Yuneec International announced that its commercial hexacopter, the H520, will soon be available with an optional RTK (Real Time Kinematic) system from the Swiss company Fixposition. The company explains that even under difficult GPS conditions, such as in cities or canyons, the RTK system provides maximum precision and centimeter-precise positioning.
The fully integrated RTK satellite navigation is designed to provide accurate recurring images, faster 3D mapping and make automated inspection flights easier and more precise. The H520 RTK will be available in the second quarter of 2019 in different configurations: As a complete system including the H520 airframe and RTK module for approximately US$3,199; and as an upgrade for existing H520 customers for approximately $1,699. The H520 RTK GPS ground station will be sold separately for approximately $2,399.
The H520 RTK is well suited, according to the company, for commercial applications that require maximum precision. By using RTK technology, Yuneec explains the H520 can now fly much closer to objects for inspection as the UAV positions itself in the centimeter range (1 cm + ppm horizontal / 1.5 cm + ppm vertical) rather than in the metre range, which is standard for the H520.
Yuneec explains this accuracy is paramount for applications where several images need to be taken at the same location on different days including: documenting progress on construction sites, inspecting mountain landscapes to prevent natural hazards such as rock falls or avalanches, and forensic accident scene reconstruction. In addition, the satellite navigation system makes it possible to significantly reduce image overlaps, explains the company, which means fewer photos and shorter model calculation times.
The RTK system is fully integrated into both the hardware and the UAV’s software, which means the user retains the full range of functions of DataPilot software, including mission flights. The H520 RTK works with two components: the RTK module on board the H520 and a base station on the ground. For navigation, the module supports constellations of up to three different satellite systems from GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou.
If the use of a ground station is not possible, Yuneec explains the system can also be operated with a national reference station network (network RTK). The network RTK is provided by third-party providers and requires an Internet connection, such as a mobile hotspot. All data including satellite data is recorded, which makes the H520 RTK well suited for Post Processed Kinematics (PPK).
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