Vodafone and Topcon partner for IoT positioning service
Vodafone has partnered with Topcon Positioning Group, a leading manufacturer, to start developing a new precise positioning system.
According to the network operator, it will locate Internet of Things (IoT) devices, machinery, and vehicles with a greater degree of accuracy than using only individual global navigation satellites systems (GNSS).
Ian Stilgoe, Vice President of Topcon Global Emerging Business said: “At Topcon, we are proud to be partnering with Vodafone to bring high accuracy correction services to enable V2X applications to operate at the accuracy needed to help improve road safety, especially for vulnerable road users.
“Topcon’s extensive history providing precision positioning solutions makes it an ideal partner for Vodafone utilising the comprehensive Topnet Live GNSS network. Vodafone’s high accuracy services can also be used to improve positioning performance of many other autonomous applications such as drones, delivery robots and safety system wearables.”
Creating technology for improved connection
Pinpoint accuracy is crucial to the mass adoption of Vehicle to Anything (V2X) technology, which is the ability for vehicles to speak with other vehicles, road users, and infrastructure, as well as for autonomous machinery and robots.
Vodafone explained how e-bike riders could use Vodafone GNSS Corrections to provide details of their exact location and then alert other road users of their presence.
The two companies have agreed to advance customer trials and Vodafone is now inviting select customers to join pilot activities in Germany, Spain, and the UK, starting this month. The companies aim to test the service, called Vodafone GNSS Corrections, using a wide variety of devices connected to Vodafone’s global IoT network – one of the largest with more than 150 million connections – and its pan-European network which covers 12 countries.
“As new technologies like autonomous cars and connected machinery continue to evolve, Vodafone is providing the critical connections to support these new services with greater precision, more safety and at scale. Our customers want to be able to better locate their devices, and the collaboration with Topcon complements our existing asset tracking and fleet telematics solutions,” said Justin Shields, Director of Vodafone Business Platforms & Solutions.
