New Joint Venture to Focus on GNSS Positioning Services

Rendition of Japan’s QZSS. Photo: Cabinet Office, Government of Japan.

Bosch, Geo++, Mitsubishi Electric and u-blox announced the creation of Sapcorda Services, a joint venture that will bring high precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning services to mass market applications. According to the companies, 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, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and receiver manufacturers.

Sapcorda will offer GNSS positioning services via internet and satellite broadcast and will enable accurate GNSS positioning at centimeter level, according to the companies involved. 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.

“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. We believe that this venture will accelerate adoption of automated driving and safe driving support,” said Masamitsu Okamura, managing executive officer for electronic systems at Mitsubishi Electric.