Author: GPS World Staff

Insitu ScanEagle completes maritime search at Unmanned Warrior

At the Royal Navy’s Unmanned Warrior demonstration, Insitu showcased its newest wide-area maritime surface search and identification technology for representatives from the Royal Navy as well as military and industry officials from across the globe.

During the event, held in Benbecula, Scotland, the Insitu team was tasked to perform a range of maritime missions using ScanEagle equipped with the ViDAR payload. Developed in collaboration with Australia-based Sentient Vision Systems, ViDAR is a maritime surface search with automatic target finding capability on a group two unmanned platform.

ScanEagle with ViDAR. (PRNewsFoto/Insitu)

ScanEagle flew more than 55 hours, covering an area more than twice the size of Wales (41,500 km²) and using fewer than eight gallons of fuel.

Despite sometimes challenging weather, ScanEagle with ViDAR autonomously detected hundreds of large and small objects in sea state six conditions. These included spotting and positively identifying two mine sweepers by number, spotting smaller objects such as stationary jet skis and buoys at 5 nm and locating 28 contacts from one sortie in fewer than two hours.

ViDAR successfully and reliably detected objects through changing environmental conditions ranging from clear sun to wind, rain, haze and fog.

ScanEagle flew more hours than any other participating platform.

“During one flight our team spotted a target 19 nm away before the exercise began,” said Suzanne McNamara, vice president of business development for Insitu. “ScanEagle with ViDAR is a force multiplier that will establish a new standard for global navies. We are extremely proud of the successes we achieved during Unmanned Warrior and look forward to supporting our customers with this advanced capability.”

In May, Sentient and Insitu confirmed the signing of an exclusive global distribution agreement for the ViDAR software for unmanned systems within the small UAS weight class. ScanEagle is the first and only unmanned platform to fly this payload.

November 28, 2016
Abstracts sought for ION GNSS+ 2017

The Institute of Navigation is now seeking abstract submissions for its largest annual conference, ION GNSS+.

ION GNSS+ is the world’s largest technical meeting and showcase of GNSS technology, products and services. This year’s conference will bring together international leaders in GNSS and related positioning, navigation and timing fields to present new research, introduce new technologies, discuss current policy, demonstrate products and exchange ideas.

ION GNSS+ 2017 will take place Sept. 25-29, 2017, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon.

The abstract deadline is March 10, 2017

ION GNSS+ features two unique tracks, each with its own abstract and manuscript submission requirements: the Applications and Advances Track and the Research and Innovations Track. Visit the website for details.

November 28, 2016
FAA suspends approval of NavWorx ADS-B units over GPS chip inspections

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration today issued an emergency order suspending the authorization NavWorx Inc. uses to manufacture certain Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) navigation units.

The suspension order was issued after NavWorx declined on repeated occasions to allow FAA personnel to conduct the required inspections. The suspension is immediate and will remain in effect until NavWorx consents to the inspections and demonstrates compliance with FAA standards.

ADS-B units, when properly manufactured and operated, help to improve the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations.

The authorization, known as a Technical Standard Order Authorization (TSOA), enables suppliers to produce components for use on aircraft after proving that each component meets FAA standards. Federal regulations set forth FAA’s authority to inspect suppliers’ quality systems, facilities, technical data, and products to determine whether they meet safety standards. These regulations also provide that FAA may witness any tests necessary to determine a product’s compliance.

The FAA is concerned that two versions of the company’s ADS600-B units, carrying part numbers 200-0012 and 200-0013, may contain an internal GPS chip that does not meet the FAA’s minimum performance standards for transmitting an aircraft’s accurate location.

On June 29, the FAA requested to inspect NavWorx’s facility to determine the specific GPS unit and software installed in part numbers 200-0012 and 200-0013, and if the units are marked correctly. NavWorx informed the inspector that he would not be allowed inside the company’s facility. During subsequent correspondence, NavWorx agreed to allow an Aug. 31 inspection but then denied access when FAA inspectors arrived.

NavWorx later agreed to allow inspectors into the facility on Nov. 21 but they were again denied access.

Due to the company’s unwillingness to comply with these requirements, the FAA has determined that NavWorx’s continued use of its FAA authorization is contrary to the interests of safety in air commerce. During the suspension, NavWorx may not mark or otherwise indicate that its ADS600-B units meet FAA standards.

NavWorx Responds

Navworx president Bill Moffit posted the following on the company website:

“I first want to thank all of you for your patience during this unfortunate and unprecedented situation. Contrary to what you may surmise from emails and proposed actions, I want to ensure everyone that we are diligently working on the solution to resolve this situation in a timely matter. NavWorx values the commitment you have placed in us by purchasing our products and strives to honor that commitment that you have entrusted with us.

“Currently we are waiting on the resolution of the AD [Airworthiness Directive] on or about December 20th. Based on the final AD, the AD may be rescinded, or the AD may be modified to allow for just previously approved GPS sources. If the FAA does not allow the use of the internal GPS, then we will offer the ability to modify the products from the 200-0012 & 200-0013 part numbers to part numbers 200-0112 & 200-0113. The 200-0112 & 200-0113 part numbers are approved under the FAA Rebate program and are not the subject to the AD.

“As I hope you understand, the past few weeks our phone system has been overwhelmed by volume and we can imagine the frustration this may cause. Be assured we are here and working tirelessly to take care of you, our customer.

“Please check our web page weekly for updates and for our announcements which will detail our program to remedy this situation.

“For those that need immediate service, feel free to contact our support email at [email protected] or contact our Distributor, Dallas Avionics, Inc Product Specialist, Scott C Edwards at 214-668-7466 or 800-527-2581.

“Regards,

“Bill Moffitt
“President,
“NavWorx Incorporated”

NavWorx also issued the following statement on Oct. 17:

Statement on FAA Proposal of AD

The FAA has proposed an AD for our model ADS600-B part number (P/N) 200-0012 and 200-0013 and Model ADS600-EP P/N 200-8013. The proposal is just that; a proposal. We disagree with the FAA’s position that the units supposedly communicate unreliable position information.

The FAA has never shared with us any instance of our units doing so, there is no support for this claim in the docket, and we are unaware of any unit doing so. In fact, for two and a half years the FAA had no problem with the ability of our units to correctly communicate the position of aircraft with the units.

Unfortunately, in January of 2016 the FAA would have cut off functionality of these units because they were broadcasting a SIL of 0. This action was the result of a March 2015 notice to deny TIS-B access to ADS-B units that were uncertified and broadcasting with a SDA of 0. The units subject to the proposed AD are neither uncertified nor do they broadcast with a SDA of 0.

To insure continued access to TIS-B data we implemented a minor change so the units would broadcast a SIL of 3, which our testing had confirmed was appropriate, allowing them to continue to be identified for TIS-B purposes. The proposed AD would deny these units access to TIS-B data.

We intend to file comments on the proposal and would encourage you to do likewise regarding your experience with our units. In the meantime we continue to work with the FAA to resolve our disagreements.

If you have comments on this AD or the FAA’s implementation of ADS-B, please contact Administrator Huerta or your congressman:

Contact: Administrator Huerta
Via: Max Slutsky, Special Advisor to the Administrator
email: [email protected] tel: 202-267-9869
Contact your Congressman: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

November 22, 2016
Data key to Intel’s $250 million autonomous investment

Intel Capital is targeting more than $250 million of additional new investments over the next two years to make fully autonomous driving a reality, Intel CEO Brian Krzanich announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show’s AutoMobility LA conference in November. This was the first time Intel delivered a keynote address at an automotive conference.

The investments will drive the development of technologies that push the boundaries on next-generation connectivity, communication, context awareness, deep learning, security, safety and more.

Intel displays its automated driving technology at the Automobility LA conference on Nov. 15. (Photo: Intel)

Drilling down into the areas that will be fueled by the fresh investments, Krzanich highlighted technologies that will drive global Internet of Things (IoT) innovation in transportation; areas where technology can directly mitigate risks while improving safety, mobility and efficiency at a reduced cost; and companies that harness the value of the data to improve reliability of automated driving systems.

Data Deluge. Addressing a large crowd of automotive and technology industry representatives, Krzanich talked about how the automotive industry is on the cusp of a major transformation, demanding unprecedented levels of computing, intelligence and connectivity.

With the variety of sensors, sonar, lidar and cameras that will come embedded in autonomous cars, he highlighted the need for the industry to be prepared for the data deluge with more than 4,000 gigabytes of data coming from a single car each day.

November 21, 2016
T-Mobile device makes older cars ‘connected’

T-Mobile is offering SyncUp Drive, a device that turns any post-1996 car into a 4G LTE connected car — a Wi-Fi hotspot that also provides vehicle diagnostics, safety and security features. The device is being offered as an incentive with two-year service plans, or separately.

SyncUp Drive plugs in to a car’s OBD-II (on-board diagnostics) port, which is standard on autos built after 1996. The device is always on, doesn’t require charging and can be managed from a smartphone.

Other carriers don’t yet offer 4G solutions. The diagnostic tool HUM by Verizon runs on 2G technology. AT&T has been going a different route — partnering directly with car manufacturers to integrate 4G LTE data connectivity into new vehicles.

SyncUp DRIVE was developed by T-Mobile with ZTE, a global provider of mobile devices and telecommunication systems, and Mojio, the open platform for the growing ecosystem of connected car apps and services.

November 21, 2016
Lidar, sensors hidden in Hyundai self-driving car
Hyundai Motor Company introduced the Autonomous Ioniq concept Nov. 16 at the Automobility LA conference.

Hyundai said the vehicle is one of the few self-driving cars in development to have a hidden lidar system in its front bumper instead of on the roof, enabling it to look like any other car on the road.

The goal in designing the autonomous Ioniq was to keep the self-driving systems as simple as possible. This was accomplished by using the production car’s smart cruise control’s forward-facing radar and lane-keeping assist cameras, which are integrated with lidar technology.

Hyundai is also developing its own autonomous vehicle operating system, with the goal of using less computing power. This should result in a low-cost platform, which can be installed in future Hyundai models that the average consumer can afford, Hyundai said.

The car’s hidden lidar system also allows the autonomous Ioniq to detect the absolute position of surrounding vehicles and objects.

The features build upon the capabilities of the production Ioniq, which offers automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, smart cruise control, lane departure warning and rear cross-traffic assist.

Hyundai Motor Research and Development Center.

The Ioniq also incorporates all autonomous controls into existing systems to ensure that drivers can have a seamless transition between active and self-driving modes.

Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor earned a license to test its autonomous cars in urban environments. Hyundai Motor is currently testing three autonomous Ioniqs and two autonomous Tucson fuel-cell vehicles at Hyundai Motor Research and Development Center in Namyang, South Korea.

To showcase its autonomous vehicles in action, Hyundai Motor will debut two autonomous Ioniqs at the Consumer Electronics Show in January 2017, where the cars will be found driving up and down the Las Vegas strip. The testing in Las Vegas will build upon Hyundai’s efforts to bring the most adept and safest self-driving car to market.

Autonomous Ioniq Features
- Forward-facing radar that detects the relative location and speed of objects in the vehicle’s forward path to aid in route planning
- A three-camera array that detects pedestrian proximity, lane markings and traffic signals
- A GPS antenna to determine the precise location of each vehicle
- High-definition mapping data from Hyundai MnSoft which delivers location accuracy, road grade and curvature, lane width and indication data
- Blind-spot detection radar to ensure even simple lane changes are executed safely
November 21, 2016
Research: Algorithm based on BeiDou/GPS/IMU and anomalous driving detection

By Rui Sun and Hongyang Bai, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Ke Han, Jun Hu and Washington Y. Ochieng, Imperial College London. Presented at ION GNSS+ 2016.

An Integrated Algorithm Based on BeiDou/GPS/IMU and its Application for Anomalous Driving Detection

This paper introduces an integrated algorithm for detecting lane-level anomalous driving. Lane-level high accuracy vehicle positioning is achieved by fusing GPS and Beidou feeds with Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) using Unscented Particle Filter (UPF). Anomalous driving detection is achieved based on the application of a newly designed Fuzzy Inference System. Computer simulation and real-world field test demonstrate the advantage of the proposed approach over existing ones from previous studies.

November 21, 2016
4 Galileos launched at once, speeding constellation completion

Galileo satellites 15-18 being deployed from their dispenser, two at a time. (Artist’s rendering: ESA)

An Ariane 5 rocket has launched four additional Galileo satellites, accelerating deployment of the new satellite navigation system.

The Ariane 5, operated by Arianespace, lifted off from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, at 13:06 GMT (14:06 CET, 10:06 local time) carrying Galileo satellites 15-18. The first pair was released 3 hours, 25 minutes after liftoff, while the second separated 20 minutes later.

The Galileos are at their target altitude, after a flawless release from the new dispenser designed to handle four satellites.

Over the next few days, engineers will nudge the satellites into their final working orbits and begin tests to ensure they are ready to join the constellation. This is expected to take six months or so.

Europe’s next four Galileo satellites lifted off at 13:06 GMT on Nov. 17 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana atop an Ariane 5 launcher. (Photo: ESA)

This mission brings the Galileo system to 18 satellites.

The satellites already in orbit will allow the European Commission to declare the start of initial services, expected towards year’s end.

The previous 14 satellites were launched two at a time using the Soyuz–Fregat rocket.

“Now that we can rely on the powerful Ariane 5, we can anticipate the quicker completion of Galileo deployment, permitting the system to enter full operation,” said Paul Verhoef, ESA’s director for the Galileo Programme and Navigation-related Activities.

Two additional Ariane 5 launches are scheduled in 2017 and 2018. The full system of 24 satellites plus spares is expected to be in place by 2020.

“With this 75th successful launch in a row, Ariane 5 sets a new record within European developed launchers and proves once more its reliability,” said Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s director for Launchers.

Watch a replay of the launch below.

Liftoff of Ariane flight VA233, carrying four Galileo satellites. (Photo: ESA)

November 17, 2016
FAA evaluates drone detection systems near Denver airport

This week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are conducting drone-detection research in the vicinity of Denver International Airport. The work is part of the FAA’s Pathfinder Program for UAS Detection at Airports and Critical Infrastructure.

The work in Denver is one of six technical evaluations scheduled over an 18-month period.

The State of Nevada and State of North Dakota UAS Test Sites conducted flight operations for the Denver evaluations. Industry partners involved in the Denver flights included CACI International, Liteye Systems and Sensofusion.

The FAA plans to capture the data and findings from the evaluations and draft recommendations for standards. These standards will guide the selection of drone-detection systems for airports nationwide.

Other evaluation sites include Atlantic City International Airport, JFK International Airport, Eglin Air Force Base, Helsinki Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

In addition to DHS, the FAA’s federal research partners include the Department of Defense, FBI, Federal Communications Commission, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, NASA, Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police.

The House Report accompanying the Fiscal Year 2016 federal appropriations law and the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 both directed the FAA to continue research into detecting unmanned aircraft in airport environments.

November 16, 2016
Research: Accelerating GNSS software receivers

By Carles Fernandez–Prades, Javier Arribas and Pau Closas, Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya, Spain. Presented at ION GNSS+, September 2016.

This paper addresses both the efficiency and the portability of a computer program in charge of the baseband signal processing of a GNSS receiver. Efficiency, in this context, refers to optimizing the speed and memory requirements of the software receiver. Specifically, the interest is focused on how fast the software receiver can process the incoming stream of raw signal samples and, in particular, if signal processing up to the position fix can be executed in real-time (and how many channels the host computer executing the receiver application can sustain in parallel).

Diagram of Typical Code and carrier tracking loops in a GNSS receiver. Colored dotted-line boxes show functions implemented in SIMD technology. Lanes “16ic” are data streams whose items are complex numbers with real and imaginary components represented with 16-bit integers, whereas “32fc” indicates those with complex numbers with real and imaginary components in 32-bit floating point representation.

This is achieved by applying the concept of parallelization at different abstraction levels. The paper describes strategies based on task, data and instruction-level parallelism, as well as actual implementations released under an open source license and the results obtained with different commercially available computing platforms. At the same time, the proposed solution also addresses portability, understood as the usability of the same software in different computing environments.

November 16, 2016
4 Galileos a ‘go’ for Thursday launch

This week’s Arianespace flight with four European Galileo navigation system spacecraft has been approved for a morning liftoff on Nov. 17 following the launch readiness review held Monday at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Paul Verhoef, ESA Director Satellite Navigation, at the Kourou launch site to witness Thursday’s liftoff.

Designated Flight VA233 in Arianespace’s numbering system, the launch will deploy its quartet of Galileo spacecraft during a nearly four-hour flight, with liftoff set at exactly 10:06:48 a.m. local time in French Guiana on Thursday.

All four Galileo satellites are mated to the dispenser in readiness for the upcoming launch.

Monday’s launch readiness review validated the “go” status of the Ariane 5 ES launcher version, its Galileo passengers, as well as the Spaceport’s launch site infrastructure and the network of tracking stations.

As a follow-up to Arianespace’s previous missions that used the medium-lift Soyuz to orbit Galileo satellites in pairs, the heavy-lift Ariane 5 enables four of the global positioning spacecraft to be accommodated on a single launch vehicle.

The four satellites are numbered Galileo 15 through 18.

Arianespace previously deployed 14 Galileo in-orbit validation and full operational capability spacecraft from the Spaceport in French Guiana on seven Soyuz missions, along with performing two other Soyuz flights from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with the GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B experimental satellites for the Galileo system.

Galileo will offer a guaranteed, high-precision positioning service for Europe under civilian control. Its constellation will comprise 24 operational satellites, along with spares.

The European Commission funds — and has overall responsibility — for Galileo’s management and implementation, with the European Space Agency assigned design and development of the new generation of systems and infrastructure.

OHB System in Bremen, Germany built the satellites to be orbited by Arianespace’s Flight VA233, and their navigation payloads were supplied by UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), which is 99 percent owned by Airbus Defence and Space.

Launch kit

The four spacecraft carried by Ariane 5 are called Antonianna, Lisa, Kimberley and Tijmen – with their naming for winners of a European children’s drawing contest.

A video of the launch will be streamed here. Streaming starts at 12:36 GMT (13:36 CET)

Follow Arianespace’s launch activity.

Download the launch kit.

November 15, 2016
Arianespace ready to roll out 4-satellite launcher for Galileo

Arianespace has entered the final phase of preparations for its next Ariane 5 launch — the company’s first heavy-lift mission to orbit satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation constellation.

During activity in the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building, Arianespace “topped off” the Ariane 5 launcher with installation of the payload fairing over the four Galileo spacecraft and their payload dispenser.

With Ariane 5 complete, it is being readied for rollout to the Spaceport’s ELA-3 launch complex in advance of its Nov. 17 flight, set for liftoff at 10:06:48 a.m. local time in French Guiana.

This mission — designated Flight VA233 in Arianespace’s numbering system — will deploy the quartet of Galileo spacecraft over the course of a nearly four-hour flight.

For the Galileo program, Arianespace is using the Ariane 5 ES version with an enhanced storable propellant upper stage that allows for reignition and long coast phases during the mission.

The protective fairing is lowered onto the four Galileo satellites and their dispenser resting atop an Ariane 5 launcher. The fairing was placed on Nov. 3. (Photo: ESA)

These upgrades maximize the launcher’s performance for deploying the Galileo spacecraft — which will have a combined mass of 2,865 kg at liftoff — two at a time into a circular medium-Earth orbit.

As a European initiative to develop a new global satellite navigation system under civilian control, Galileo will offer a guaranteed, high-precision positioning service that will end Europe’s dependence on the American GPS system.

The Galileo constellation will comprise 24 operational satellites, along with spares. Arianespace already has deployed 14 Galileo in-orbit validation and full operational capability spacecraft from French Guiana on seven medium-lift Soyuz missions, along with performing two other Soyuz flights from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia with the GIOVE-A and GIOVE-B experimental satellites.

Galileo is funded by the European Union. It features innovative technologies developed in Europe for the benefit of all citizens. The European Commission holds overall responsibility for Galileo’s management and implementation, with the European Space Agency assigned design and development of the new generation of systems and infrastructure.

The Galileo satellites on Arianespace’s Flight VA233 are sized at 2.7 x 1.2 x 1.1 meters and were built by OHB System in Bremen, Germany, while their navigation payloads were supplied by UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), which is 99 percent owned by Airbus Defence and Space.

November 14, 2016