Vision enhanced RTK: Deep integration of Real Time Kinematics (RTK) GNSS Positioning and Computer Vision

Project Information

VRTK

Grant agreement ID: 869017

DOI

10.3030/869017

Project closed

EC signature date 6 May 2019

Start date 1 May 2019

End date 31 August 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

FIXPOSITION AG
Switzerland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VRTK (Vision enhanced RTK: Deep integration of Real Time Kinematics (RTK) GNSS Positioning and Computer Vision)

Reporting period: 2019-05-01 to 2019-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

VRTK is an answer to the lacks in the navigation and positioning systems currently available in the market:
Inertial with GNSS solutions have update rates is 10 times lower than VRTK’s, reliability is far inferior, they will not work properly when GNSS signal is lost (unlike VRTK), cannot incorporate neither data integrity validation nor motion planning, and the price of acceptable quality devices are over 3 times more expensive.
As for visual navigation solutions, there are hardly any products available on the market, and even if the potential competitors reached the market far earlier than expected, they would not be able to compete with VRTK: their accuracy is only relative and can vary from cm to m in magnitude, the solution rate is 4 times less than VRTK’s, they have low reliability, and the price can be up to 2 times higher than VRTK.
Therefore, the focus of Fixposition is on the final development of VRTK: Vision-enhanced Real Time Kinematics, which addresses the need of the markets for an affordable navigation system with high reliability, high precision, and low latency.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The Feasibility Report has planned the steps for VRTK to be commercialized making use of the EIC Accelerator:
Technological viability has been confirmed, with a clear roadmap to reach Technology Readiness Level 9 presented, and technological risks identified and adequately planned for.
Commercial feasibility was also ratified, with the multiple market segments available for VRTK identified, evaluated and dates of entry to ensure commercial success planned, accounting for regulations and market barriers, as well as the mapping of our supply-chain and dissemination opportunities.
The Financial feasibility work has mapped the break-even date for 2024, and Return on Investment as high as 30.5 by 2026 through revenue from the selected markets.
A round of private investment has already been opened, with the private funds required to reach TRL 8 with the EIC Accelerator already ensured, and projected funds which would ensure VRTK’s development up to TRL 9 in due time after the EIC Accelerator were finished.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Our product, VRTK, will first be a big improvement of current positioning solutions, and in the near future, it will be a further enabler for the growing trend of automatization and autonomy in drones, robots and cars, with our advantages in high precision and high reliability making any potential future accidents far less likely, as we will rule out positioning issues.

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