Vincotech announces a telematics platform which will feature the SiRFstarIV technology. The A1091 platform integrates the antennas into a rugged and waterproof enclosure for tracking applications in harsh environments. In order to meet identified customer requirements the new A1091 integrates all antennas into a small waterproof enclosure. Together with the single-cable installation this helps in reducing the total system cost. In a further step to decrease the operating costs the A1091 will be available in a version integrating WLAN 802.11b/g.
By using WiFi as an alternative communication interface – particularly under operating conditions where a Wi-Fi network is available and when no exception such an emergency needs to be handled - the GSM airtime and total cost can be kept to a minimum. The A1091 is a telematics solution making use of the released SiRFstarIV GPS receiver technology (GSD4e). Several innovative features make this device appealing for asset tracking applications. Set in SiRFaware mode, the GPS maintains hot start conditions continuously and can provide an accurate position within seconds, regardless of the power-off state of the receiver before a fix request.
The SiRFaware mode also addresses the requirement for minimizing power consumption while maintaining location awareness by drawing as little as 50 to 400µA. Position data will be available and continuously updated under even the harshest environmental conditions. With -160dBm navigation sensitivity and -163dBm tracking sensitivity the GPS creates a performance enhancement in the user experience. The GSD4e chip technology has the capability of detecting, attenuating and even removing jamming signals completely, alleviating the issue of having multiple radios functioning effectively alongside the SiRFstarIV GPS receiver in a telematics device.
In addition, with its active jammer removal capability, the GSD4e is the solution that addresses the issue of external jammers which can’t be controlled. This could include motors or deliberately transmitted jamming signals within the L1 band intended to prevent GPS receivers from calculating a position. The GSD4e is capable of detecting and removing up to 8 different jamming sources. The A1091 is a complete telematics hardware solution including integrated antennas. Using a modular design approach it is available in several standard configurations. The implementation uses state-of-the-art components, including the SiRFstarIV GPS receiver, a quad band GSM/GPRS modem and a Cortex-M3 ARM microcontroller.
A major focus during the development of the A1091 was on minimizing the power consumption of the platform. While the amount of IO is limited the A1091 still offers the most important interfaces like digital and analog inputs and outputs, a standard serial port, Dallas 1-wire and a CAN interface. The A1091 is freely programmable and, due to the use of the industry standard ARM microcontroller, there is a choice of development tools and software solutions available. Vincotech offers a number of tools including boot loader and flash utility.
It is worth noting that while the available libraries and board support package assist in programming and porting of existing applications, Vincotech, as a hardware developer and manufacturer, does not provide any finished application software. The A1091 platform targets applications around the world and will be type-approved for all relevant markets.
