This article reviews important system design considerations when using multi-constellation GNSS receivers before presenting GNSS platforms and development environments from u-blox, Microchip Technology, MikroElektronika, Thales, and Arduino for the efficient and cost- effective development of location- aware smart city applications. Improvements in GNSS technology, especially reduced power requirements, have been instrumental in the increased use of the GNSS and the proliferation of LAS in smart city applications. The GNSS receiver power consumption reduction has been from 120mW in 2010 to 25mW in 2020 (Figure 1). In fact, GNSS receiver power demand has declined faster than the power needs of most other LAS system components. Older GNSS technologies were power-hungry compared with the other system elements. Today, GNSS power needs are often only a single-digit
Location-aware services (LAS) in smart cities are being deployed across various areas, including government services, transport, traffic management, energy, healthcare, and water and waste, and creating safer, more sustainable, and better- connected cities. There is often a need to understand the distances between nearby devices in these applications. The demand for position-based capability using multi-constellation global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers for Europe’s Galileo, the USA’s GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, and China’s BeiDou navigation satellite systems is growing in LAS applications. The benefits of using multi-constellation GNSS receivers include better availability of the position, navigation, and timing (PNT) signals, increased accuracy and integrity, and improved robustness. But developing multi- constellation receivers is a complex and time-consuming activity.
GNSS receiver power consumption reduction over 10 years
-40%
Figure 1: GNSS receiver power consumption has declined from 120mW in 2010 to 25mW in 2020. Image source: u-blox
-70%
2015
2020
2010
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