Automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are the backbone of modern container terminals. They move shipping containers between quay cranes, stacking yards, and truck lanes with precision that depends on continuous GNSS positioning. At a busy Chinese port, however, the RF environment was anything but clean. Radar systems, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) transmitters, and heavy electrical equipment created interference that caused repeated GNSS dropouts. The BNT009ProG1 triple-band anti-jamming antenna was selected to restore reliable navigation for the AGV fleet.
The Challenge: RF Interference in a Container Terminal
The terminal operated around the clock, with AGVs following predefined paths and performing tight maneuvers near stacking cranes. GNSS receivers on the vehicles tracked multiple constellations for redundancy, but interference often saturated the front end. Technicians recorded narrowband, broadband, pulse, and swept jamming across the BDS, GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo bands. When the AGVs lost lock, the control system forced them into a safety stop, disrupting the entire container flow.
The port needed a lightweight, compact anti-jamming antenna that could handle multiple constellations and multiple interferers without adding significant power draw or weight to the AGVs.
Why the BNT009ProG1 Was Chosen
The BNT009ProG1 triple-band anti-jamming antenna met the requirements. Its 8-channel architecture gives finer null resolution and more degrees of freedom than typical 4-element designs. The unit covers BDS-B1i, GPS-L1, GLONASS-G1, and Galileo-E1 simultaneously, so a jammer targeting one constellation cannot disable the entire navigation system. With up to 105 dBc single-jammer suppression, it cancels interference sources that would overwhelm a standard receiver.
At 150×130×21 mm and under 400 g, the BNT009ProG1 fit easily onto the AGV roof without affecting the vehicle’s center of gravity. Power consumption of ≤12 W was acceptable for the AGV’s electrical budget, and the 5–17 V DC input worked with the onboard supply.
Deployment on the AGV Fleet
The integration team mounted the BNT009ProG1 on each AGV using the 4-hole flange and M3 screws. No external ground plane was needed, thanks to the integrated counterpoise. The XT30 connector supplied 12 V DC from the vehicle bus. For data, the team used the TTL serial output to feed NMEA 0183 sentences directly to the AGV’s navigation controller. The SMA RF port was left unused for this installation, as the built-in receiver provided everything the controller required.
During commissioning, the team updated firmware through the J30J-9ZK connector’s TTL serial lines. The adaptive nulling engine was left in automatic mode, requiring no user configuration.
Results: Continuous AGV Operation in a Noisy Environment
After the BNT009ProG1 units were installed, the AGV fleet operated through areas that previously caused frequent stops. The multi-constellation support meant that if a jammer targeted one band, the remaining three constellations continued providing position fixes. The 8-channel array formed deep nulls toward interference sources, preserving clean signals even when multiple jammers were active.
Over a two-week evaluation period, the terminal recorded zero GNSS-related safety stops on AGVs equipped with the BNT009ProG1, compared with an average of several stops per day before the upgrade. The positioning data remained stable enough for the AGVs to maintain their assigned lanes and docking accuracy.
Key Takeaways for Port Automation Teams
For automated ports and industrial sites, GNSS interference is a daily operational risk. A triple-band anti-jamming antenna like the BNT009ProG1 provides a practical safeguard. Its 8-channel design offers finer spatial nulling than 4-element alternatives, and its multi-constellation coverage prevents a single jammer from taking down the whole navigation system.
The BNT009ProG1 is also easy to integrate. It accepts 5–17 V DC, draws only 12 W, and outputs standard NMEA 0183 data through TTL serial or RF through SMA. No external anti-jamming processor is required. For AGV fleets, unmanned ground vehicles, or any platform that cannot afford a GNSS dropout, this compact module delivers reliable protection without heavy hardware.
This case study reflects a representative deployment at a busy container terminal. Actual performance may vary depending on interference conditions and vehicle configuration.