Instruction manual

Introduction Page 1

Reliance Fundamentals

Introduction

To satisfy real-time applications (such as construction machine control, vehicle guidance,

precision navigation and surveying) requiring high accuracy, fast update rates, and low

latency, we have developed the Z-12 Real-Time Sensor. Based on Ashtech’s Real-

Time Z™ technology, the Z-12 Real-Time Sensor has been upgraded to achieve faster

position updates with latencies as low as 100ms. The Z-12 Real-Time Sensor calculates

new positions independently, as fast as 5Hz. The system provides the fastest available

initialization time, with ambiguity resolution of seconds in kinematic mode. Once

initialized, users can have confidence in precise landforming, docking, or CAT IIIB

aircraft landing, due to real-time accuracy at centimeter level.

This performance comes with all the existing features that earned the Z-12 its reputation

as the leading dual frequency receiver, including the Industry’s best:

• Patented Z-tracking™ of satellites during periods of large ionospheric activity

• Jam immunity

• Speed and reliability of ambiguity resolution

Overview

The Z-12 Real-Time Sensor, Figure 1.1, processes signals from the Global Positioning

System (GPS) satellite constellation. The sensor provides real-time position, velocity, and

time measurements using twelve dedicated separate and parallel channels for Coarse/

Acquisition (C/A) code-phase, and carrier-phase measurement on the L1 (1575 MHz), and

Precise (P) code phase and carrier phase measurement on L1 and L2 (1227 MHz) bands.

The sensor receives satellite signals via an L-band antenna and low-noise amplifier

(LNA). The sensor operates stand-alone, and as a base (reference) station or remote

(rover) station providing real-time differential GPS operation for code and real-time

kinematic (RTK) operation for carrier phase. The sensor implements the RTCM SC 104

V2.2 standard for differential and RTK operation, including the newly defined message

types 18 and 19. These features allow the sensor to achieve centimeter accuracy while