Fixposition

Fixposition is a Schlieren, Switzerland-based technology company that develops high-precision global positioning systems combining computer vision and satellite navigation for autonomous robots and vehicles. The company's core hardware and software solutions, specifically the Vision-RTK 2 sensor, integrate real-time kinematic positioning with visual odometry to maintain accurate navigation in environments where standard GPS signals are degraded or unavailable. These positioning systems are utilized by original equipment manufacturers across the agriculture, logistics, and commercial landscaping sectors to enable scalable autonomous operations in challenging outdoor terrains. Fixposition has established strategic partnerships and technology integrations with notable industry entities, including agricultural vehicle developer Agtonomy, positioning service provider Topcon, and the research institution ETH Zurich. The organization recently expanded its leadership team by appointing Ulf Claesson as the independent Chairman of the Board. The company was founded in 2017 by Zhenzhong Su.

# High-Level Overview

Fixposition is a precision positioning technology company that develops sensor fusion solutions enabling autonomous systems to navigate accurately in challenging environments where traditional GPS fails.[1][3] The company builds the Vision-RTK 2, a compact positioning sensor that combines satellite navigation (GNSS), computer vision, and inertial measurement to deliver centimeter-level accuracy indoors, in urban canyons, forests, and other GNSS-degraded areas.[2][3]

Fixposition serves a diverse ecosystem of autonomous machine manufacturers—from agricultural robots and autonomous lawnmowers to industrial mobile platforms and driverless shuttles.[3] The core problem it solves is fundamental to the autonomous robotics industry: precise localization at scale. While most autonomous systems rely on expensive, power-intensive solutions or struggle in environments with limited satellite signal, Fixposition's deep sensor fusion technology provides a cost-efficient, compact alternative that works reliably everywhere.[1][3] The company has achieved notable traction, partnering with over 60 companies worldwide and achieving adoption across more than 50 robot manufacturers.[3]

# Origin Story

Fixposition emerged as a spin-off from ETH Zurich in August 2017, founded by sensor fusion experts and GNSS specialists.[3][4] The company's academic roots—drawing on cutting-edge research from one of Europe's leading technical universities—gave it deep technical credibility in a field requiring sophisticated integration of computer vision and satellite navigation.[3]

The founding team recognized a critical gap: as the robotics industry scaled, autonomous systems needed reliable positioning that worked everywhere, not just in open-sky environments. Rather than building yet another GPS receiver, they pioneered a fundamentally different approach by fusing multiple sensor modalities through deep learning techniques.[3][4] This vision attracted investment from prominent venture capitalists including True Ventures, Miracle Plus (led by former Baidu COO Dr. Qi Lu), and Ninebot, signaling early validation from both Silicon Valley and Asia-Pacific robotics leaders.[3]

# Core Differentiators

• Deep Sensor Fusion Technology: Unlike traditional GNSS-only solutions, Fixposition's proprietary fusion engine integrates GNSS observations, camera images, IMU measurements, and auxiliary inputs (like wheel speed data) to compensate for individual sensor weaknesses and deliver optimal positioning even when satellite signals are degraded or denied.[4]

• Centimeter-Level Accuracy in Challenging Environments: The Vision-RTK 2 achieves high-precision positioning in urban canyons, forests, underpasses, and tree canopies—environments where conventional GPS becomes unreliable.[2][4] This capability directly addresses the primary technical bottleneck preventing autonomous robot deployment at scale.

• Compact, Affordable, Easy Integration: Fixposition positions its solution as simple to integrate with minimal development overhead, reducing time-to-market for robot manufacturers.[4] This developer-friendly approach contrasts with expensive, complex alternatives that require substantial custom engineering.

• Dual-Band Multi-GNSS Architecture: The sensor uses dual-band receivers capturing signals from all four major GNSS systems (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo) and applies RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) corrections via NTRIP to achieve centimeter accuracy.[4]

• Proven Ecosystem Partnerships: The company has built credibility through partnerships with industry leaders like Greenzie (autonomous mowing), Husarion (industrial robotics), AgileX Robotics, and PIX Moving (autonomous mobility), demonstrating real-world validation across multiple verticals.[1][3]

# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Fixposition sits at the intersection of two powerful trends: the robotics automation wave and the edge AI/sensor fusion revolution. As autonomous systems move from controlled environments into real-world deployment—agriculture, construction, urban logistics, sanitation—the need for reliable, affordable localization becomes the critical enabler.[3]

The company benefits from several tailwinds. First, robot manufacturing is consolidating around modular, plug-and-play components rather than vertically integrated stacks, creating demand for best-in-class positioning modules.[3] Second, GNSS correction services are becoming commoditized through public VRS networks, reducing the infrastructure barrier that once made RTK positioning prohibitively expensive.[4] Third, computer vision and sensor fusion are maturing as disciplines, allowing startups to compete with legacy positioning incumbents (traditionally dominated by surveying and automotive suppliers) on performance and cost.

Fixposition's influence extends beyond its direct customers. By proving that sensor fusion can solve the "last-mile" localization problem for autonomous robots, the company is accelerating the timeline for robot deployment in agriculture, landscaping, and industrial settings—industries where labor constraints and margin pressure create strong economic incentives for automation.[1][3]

# Quick Take & Future Outlook

Fixposition has positioned itself as the de facto positioning standard for autonomous robotics by solving a problem that was previously either unsolved or solved expensively. With over 50 robot manufacturers already adopting the Vision-RTK 2 and expanding partnerships across EMEA, North America, and Asia-Pacific, the company has achieved product-market fit in a fragmented but rapidly consolidating market.[3]

Looking ahead, Fixposition's growth will likely be driven by three factors: (1) vertical expansion into new robot categories (drones, autonomous vehicles, industrial inspection systems like the Proceq partnership announced in 2025);[5] (2) geographic scaling as robot adoption accelerates in Asia-Pacific and emerging markets; and (3) margin expansion as manufacturing scales and sensor costs decline. The company's challenge will be maintaining technical leadership as larger players (automotive suppliers, drone manufacturers, robotics platforms) inevitably develop competing solutions.

The broader implication: Fixposition exemplifies how specialized sensor fusion companies can create outsized value by solving a single, critical problem exceptionally well for a fragmented ecosystem of customers. In an era where autonomous systems are becoming infrastructure, precise positioning everywhere—not just outdoors—may prove as foundational as the internet itself.