Session C4a: Latest Advancement from GNSS Receiver and Localization Algorithm Manufacturers (10-Minute Presentations)

New GNSS Solutions from Calian: Accutenna 4, Smart Choke, and CRPA for Interference Mitigation in Critical Infrastructure
Julien Hautcoeur, Bruce Shields, Ken MacLeod, Mohamed K. Emara, Ian Goode, Joseph Botros, Calian Ltd.
Location: Holiday 4-5 (Second Floor)
Date/Time: Thursday, Sep. 11, 4:30 p.m.

At Calian, we are continuously developing novel GNSS antenna technology with cutting-edge solutions that deliver excellent performance and reliability. Our GNSS products are designed to tackle some of the most challenging environments and demanding applications, ensuring optimal precision, resilience, and ease of use. Below is a glimpse of our leading-edge solutions:
1. Controlled Radiation Pattern Antenna (CRPA) Dual-Band CR8894XF
Calian’s CRPA technology is a breakthrough in GNSS interference mitigation, offering real-time adaptive null steering with a low power (1 W maximum), fully analog RF design. It offers CRPA technology in a low-power, lightweight, and small footprint form factor, allowing users from more diverse applications to have access to this valuable resilience-enabling technology. Using a four-element Accutenna-based array with eXtended Filtering (XF) for > 80 dB of out-of-band rejection, this CRPA dynamically adjusts the phase and amplitude of each of those elements to create and steer up to 3 nulls in each of the upper and lower GNSS bands, while maintaining compatibility with Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) receivers.
2. SmartChoke (VCS6050XF – Smart VeraChoke)
The VCS6050XF full GNSS band SmartChoke is the next-generation choke ring antenna, combining the traditional multipath suppression of a choke ring antenna with a high-performance Mosaic X5 receiver in one familiar and well-known package. This advanced, RF-enclosed, design leverages Calian’s eXtended Filtering (XF) for > 80 dB of out-of-band rejection. The primary advantage of this smart antenna is that the entire RF signal is contained within the metallic housing of the device. GNSS signals are inherently weak and susceptible to noise, so isolating the GNSS signal’s RF path, from the antenna to the receiver, separate from external components that could introduce interference, helps to optimize the overall performance of the GNSS system. This design minimizes external noise and maximizes signal integrity, ensuring more accurate and reliable GNSS measurements. It has power-over-ethernet (PoE) for ease of use and accessibility. Ideal for geodetic, infrastructure, and high-precision applications, the SmartChoke delivers millimeter-level phase center stability and industry-leading performance.
3. Accutenna® 4 – Four-Feed Lightweight and Compact Patch
Calian’s Accutenna® 4 introduces a high-performance lightweight and compact patch antenna with a four-feed architecture, enhancing GNSS reception with optimized gain, improved axial ratio, both at zenith and at low elevation angles, and a high phase center stability – phase center variation was shown to be < 4 mm. Designed for next-generation precision applications, this lightweight yet robust antenna offers excellent multipath rejection and enhanced performance across all GNSS bands. Whether deployed in UAVs, survey equipment, or autonomous systems, Accutenna® 4 establishes a new standard for high-precision GNSS reception when compared to similar antennas on the market.
This lineup of new advanced GNSS antenna solutions—Accutenna 4, Smart Choke, and CRPA—reinforces Calian’s commitment to innovation in high-precision positioning technology. In particular, the CRPA is designed to excel in interference-prone environments, where real-time adaptive beamforming is used for interference mitigation. Whether deployed in critical infrastructure such as ports, airports, and government facilities or integrated into safety-of-life applications, these solutions promote reliable and resilient GNSS performance. By combining the latest in RF engineering with robust, low-power designs, Calian continues to set new industry standards for reliability, durability, and interference suppression in modern navigation systems.