Glossary

Attitude in navigation

In navigation, attitude refers to the orientation of a vehicle or object relative to a fixed frame of reference, which is typically defined by three rotational axes: pitch, roll, and yaw.

AHRS – Attitude and Heading Reference System

Attitude & Heading Reference System (AHRS) is a crucial technology in modern aviation and maritime navigation. It provides essential information about an aircraft or vessel’s orientation and heading, ensuring safe and accurate navigation.

IMU – Inertial Measurement Unit

Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) are fundamental components in modern navigation and motion tracking systems. An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is an electronic device that measures and reports a body's specific force, angular rate, and sometimes the magnetic field surrounding the body, using a combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and sometimes magnetometers. IMUs are critical for tracking and controlling the position and orientation of various objects, from aircraft and ships to smartphones and gaming controllers. There are different types of IMU sensors: the one based on FOG (Fiber Optic Gyroscope), the RLG IMUs (Ring Laser Gyroscope), and lastly, IMU based on MEMS technology (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems). This technology allows lower costs and low power requirements while ensuring performance. MEMS-based systems therefore combine high performance and ultra-low power in a smaller unit.

INS – Inertial Navigation System

Inertial Navigation System (INS), also called INS, is a navigation device that provides roll, pitch, heading, position, and velocity. This sophisticated technology determines an object’s position, orientation, and velocity without relying on external references. This self-contained navigation solution is crucial in various applications, ranging from aerospace and defense to robotics and autonomous vehicles.

RTK – Real Time Kinematic

RTK, or Real Time Kinematics, is a sophisticated positioning technology used to achieve high-precision GNSS location data in real-time.

RTCM – Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services

RTCM (Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services) is an international organization that develops standards to improve communication, navigation, and related systems for maritime safety and efficiency.

Georeferencing

Georeferencing is the process of aligning spatial data, such as maps, aerial imagery, or scanned documents, to a specific coordinate system so that it accurately corresponds to real-world locations.

Reference station

A reference station is a fixed, high-precision location equipped with a GNSS receiver and antenna that collects positioning data to improve location data accuracy

Dead reckoning navigation

Dead reckoning is a navigation technique used to determine one's current position by using a previously known position and calculating the course based on speed, time, and direction traveled.

ITAR – International Traffic in Arms Regulations

The International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) are a set of U.S. government regulations that control the export and import of defense articles and services, including both physical items and technical data related to military use.

Multisensor fusion

Multisensor fusion is a critical component in the environmental perception systems of driverless vehicles, enhancing safety and decision-making capabilities. By integrating data from various sensors such as cameras, LiDAR, radar, and ultrasonic devices, these systems can achieve a more comprehensive and accurate global positioning accuracy and overall system performance in different scenarios. What are the […]

Magnetic field

A magnetic field is a physical field that represents the magnetic influence on electric currents, moving charges, and magnetic materials. The Earth behaves like a giant magnet and it generates its own magnetic field that goes from South to North pole. Poles are not exactly aligned with the geographic North-South axis.

Vibrations

Vibrations can introduce unwanted noise or distortions into the measurements because MEMS sensors are highly sensitive to external forces.

PPK – Post Processing Kinematic

Post-Processing Kinematic is a GNSS data processing method used to achieve high-accuracy positioning by correcting errors in the raw positioning data. It is widely used in applications where precise geospatial information is critical, such as surveying, mapping, and UAV operations.

Motion compensation and position

Motion compensation and position refers to the ability of a system, typically involving sensors or devices, to adjust or compensate for movement or motion in order to maintain accurate positional information.

ROS drivers

The Robot Operating System (ROS) is a set of software libraries and tools that help you build robot applications. From drivers to state-of-the-art algorithms, and with powerful developer tools, ROS has what you need for your next robotics project. And it’s all open source.

Heading method

Heading refers to the direction in which a vehicle or vessel is pointed relative to a reference direction, typically true north or magnetic north.

VBS – Virtual Base Station

A Virtual Base Station (VBS) is a GNSS processing technique designed to enhance positioning accuracy in real-time kinematic (RTK) and post-processing applications. Instead of relying on a single, fixed physical base station, a VBS generates a virtual reference station near the rover’s location. This approach reduces positioning errors caused by atmospheric disturbances and improves overall system precision.

VRS – Virtual Reference Station

A Virtual Reference Station (VRS) is a simulated GNSS reference point designed to enhance real-time positioning accuracy. By leveraging data from a network of continuously operating reference stations (CORS), VRS creates a localized correction signal, reducing spatial errors and improving RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) precision. This allows users to achieve centimeter-level accuracy as if a reference station were positioned at their exact location.

Fugro Marinestar

Fugro Marinestar ® delivers high-precision GNSS positioning services tailored to the unique demands of industries such as marine construction, dredging, hydrography, naval operations, wind farm development, and oceanographic research. With over 30 years of expertise in satellite-based positioning and continuous technological advancements, Marinestar® provides cutting-edge, dependable solutions designed for critical marine applications. Multiple GNSS constellations […]

PRN Code (Pseudo-Random Noise Code)

A Pseudo-Random Noise (PRN) code generates a binary sequence that appears random but remains deterministic and repeatable. Satellite navigation systems, such as GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou, along with various communication applications, rely on these codes. PRN codes offer key characteristics that make them essential for navigation and communication. They follow a deterministic pattern since algorithms […]

PointPerfect ™​

What is PointPerfect ™​? PointPerfect is a PPP-RTK GNSS correction service provided by u-blox. It combines the high accuracy of RTK with the flexibility of PPP, addressing the limitations of each technology. While RTK offers high accuracy without convergence time, it requires a nearby base station. On the other hand, PPP eliminates the need for […]

NAVIC – Navigation with Indian Constellation

NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is an autonomous satellite navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to provide accurate and reliable position data services to users in India and the surrounding region.

Gyrocompass

A gyrocompass is a highly specialized device used for determining direction with remarkable accuracy. Unlike magnetic compasses, which rely on the Earth's magnetic field, a gyrocompass uses the principles of gyroscopic motion to find true north.

Reference Frames

A reference frame is a coordinate system used to measure positions, velocities, and accelerations of objects. It provides a fixed or moving point of reference, allowing engineers and scientists to describe motion consistently. Different applications use different reference frames depending on the required perspective.

NED (North-East-Down) Frame

The NED (North-East-Down) coordinate frame serves as a widely used reference system for navigation and inertial measurements.

The North-East-Down (NED) frame serves as a local reference frame, defined by its ECEF coordinates. Typically, it remains fixed to the vehicle or platform and moves with the body frame. This frame positions the North and East axes in a plane tangent to Earth’s surface at its current location, based on the WGS84 ellipsoid model.

It consists of three orthogonal axes: the North axis points to True North, the Down axis extends toward Earth’s interior (opposite to the local Up direction), and the East axis completes the right-handed system by pointing east (perpendicular to North).

Similarly, a vehicle or platform can have the East-North-Up (ENU) frame locally attached, moving with the system. Unlike the NED frame, the ENU frame orients its axes differently: the North axis still points to True North, but the Up axis extends away from Earth’s interior, while the East axis maintains its right-handed system alignment by pointing east.

This right-handed coordinate system simplifies calculations for aircraft, marine vessels, and autonomous vehicles by aligning with natural movement directions.

NED applications use

A drone relies on an autopilot system to calculate its trajectory within the NED coordinate framework. When the drone is in a northward flight, its position increases in the North direction. Conversely, when the drone ascends, its Down coordinate value decreases, given that Down is positive downward.

Conversely, a ship’s INS (Inertial Navigation System) functions by tracking its movement relative to the NED frame. As the vessel moves eastward, its East coordinate increases. Conversely, when the vessel dives, its Down coordinate rises.

A self-driving car utilises the NED frame to ascertain its position. The vehicle’s North coordinate increases as it moves northward, while bumps or dips in the terrain cause changes in the Down value.

Precision-guided munitions rely on the NED frame to adjust their trajectory. As a missile descends toward its target, the Down coordinate increases, ensuring accurate targeting.

AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) utilise the NED frame to navigate. When an AUV moves in a northeast direction, both the North and East coordinates increase, while changes in depth affect the Down coordinate.

The NED system has been developed to align movements with the Earth’s natural orientation, thereby simplifying navigation. This system is utilized by engineers, pilots and scientists to enhance precision in positioning, guidance and control applications.

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ECEF: Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed Frame

The Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed (ECEF) frame is a global coordinate system used to represent positions on or near Earth. It is a rotating reference frame that remains fixed relative to Earth’s surface, meaning it moves with the planet as it rotates. Engineers, scientists, and navigation systems use ECEF coordinates to track positions accurately in a global context.

ECEF Coordinate System

An Earth-centered Earth-fixed (ECEF) system represents position relative to the center of the reference ellipsoid using Cartesian coordinates (X, Y, Z). The reference ellipsoid determines the distance between its center and the Earth’s center.

ECEF defines locations using these three axes centered at Earth’s core:
1 – The positive X-axis intersects the ellipsoid’s surface at 0° latitude and 0° longitude, where the equator meets the prime meridian.
2 – The positive Y-axis intersects the ellipsoid’s surface at 0° latitude and 90° longitude.
3 – The positive Z-axis intersects the ellipsoid’s surface at 90° latitude and 0° longitude, the North Pole.

Examples of ECEF Applications

Firstly, GPS satellites broadcast signals in ECEF coordinates. Next, a smartphone receives signals from multiple satellites and calculates its position in the Earth-Centered, Earth-Fixed Frame before converting it to latitude, longitude, and altitude.

Similarly, flight management systems use ECEF coordinates to determine an aircraft’s position. As a result, they enable accurate global tracking, even over oceans or remote regions.

Meanwhile, satellites orbit Earth in an inertial frame but use the ECEF frame to communicate their positions. Consequently, ground stations track them in this reference system to ensure precise orbital adjustments.

Likewise, surveyors rely on ECEF coordinates to map large-scale infrastructure projects. By doing so, they reference a stable Earth-centered system and minimize measurement errors across continents.

Finally, engineers use ECEF coordinates to plan missile and rocket launches, ensuring precise targeting and orbital insertion. This way, they accurately calculate how Earth’s rotation affects a vehicle’s path. This version maintains clarity while improving flow and engagement. Let me know if you’d like any tweaks!

ECEF simplifies global positioning by aligning with Earth’s surface, making it essential for GPS, aerospace, and geodetic applications

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Body Frame

The sensor (body) coordinate frame, often called the body frame or vehicle frame, serves as a reference frame fixed to a moving platform, such as a drone, car, missile, or underwater vehicle. Engineers use this frame to describe the motion and orientation of the platform relative to itself, making it essential for navigation, control, and sensor fusion.

Inertial reference frame

An inertial reference frame is a coordinate system in which objects follow Newton’s laws of motion without the need to account for fictitious or external forces. In other words, it is a non-accelerating frame—either at rest or moving at constant velocity—where a body remains at rest or continues in uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force. Scientists and engineers rely on inertial frames to analyze motion accurately in space, aviation, marine, and robotics systems.

Point Cloud

Point cloud refers to a collection of 3D points that represent the shape and structure of an environment. These points are typically generated by LiDAR or 3D scanning systems, and each point contains spatial coordinates (X, Y, Z), sometimes along with additional attributes like intensity or color. While the LiDAR sensor captures the raw spatial data, it is the inertial navigation system (INS) that provides the precise position and orientation of the sensor at every moment.

LiDAR – Light Detection and Ranging

LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. It is a method of measuring distances by emitting laser beams towards a target and measuring the time it takes for the beams to return to the sensor. The data collected from these measurements can then be used to generate accurate, high-resolution 3D models and maps of the environment.

Multipath Error

In inertial navigation, multipath error occurs when GNSS signals reflect off surfaces such as buildings, water, or terrain before reaching the receiver, causing signal distortion.

Multipath rejection

Multipath rejection refers to a receiver or antenna system’s ability to reduce errors caused by reflected GNSS signals. When a GNSS signal travels directly from a satellite to a receiver, it provides accurate positioning data. However, nearby surfaces—such as buildings, water bodies, or metal structures—can reflect the signal, causing it to arrive at the receiver slightly later than the direct signal.