Advanced Navigation expands Certus line with Mini series

Field robots, autonomous vehicles, and aerial drones require reliable and compact navigational systems. Advanced Navigation this week announced that it expanded Certus range with the new Mini series.

Available in three variants, the Certus Mini series includes the GNSS-aided Certus Mini D and Certus Mini N inertial navigation system (INS). Meanwhile, the Certus Mini A functions as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS).

Weighing no more than 55 g (1.9 oz.), the products offer high performance and cost efficiency for their weight and size, said Advanced Navigation.

“Manufacturers and system integrators often face trade-offs between performance, size, cost, and weight,” noted Chris Shaw, CEO of Advanced Navigation. “The Certus Mini series is a testament these attributes do not need to conflict with one another.”

“For customers deploying land-based vehicles, this value-driven breakthrough lowers their entry barrier to precise and reliable navigation,” he added. “It also unlocks new possibilities for those using lightweight airborne platforms, such as drones, where every gram counts towards flight efficiency and power consumption.”

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Advanced Navigation designs for future flexibility

“Designed with flexibility in mind, the series is easily integrated into existing and new system builds with simple plug-and-play connectivity, minimizing development time and costs,” stated Shaw. “This adaptability, paired with its performance and size, makes the Mini series a powerful addition to the already versatile Certus range.”

Sydney, Australia-based Advanced Navigation shared the following specifications for its new systems:

• Dual-antenna INS – Leading the series, the Certus Mini D features dual-antenna GNSS (global navigation satellite system) heading for accurate heading, position, and velocity. At a maximum weight of 55 grams, it offers a dual-antenna INS in a lightweight and compact size.
• Multiband GNSS receiver – By operating on the L1/L5 multi-constellation GNSS, the Certus Mini series offers interference immunity, position accuracy, and multipath resistance in urban environments, such as near tall buildings, tree canopies, and canyons.
• Software-enabled hardware – The series includes Advanced Navigation’s algorithmic technology. “This software-enabled hardware delivers navigation data superior to outputs based on traditional filter methods, offering new levels of performance for miniature INS in GNSS-challenged environments,” claimed the company.

Certus Mini Dual-antenna navigation

• 0.1 ° roll and pitch
• 0.1 ° heading (GNSS)
• 10 mm RTK (real-time kinematic) positioning
• 1,000 Hz update rate

Certus Mini Navigation, single antenna

• 0.1 ° roll and pitch
• 0.2 ° heading (velocity)
• 10 mm RTK positioning
• 1,000 Hz update rate

Certus Mini Attitude and heading reference system (AHRS)

• 0.1 ° roll and pitch
• 0.8 ° heading (magnetic)
• 1,000 Hz update rate

Certus Mini offers ease of integration

Advanced Navigation said the Certus Mini series can be easily integrated into legacy systems and new builds, reducing installation or upgrade time and minimizing costs. The company said this can accelerate navigation deployment across diverse applications:

• Geospatial surveying – Certus Mini can provide accurate positioning and attitude without weighing down a drone, said Advanced Navigation. This enables new applications for surveying environments across open-pit mines, construction sites, urban areas, and critical infrastructure.
• Agriculture – In a new era of “farming-as-a-service” (FaaS), Certus Mini can be designed into agricultural robots and equipment to assist with a diverse range of tasks. These include aerial spraying, weed detection and localization, monitoring crop health, inspecting moisture levels, creating field maps, autonomous pruning, and grass cutting.
• Open-pit mining – Advanced Navigation said Certus Mini is suitable for surface drilling OEMs and integrators seeking precise rig alignment. The system can provide precise alignment even in deep pits where multipath errors occur, and its ruggedized design delivers reliability in harsh mining conditions, it said.
• Asset tracking – Certus Mini can be used to track and monitor assets for a range of industries, such as mining, facilities management, manufacturing, construction, commercial fleets, automotive, and oil and gas.

In-house manufacturing enables rapid product delivery

By leveraging capabilities in software-enabled hardware, Advanced Navigation claimed that its navigation and autonomous systems deliver “exceptional performance across land, air, sea, and space applications where GPS is unreliable.”

By manufacturing all systems in-house, Advanced Navigation said its vertical integration framework streamlines development, enhances quality control, and ensures agility in responding to customer demand. The company added that it uses machine learning and advanced quality-control mechanisms to maintain the reliability and longevity of the components integrated into its navigation systems.

The Certus Mini series is now available for purchase in OEM and ruggedized forms.

Advanced Navigation noted that the series will replace its Orientus and Spatial legacy systems. Customer support will continue for Orientus and Spatial, with the Certus Mini Series is recommended for new builds.