Introducing the Trimble AP+ Air: A Revolutionary Georeferencing Solution

Applanix has unveiled the Trimble AP+ Air, a cutting-edge OEM Direct Georeferencing system designed for data collection via both unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and piloted aircraft. This compact and lightweight solution empowers users to generate highly accurate maps and 3D models without relying on ground control points.

Advanced Technology for Precision Mapping

The Trimble AP+ Air is engineered with a focus on SWaP (size, weight, and power) optimization.It features dual embedded survey-grade GNSS chipsets,an onboard inertial measurement unit (IMU),an external IMU,and the innovative Applanix IN-Fusion+ GNSS-aided inertial firmware. This system can be tailored to meet the Direct Georeferencing accuracy requirements across various altitudes and is compatible with a wide array of airborne remote sensing devices, including photogrammetric cameras, LiDAR systems, multi-spectral and hyper-spectral cameras, and also synthetic aperture radar.

Seamless Integration with Post-Processing Software

The Trimble AP+ Air is fully compatible with Applanix’s POSPac MMS post-processing software, which includes CenterPoint RTX capabilities for achieving centimeter-level positioning globally, eliminating the need for base stations. This makes it an ideal choice for OEMs and system integrators aiming to create efficient UAV mapping solutions.

Enhanced LiDAR and Photogrammetry Support

LiDAR integrators can leverage the Trimble AP+ Air’s compatibility with Applanix’s POSPac MMS (Mobile Mapping Suite) LiDAR QC Tools, which facilitate boresight computation and enhance the relative accuracy of the POSPac trajectory used for point cloud generation. For camera integration, the system is supported by pospac MMS Photogrammetry Tools, which assist in boresight calculations and camera IO quality control.

Expert Insights on the New Solution

Joe Hutton, Director of Inertial Technology and Airborne Products at Applanix, stated: “We have harnessed the most elegant features of Applanix Direct Georeferencing and Trimble GNSS technology to create a powerful, compact, and versatile solution. It offers the adaptability that system integrators need to embed a single hardware solution, which can be configured to meet the diverse Direct Georeferencing requirements of various sensor types, whether deployed on UAVs or manned aircraft. This truly represents an ‘integrate once, use many times’ approach.”