Vodafone said it has successfully used new precision positioning technology to remotely track a vehicle to within just 10 centimetres of its location, an improvement of more than 3 metres compared with existing standard satellite-based systems. It did this in partnership with global positioning provider Sapcorda, using Vodafone's global IoT platform.
The company said its new precise positioning service is an example of it redefining its network and technology on a 'Telco as a Service' (TaaS) model. By identifying key network functionalities, and making them available through common APIs in a cloud platform, Vodafone said it is delivering new software, video and data applications at scale, in addition to gigabit-capable connectivity.
The new technologies may help large companies better locate critical assets, precisely align machines such as driverless trains at platforms and let farmers, airports and fleet operators know the exact whereabouts of their autonomous vehicles, buggies and cars at any given time.
When linked with Sapcorda's network of Global Navigation System Service (GNSS) receivers and augmentation technology, Vodafone IoT-enabled vehicles, machinery and devices improve location accuracy by correcting for things like the curvature of the earth, atmospheric delays and clock differences of global positioning satellites. This offers corporations hyper-precise positioning which they can use to ensure a safe environment for their employees, their customers, the public and their machines, Vodafone said.
Combined with video and on-board diagnostics, the technology will allow vehicle operators to carry out accurate location sensitive remote inspections and even pause machines such as grass cutters on public footpaths when they encounter people.
