Locata Corporation today announced Hexagon, a leading global provider of design, measurement and visualisation technologies, will integrate the revolutionary Locata positioning technology with Hexagon’s positioning receivers. This partnership will leverage each company’s expertise to create the world’s first combined GPS-Locata positioning receiver. For the first time a tightly integrated solution to provide high-precision positioning without satellites will be available.
“Accurate positioning is a critical part of innumerable modern applications and Hexagon is undeniably a leader in supplying these GPS-style positioning and measurement technologies through our Leica Geosystems and NovAtel brands,” said Ola Rollén, Hexagon’s President and CEO. “However, as new applications for machine automation and robotics increasingly move into environments like mining and indoor warehousing — where satellite signals are blocked, unreliable or unavailable — it has become very clear there is a need for a ground-based back-up to GPS.”
The Locata technology, currently being demonstrated at the Institute of Navigation (ION) GNSS Conference, works by deploying ground-based LocataLite transmitters which augment conventional GPS systems. The LocataLites work without needing the additional corrections, communication or other assistance normally used for GPS high precision systems.
A Hexagon network, powered by Locata, has already been successfully deployed and used in Western Australia on a large open cut gold mine, supporting their high precision guidance systems as a part of the product development process.
“We are thrilled to extend and strengthen our collaboration with Hexagon and their powerful positioning brands,” said Nunzio Gambale, Chairman and CEO of Locata. “They have already worked closely with us for several years developing new applications.”
Hexagon will leverage the Locata technology to integrate and develop new product offerings. Hexagon will incorporate Locata signals into the GPS-GLONASS-Galileo-Compass positioning receivers to provide an additional “Local Constellation.” This combined solution promises to enable many new positioning capabilities for an increasing number of demanding industrial, commercial, military, government and mobile consumer applications.
Under the strategic partnership, Hexagon gains access to licenses and the right to integrate Locata’s receiver technology, sell LocataLites into any market in which Hexagon’s combined GPS-Locata receivers are sold, co-brand LocataLites, and other collaborative assistance for both the knowledge transfer and training required for integration and support. Hexagon has also extended its current agreement with Locata for exclusive rights to Locata networks for the global mining market.
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