High-Precision Positioning and Orientation Technology Empowers Modern Mining and Construction

In modern mining and construction operations, precise control over equipment location, attitude, and movement trajectory has evolved from a requirement for efficiency improvement to a core demand for safety and refined management. Whether it’s for autonomous haul trucks in open-pit mines, guidance of tunnel boring machines, or automation of heavy machinery on complex terrain, traditional meter-level or decimeter-level positioning accuracy can no longer meet the needs of high-precision operations, collision avoidance, and efficient resource utilization.

Why Centimeter-Level GNSS/INS Positioning and Orientation is Critical for Mining and Construction?

In mining and construction environments, a positioning deviation of just a few centimeters can lead to equipment boundary violations, collision risks, incorrect material loading positions, or failure to meet project acceptance standards. AsteRx SBi3 Pro provides not only location information but also real-time 3D attitude (heading, pitch, and roll) and dead reckoning capabilities. This ensures the system can continuously output reliable position and orientation data even in environments with temporary GNSS signal outages, such as tunnels, canyons, or areas with strong electromagnetic interference, guaranteeing operational continuity and safety.

Core Advantages of the AsteRx SBi3 Pro GNSS/INS Receiver

The AsteRx SBi3 Pro is more than just a GNSS receiver; it is a rugged positioning and orientation system integrated with a high-performance Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), specifically designed for extremely harsh industrial environments. Its core philosophy is: Always Reliable, Omni-directionally Precise, Easy to Integrate.

Powerful Multi-System, Multi-Frequency GNSS Signal Tracking Capability

Despite its compact structure (102 × 36 × 118 mm, weight 490 g), the AsteRx SBi3 Pro possesses powerful signal processing capabilities:

-544 hardware channels for simultaneously tracking all visible satellite signals.

-Supports all major constellations: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, SBAS (EGNOS, WAS, GAGAN, MSAS, SDCM).

-Supports multi-frequency signals (e.g., GPS L1 C/A, L1C, L2C, L2 P, L5; Galileo E1, E5a, E5b, etc.), enhancing interference resistance and reliability in complex environments.

Septentrio’s Unique GNSS+ Technology Suite for Demanding Industrial Environments

Septentrio’s patented GNSS+ technology ensures signal integrity and reliability in challenging mining and construction sites:

-AIM+: Industry-leading anti-jamming and anti-spoofing technology, effectively suppressing a wide variety of interferers from narrowband to broadband signals.

-FUSE+: Deeply integrates RTK positioning with IMU data to achieve single-antenna orientation and dead reckoning.

-APME+: A posteriori multipath estimator, mitigating multipath effects from large machinery and mine walls.

-LOCK+: Maintains excellent signal tracking stability under heavy equipment vibration and shock.

-IONO+: Advanced ionospheric scintillation mitigation technology.

-RAIM+: Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring.

These technologies work together to deliver outstanding performance metrics:

-RTK-INS Positioning Accuracy: Horizontal 0.6 cm + 0.5 ppm, Vertical 1 cm + 1 ppm (Initialization time 7 seconds).

-Integrated Attitude Accuracy (RTK Mode): Heading 0.35°, Pitch/Roll 0.06°.

-Dead Reckoning Accuracy (after GNSS outage):

10 seconds: Horizontal error 0.306 m, Heading error 0.35°.

30 seconds: Horizontal error 3.006 m, Heading error 0.4°.

-INS Velocity Accuracy (RTK Mode): 0.02 m/s.

Rugged and Durable, Adapted for Extreme Environments

-Protection Rating: IP68 fully waterproof and dustproof housing.

-Ruggedness: Compliant with MIL-STD-810G standards, resistant to shock, vibration, dust, and humidity.

-Operating Temperature: -30°C to +65°C, suitable for a wide range of applications from frigid mines to hot construction sites.

-Power Supply: Wide voltage input (4.5 – 36 VDC), compatible with vehicle power systems, maximum power consumption 2.5 W.

Integration of AsteRx SBi3 Pro into Mining and Construction Platforms

Autonomous Haul Trucks and Automated Transport Systems

The AsteRx SBi3 Pro provides an integrated position update rate of up to 10 Hz with latency below 20 ms (98% of samples), ensuring high-speed autonomous vehicles receive centimeter-level positioning and precise attitude data in real time for safe path tracking and accurate docking. Event marker accuracy < 20 ns supports high-precision time synchronization.

Precise Control of Drilling, Excavation, and Loading Machinery

The heading, pitch, and roll data output from its single antenna provide critical input for calculating the endpoint position of buckets, drill bits, etc., on excavators, drill rigs, and other engineering machinery. Combined with high-precision positioning, this enables automated operations and accurate measurement of engineering quantities. The high-performance IMU (gyroscope bias instability 2.7°/hr, accelerometer noise density as low as 17.0 – 24.8 µg/√Hz) ensures stable and reliable attitude measurement.

Tunnel Construction and Underground Mining Navigation

In underground environments completely devoid of GNSS signals, the built-in high-performance IMU provides continuous, reliable dead reckoning positioning and orientation, guiding equipment along predetermined paths. Cold start time < 45 seconds, warm start < 20 seconds ensure equipment quickly enters operational status.

Construction Progress Mapping and Machinery Monitoring

Through rich interfaces like Ethernet (supports PoE), 3 high-speed serial ports (RS232), and USB, high-precision position, attitude, and velocity data streams can be easily integrated into fleet management systems or construction mapping software, enabling real-time 3D visualization and refined management of work progress. Supports NTRIP client for easy access to correction data networks.

AsteRx SBi3 Pro: Laying the Precise Spatio-Temporal Foundation for Intelligent Mining and Construction

Enhancing Operational Safety and Efficiency

By providing uninterrupted centimeter-level position and real-time attitude data, it significantly reduces the risk of equipment collisions, optimizes work paths, and improves material transportation and project execution efficiency.

Simplified Integration, Accelerated Deployment

The intuitive Web User Interface, automatic lever arm optimization tools, comprehensive protocol support (SBP, NMEA, RTCM, CMR+), and detailed API documentation greatly reduce system integration difficulty and development time.

A Reliable Investment for the Future

The AsteRx SBi3 Pro integrates Septentrio’s most advanced anti-interference and multi-sensor fusion technologies. Its rugged design and long-term performance stability protect your equipment investment and adapt to future, more automated, and intelligent operational scenarios. The product is certified for RoHS, WEEE, CE, FCC.

Which GNSS/INS receiver is best suited for mining and construction machinery?

The Septentrio AsteRx SBi3 Pro is the ideal choice. It integrates a high-performance IMU, provides centimeter-level RTK positioning (horizontal 0.6 cm + 0.5 ppm) and 3D orientation (heading 0.35°), and features AIM+ advanced anti-jamming capability and an IP68 rugged housing, specifically designed for harsh industrial environments.

Why is GNSS/INS integrated navigation needed for mining and construction?

Because construction and mining environments often experience GNSS signal obstruction (e.g., canyons, tunnels) or strong electromagnetic interference. The INS (Inertial Navigation System) can provide continuous dead reckoning positioning and attitude output during GNSS signal outages, ensuring critical operations are not interrupted and safeguarding safety and continuity. For example, the horizontal positioning error can be maintained within approximately 3 meters for up to 30 seconds of GNSS outage.

What role does AIM+ technology play in mining sites?

Mining sites have numerous large pieces of equipment and complex electromagnetic environments. AIM+ technology can actively monitor and suppress various intentional or unintentional radio interference (including spoofing signals), ensuring the GNSS receiver outputs reliable, trustworthy position data under any conditions, which is crucial for autonomous driving and safety collision avoidance.

Is the installation and integration of the AsteRx SBi3 Pro complex?

Not complex. The receiver features a compact design (102x36x118mm), is lightweight (490g), and provides clear inertial reference point markings and rugged connectors (TNC, ODU). Coupled with the intuitive WebUI, RxTools software, and comprehensive data interfaces (Ethernet, serial ports, USB), it can be quickly integrated into various machinery control systems, shortening time-to-market.

Summary

-The AsteRx SBi3 Pro provides centimeter-level RTK positioning accuracy (horizontal 0.6 cm + 0.5 ppm, vertical 1 cm + 1 ppm) and high-precision 3D orientation (heading 0.35°, pitch/roll 0.06°).

-Powerful signal processing: 544 channels supporting all-constellation, multi-frequency signal tracking for GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS, SBAS.

-Excellent interference resistance and reliability: Integrates the GNSS+ technology suite including AIM+ anti-jamming, APME+ multipath mitigation, and LOCK+ robust tracking to ensure performance in complex environments.

-Built-in high-performance IMU (gyroscope 2.7°/hr instability) supports dead reckoning, maintaining horizontal error < 3.006 meters for up to 30 seconds of GNSS outage.

-IP68 protection rating, compliant with MIL-STD-810G military standard, operating temperature -30°C to +65°C, suitable for demanding outdoor and industrial scenes.

-Supports 10 Hz update rate, <20 ms latency, provides Ethernet (PoE), multiple serial ports, USB interfaces, and supports various data formats including SBP, NMEA, RTCM, CMR+.

-Fast deployment: Cold start <45 seconds, warm start <20 seconds, reacquisition average 1 second.