Japan: Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V. has established the High Precision Positioning Systems Division at its German Branch headquarters in Ratingen, Germany. The new division offers key technologies to German and European customers to accelerate the introduction of centimeter-level autonomous driving and safe driving assistance. These are the Mobile Mapping System (MMS) and the high-precision AQLOC positioning receiver with centimeter-level accuracy for applications in road and utility vehicles, harbors and drones as well as the agricultural sector.
AQLOC will be compatible with GNSS services and positioning data augmentation services by Sapcorda, a joint-venture by Mitsubishi Electric, Bosch, Geo++ and u-blox. MMS uses car-mounted GNSS antennas, laser scanners and cameras to gather 3D positioning data for road assets with high-level accuracy, creating the comprehensive, high-definition 3D maps needed to support autonomous driving.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation is making mobile mapping and high-precision positioning systems available in Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania, where the demand for highly accurate, precise and efficient field surveys and infrastructure inspections is expected to grow.
“We use our experience in the development of the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) and the Centimeter-Level Augmentation Service (CLAS), which already offer centimeter-level positioning data in Japan. In addition, Mitsubishi Electric invested in “Dynamic Map Platform Co., Ltd.”, a 3D mapping project in Japan that has acquired the US company Ushr in February 2019 and thus made an important contribution to the infrastructure for autonomous driving. With our technological know-how and experience, we want to pave the way for precise and safe autonomous driving in Europe”, explains Kenji Nakakuki, Division Manager, High Precision Positioning Systems, Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V.
MMS and AQLOC equipment will be manufactured by the company’s parent company in Japan, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, a leading manufacturer contributing to space research and development since the 1960s, having participated in the production of more than 500 Japanese and international satellites as the prime contractor or major subcontractor.
“We are happy to add this new business area to our wide-ranging mobility solution portfolio, which already includes automotive equipment, power devices and railway systems. The High Precision Positioning Systems Division rounds out our mobility sector and will offer German and European customers essential technologies for highly precise autonomous driving systems in a variety of scenarios”, says Andreas Wagner, President of the German Branch of Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V.
The company will showcase the portfolio of the business unit with hands-on exhibits at the upcoming INTERGEO trade show in Stuttgart, Germany from 17 to 19 September 2019 and at the newly established Mobility Electronics Suppliers Expo (MES Expo) in Berlin, Germany from November 5 to 7, 2019.
