announces the AsteRx-m™, a very low power GPS/GLONASS dual-frequency RTK receiver which is smaller than a credit card. The new board is aimed specifically at integration in hand-held devices, mobile computing platforms and other solutions requiring high accuracy combined with low power in applications where space is at a premium.

Mobile computing has made spectacular inroads into the market in the last few years, and has now become a ubiquitous feature of modern electronics. Hand-held devices and mobile computing platforms with L1-GPS for GIS applications have been around for some time. However, users are beginning to demand higher accuracy, functionality and robustness in their mobile GNSS-enabled devices. To cater for exactly such requirements, Septentrio is launching the AsteRx-m™.

AsteRx-m™ is unique in many regards. It is the only receiver on the market that can offer full dual-frequency GPS only RTK capability while consuming less than 500 mW and GPS/GLONASS RTK at less than 600 mW. It is also the only receiver of comparable size that covers the functionality range from GPS-L1 only to full GPSGLONASS L1-L2, providing the same performance, robustness and availability as full size state-of-the-art dual-frequency RTK receivers.

The AsteRx-m™ combines innovative power-saving technology with Septentrio’s proven GReCo3™ GNSS ASIC and GNSS+™ suite of tracking and positioning firmware. It makes high-precision RTK positioning available in a very compact and low-power package for handheld devices, unmanned vehicles and other power-sensitive high-accuracy applications.

“The AsteRx-m™ builds on the field-proven quality and performance of the AsteRx2™ platform with a special focus on low power and small size, targeted at hand-held and battery-operated applications,” said Peter Grognard, Managing Director of Septentrio. “Providing GPS and GLONASS L1 and L2 in a form factor previously limited to L1- only or GPS-only processing, at a power consumption that is half that of comparable platforms, it effectively delivers twice the might for half the power.”

Septentrio will start shipping AsteRx-m™ in the third quarter of 2011.

About Septentrio
Septentrio Satellite Navigation NV designs, manufactures, markets and supports high-end OEM GNSS receivers for demanding professional navigation, positioning and timing applications. Septentrio has an international team of experts in all areas of satellite navigation receiver design and applications. For more information about Septentrio, please visit our website at www.septentrio.com.