At OxTS, we know that our innovation not only plays a vital role in driving us forward; it drives our customers forward too. Our customers rely on our solutions to enable them to create their own. We will never take that trust for granted or allow our customers, or ourselves, to be left behind. We’re on a mission to enable our customers to be able to navigate anywhere, with confidence. Being driven is a core value of our brand, and we’re dedicated to making a difference. Here, OxTS Navigation Manager, Yury Sherkunov shares insights into a typical ‘day in his life’:
1. When did you join OxTS, and what appealed to you about working for the Company?
I joined OxTS in September 2018 as a Navigation Engineer. It was a big change for my career because before that I was doing research in theoretical quantum physics. Joining the Navigation Team was a great experience for me, not only because of my colleagues who helped me master new technologies quickly, but also because it allowed me to work for the best company in the industry providing very accurate navigation measurements for Automotive, Survey and Mapping, and Autonomy applications. I was very impressed with how OxTS encouraged engineers to work not only on improvement of current technologies, but also to explore new ideas, and how fast these new ideas could find their way to customers in the shape of new products.
2. What’s a ‘typical’ day at work for you, as OxTS Navigation Manager?
My work can be really varied but I spend a lot of time working with my team on various projects to ensure we are on track to achieving our goals, and those of the company. I have the privilege to manage a talented and enthusiastic group of engineers who make up the Navigation Team. I give guidance and help to navigate complex technical challenges, something which I really enjoy. I collaborate with engineers and senior leaders from other departments across the business. One thing I’m particularly passionate about is ensuring the products we take to market are of the highest quality and I work closely with our Commercial Department to do this.
Another part of my day often includes working on new technologies with the team and formulating projects which can be really exciting and rewarding. It might be that we are making improvements to our current technology, such as OxTS advanced GNSS engine, calibration, etc., or exploring new technologies, such as indoor testing using ultrawide band technology, advanced sensor fusion techniques aimed at accurate navigation in the environment without GNSS access.
3. Which of the projects you’ve been involved with so far has been the most satisfying and why?
I’ve worked on numerous exciting projects during my time in OxTS, both as an engineer and manager. I think I am most proud of working on multi-core IMU technology, which has been implemented in numerous OxTS products, such as AV200, RT1003 v2, and xNAV650. This technology enabled us to significantly improve our IMU and ultimately the INS performance thanks to a range of new ideas developed by our engineers. This was an example of cross-team collaboration, with ideas coming from the Electronics Team, Navigation Team and others from across the business. It was very exciting to work on initial simulations to estimate expected navigation performance, calibration, and finally obtain specifications of the units based on the multi-core technology.
4. What’s the most challenging thing you’ve tackled for OxTS, and how did you handle it?
It can be a challenge to juggle competing priorities and deadlines on a daily basis, but I enjoy being able to tackle key issues in a direct way. As a company we want the best for our customers, so we won’t shy away from challenges and instead consider them opportunities for growth. I also want to ensure my team is fully supported and that there is a balance between them working on projects which play to their current strengths, whilst also developing new skills in-line with their career progression paths. I see my role as not only completing required projects in full and on time, which is of course of paramount importance for OxTS, but also to help team members progress their career and improve their own set of skills.
5. What’s the best thing about being part of the OxTS team?
The best thing about being part of the OxTS team is it’s an exciting environment to progress new technologies for customers at pace. I work with a team of fantastic professionals who have many fields of expertise. It’s a great environment to work in – not only do we enjoy the work we do, we enjoy doing it together which is a bonus. It’s a great place to work!
6. What are your main goals for the year ahead at OxTS?
This year I’m really looking forward to working on new sensor fusion technologies which will allow our customers to navigate in GNSS-denied environments with high accuracy. We will also continue working on improving our multi-core IMU technology and GNSS engine.
Further resources:
- Get in touch to discuss how OxTS solutions can support you with your latest project.
- Discover our automotive system applications.
- Explore survey and mapping applications.
- See how we can help you navigate the path to autonomy.
