Taoglas, a leading provider of IoT and GNSS antennas, has announced two new GPS certification testing services for Google and its device partners. The services are designed to help device manufacturers certify products for Google Street View 360-degree mapping. The certification is required for devices to meet Google's new "Street View auto ready" standard. "Auto ready" certification distinguishes 360-degree cameras that deliver accurately positioned 360 video, even at high speeds. Taoglas worked with Google to develop the performance requirements as well as the test methodology used to establish a basic minimum level of GPS receiver performance. The services are available at any of Taoglas’ state-of-the-art design centers and labs in the USA, Ireland, Germany and Taiwan.
Compact wireless devices such as digital cameras with built-in GPS receiver systems contain complex electronic systems that can emit unwanted RF signals that can impact radio receiver performance. The effect of this RF noise can be combated with critical design decisions like the antenna, low noise amplifier (LNA), filters, and transmission line choice and implementation.
This new service from Taoglas will help device manufacturers objectively measure real-world performance to understand any GPS performance issues with their products. With this information, product manufacturers will know if their performance is optimized and will meet or exceed user expectation for the application at hand, and how it compares with their competitors.
Google Street View provides people with a 360-degree view of the world, and to enable these services, they require highly accurate location data. By working with Taoglas to establish a standardized compliance process, they are helping device manufacturers understand their requirements for GPS performance and quickly deliver products that match and exceed those high performance standards.
Taoglas is offering two levels of certification testing:
Street View Auto Ready Conformance Testing (GSA.31) provides a quick verification of minimum performance (in a pass/fail manner) required to achieve Street View certification. Taoglas uses its GPS constellation simulator and anechoic chamber to verify that radiated tracking and acquisition sensitivity meet a minimum performance standard at 15° intervals in one hemisphere. From these test results, manufacturers will be able to clearly see if the device’s GPS is performing adequately for basic location capabilities. The condensed period needed to run this test provides device manufacturers the best value to answer the question, “Is the GPS working optimally?”
Street View Auto Ready Performance Testing (GSA.32) provides an absolute level of testing to assess the GPS receiver performance according to the optional Google Street View Assessment test procedures. Taoglas uses its GPS constellation simulator and anechoic chamber to measure radiated tracking and acquisition sensitivity at 15° intervals in one hemisphere. These optional tests provide more insight into how well a device performs, providing absolute receive sensitivity performance data.
By certifying their products through Taoglas, device manufacturers will also be able to take advantage of Taoglas’ deep RF expertise, achieving success quickly and reducing time to market. Testing results for both services include suggestions on next steps to resolve identified issues.
