California-based Point One Navigation has launched the GraphQL application program interface for GNSS-powered devices. The company says its latest innovation is able to simplify development and eliminate the need for vendor libraries, intermediate data stores or working with convoluted networks of representation state transfer (REST) endpoints. Developers building RTK-enabled products will be able to use it to integrate precise location into their products and services.
“We’ve seen the adoption of precision location being held back by the lack of straightforward APIs for integration, credential provisioning and management,” said Aaron Nathan, Point One Navigation CEO. “As a developer-focused company, we are excited to launch an API that vastly simplifies both integration and operations for RTK-enabled products. We look forward to seeing the innovative products developers will create with this unprecedented technology and are proud to provide unmatched observability.”
Many REST-based APIs are built around how the vendor stores their data, not around how developers use that data. That means developers may need to learn all the vendor’s endpoints, verbs and relationships between entities across endpoints. Integration with these APIs has historically required infrastructure development to collect and store data for usage in applications. This can mean additional cost and complexity as well as adding a significant timing overhead.
Point One states that its new API will allow developers to send a single HTTPS request and receive plain, well-formed JSON data that can be used natively without an intermediate datastore or application. Getting all the data needed from a single request simplifies integration for developers. In most cases, the solution can be integrated into a RTK-enabled product within a single day, the company says.
Subscriptions are available for real-time applications, enabling developers to subscribe to changes and events. This enables developers to create reactive, event-based systems rather than having to juggle timers, polling intervals and quotas.
The GraphQL API enables provisioning and credential management for product creators. Corrections can be automatically associated with devices, so there’s no need to share NTRIP credentials with end users or provide support around NTRIP passwords and mount points.
Combined with a web-based management portal, the API is designed to empower product creators and operations teams to manage and troubleshoot devices or consume events in real time into their own systems.