To ensure safety and reduce production loss, the determination of precise positional data of operating machines is of key importance. Although encoders translate physical motion into electrical data, they require regular maintenance of the moving parts resulting in high costs. On the other hand, the positioning of preset sensors at the end of rails make them a time-consuming alternative using, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags for enhancing the accuracy of encoders which are not reliable in long term.

GPS RTK (Real Time Kinematics) for EcoStruxure™ M580 solutions is an IIOT solution to enhance precision of position data derived from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). One Base Station can broadcast RTK corrections for multiple Rover Stations. A small EcoStruxure™ M580 CPU or EcoStruxure™ M580 remote drop with a PMEGPS0100 can be added to the Base Station to send diagnostic of the Base station.

This technique involves the measurement of both the arrival time and the carrier phase of the satellite signal at the mobile equipment usually called the Rover. This information is compared to the signal received at a known reference location called the Base Station. The Rover and Base Station share information through a two-way radio or internet connection. The Rover and Base Station can be separated by up to 10 km and a single Base Station can provide reference information for multiple Rovers. The position of the Rover can be measured up to an accuracy of 5 cm.