GPS World

Author: GPS World Staff

  • GPS Vibrating Belt Guides Cyclists

    A new vibrating navigator belt guides cyclists by tickling them with buzzes and with directional nudges, according to a report by NDTV Gadgets.

    The “vibrobelt,” proven successful in early tests, uses vibrating actuators that indicate left, right, backward and forward turn directions. Developed by Haska Steltenpohl of the Intelligent Systems Lab at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the system aims to give cyclists a “heads-up” navigator, allowing them to keep their eyes on the road after they have chosen their destination on a GPS smartphone.

    The researchers plan to reveal their system and research results at the annual Intelligent User Interfaces conference in Santa Monica, California, in March.

  • Topcon Precision Agriculture Announces Receiver/Steering Controller

    Topcon Precision Agriculture,  a business unit of Topcon Positioning Systems, announces the AGI-4, an integrated steering solution that can interface with many manufacturer’s virtual terminals.

    The AGI-4 features multiple-constellation GNSS satellite reception, inertial sensors for full terrain compensation, and Topcon’s line acquisition and on-line steering functionality. It will be released at AgConnect Expo in Kansas City, Missouri, January 29-31.

    The AGI-4’s modular design includes antenna, multi-constellation GNSS satellite receiver and steering controller, with optional high-accuracy inertial sensors snap-in module offering unmatched upgradability, Cobb said. It comes standard with WAAS and EGNOS steering functionality. An RTK communication module is also an option.  It is easily upgradeable to 2-centimeters accuracy with RTK radio options.

    NTRIP capability allows a user to tap into existing reference networks via mobile phone connection (dependent on local availability) and uses existing data plans and infrastructure to minimize costs.

    AGI-4 features include ISO11783 compatibility with virtual terminals, allowing the addition of Topcon’s auto-steering performance to virtually any steer-ready vehicle via a single component installation, according to Kevin Cobb, TPA director of product management. “Being compatible with the displays of many other manufacturers lets the AGI-4 steering controller give true Drop-in and Drive convenience,” Cobb said.

  • Galileo’s Search and Rescue System Passes First Space Test

    The first switch-on of a Galileo search and rescue package shows it to be working well, according to the European Space Agency. Its activation begins a major expansion of the space-based Cospas–Sarsat network, which brings help to air and sea vessels in distress.

    The second pair of Europe’s Galileo navigation satellites — launched together on October 12 last year — are the first of the constellation to host SAR search and rescue repeaters. These can pick up UHF signals from emergency beacons aboard ships and aircraft or carried by individuals, then pass them on to local authorities for rescue.

    First_Galileo_search_and_rescue_signal_node_full_image
    Galileo search and rescue repeater signal.

    Once the satellites reached their 23,222 km-altitude orbits, a rigorous test campaign began. The turn of the SAR repeater aboard the third Galileo satellite came on January 17.

    “At this stage, our main objective is to check the repeater has not been damaged by launch,” explained ESA’s Galileo SAR engineer Igor Stojkovic. “The first day was a matter of turning the repeater on and checking its temperature and power profiles were as predicted. The following day involved sending a signal to the repeater using the UHF antenna at ESA’s Redu Centre in Belgium, then picking up the reply from our L-band antenna.”

    Redu’s antenna is 20 meters in diameter, so the shape of the relayed signal was captured in great detail, out of all proportion to surrounding noise.

    “We can precisely measure its power, the time the relay took and so on,” added Igor.

    More detailed system testing will follow, to completely prove this new type of SAR payload in orbit.

    Cospas–Sarsat system.
    Cospas–Sarsat system.

    The international system has been in use for more than three decades, saving some 31,000 lives. Cospas is a Russian acronym for “Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress,” with Cospas standing for “Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking.” Ground stations — known as Local User Terminals — pinpoint the source of distress calls using signals relayed by participating satellites, then alert local authorities.

    The GPS satellites will also provide a medium-Earth-orbit Sarsat capability and testing is underway. All nine Block IIR satellites carry experimental payloads and all IIF satellites are scheduled to. See “The Distress Alerting Satellite System” for more details.

  • Exelis Wins Air Force Contract to Research Low-Cost GPS Alternatives

    ITT Exelis has been awarded a $2.15 million contract by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to research the development of a small satellite navigation payload to augment the current GPS program. The GPS NAVSAT (Navigation Satellite) program seeks to provide affordable capabilities to aid end-users located in tough-to-reach environments.

    “The development of smaller satellites — in terms of size, weight, power and cost — will yield greater affordability for our customers,” said Mark Pisani, vice president and general manager, Precision Instruments and Positioning, Navigation and Timing Systems, ITT Exelis Geospatial Systems. “A smaller satellite size will allow for improved launch vehicle selection flexibility.”

    The goal of the 18-month initial study is to identify innovative ways to increase affordability and sustainment of the GPS program through payload weight reduction, size and power. The GPS NAVSAT will maintain similar performance capability to the existing GPS system, but will aid GPS end-users in signal-constrained environments, located in urban or mountainous terrain.

    Work on GPS NAVSAT is performed in Clifton and Bloomfield, New Jersey.

    For nearly 40 years, Exelis payloads and payload components have been on board every GPS satellite with more than 500 years of on-orbit life without a single mission-related failure due to Exelis equipment.

  • Hexagon to Acquire Russia’s NAVGEOCOM

    Hexagon has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares in Russia-based Navgeocom. The company is the largest distributor for Leica Geosystems, a Hexagon brand, in the Russian Federation.

    Founded in 1997, Navgeocom has grown into one of the top-tier distributors of surveying and mapping products in Russia. The acquisition marks another step in Hexagon’s global distribution strategy, which aims to establish a strong direct presence in all key markets.

    “Strategically, the acquisition of Navgeocom is a great fit for Hexagon and yet another step toward expanding our presence in Russia and Central Asia. Furthermore, Russia is entering into a phase of significant investment in transport infrastructure,” said Hexagon AB President and CEO Ola Rollén. “In addition to Russian highways, it includes significantly increasing the size of Moscow and surrounding its perimeter with a motorway, an expressway and high-speed rail system between Moscow and St. Petersburg, and an international transport passage programme between Europe and West China. Coupled with the acquisition, these projects provide substantial growth opportunities across Hexagon and improve our ability to serve customers in the Russian Federation.”

    The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close as of end of February 2013 and will contribute to Hexagon’s earnings. Excluding intercompany revenue, the company’s turnover for 2012 amounted to approximately 10 MEUR.

  • Luch-5B Starts SBAS Test Transmissions

    News courtesy of CANSPACE Listserv.

    According to tracking data from stations of the International GNSS Service’s Multi-GNSS Experiment, the second Russian Luch satellite, Luch-5B, started transmitting GLONASS and GPS differential corrections on January 17, 2013, at around 11:07 UTC.

    Luch-5B, launched on November 2, 2012, carries a transponder for the System for Differential Correction and Monitoring satellite-based augmentation system. The satellite, occupying an orbital slot at 16 degrees west, uses PRN code 125. Transmission tests are not continuous.

  • ION Pacific PNT Conference

    April 22-25, 2013, Honolulu, Hawaii

    The new Pacific PNT Conference, offered by the Institute of Navigation, provides an opportunity for policy and technical leaders from the Pacific Rim to share policy updates, program status and technical exchanges on positioning, navigation and timing.

    The conference, along with tutorials and a table-top exhibition, will be held at the Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa in Honolulu. Subjects to be discussed include GNSS agricultural, construction and mining applications, emergency management, UAVs, earthquake and tsunami prediction and monitoring, terrestrial and low frequency navigation, signals of opportunity, UAS integration into international airspace, and multi-GNSS policy issues.

    The conference advisory board includes experts from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States.

    To register, visit the website.

  • u-blox Demonstrates Navigation Using BeiDou

    Swiss-based u‑blox, a provider of GPS/GNSS and wireless semiconductors, has achieved successful satellite positioning using China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. According to u-blox, the technical achievement establishes u-blox as the first GNSS component vendor to demonstrate compatibility with all globally deployed positioning systems: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and now BeiDou.

    However, NovAtel has also announced support for the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System on its OEM6 family and select OEMStar GNSS receivers.

    Customer demonstration of the u-blox technology will begin during Q1 2013.

    “We are thrilled to have achieved this milestone only three weeks after the BeiDou specification was published,” said Thomas Seiler, u-blox CEO. “China will become the world’s most important single market for devices relying on embedded satellite navigation, and u-blox plans to be a major player in this market.”

    BeiDou-2 currently has 15 satellites in orbit, offering navigation and positioning services to users in China and Southeast Asia. It will ultimately consist of 35 satellites providing worldwide positioning capability over its open service to within 10 meters accuracy.

    u-blox will be demonstrating BeiDou compatibility with their latest GNSS platform at embeddedworld 2013 February 26-28 in Nuremberg, Germany, stand 4A-325.

  • Galileo IOV Satellites Begin Transmitting Navigation Messages

    News courtesy of CANSPACE listserv.

    Two of the Galileo In-Orbit Validation satellites, E11 and E12, began transmitting navigation messages on their Open Service signals on January 17. Several stations in the Cooperative Network for GNSS Observation and the International GNSS Service’s Multi-GNSS Experiment network received the messages. The epheremis data in the messages appears to be updated every 10 minutes.

  • GLONASS Satellites Moving to New Slots

    News courtesy of CANSPACE listserv.

    On  December 21, 2012, GLONASS 712 was deactivated and replaced in almanac slot 8 by GLONASS 743, transmitting on frequency channel -6 (minus 6). At the time, the satellite was physically in orbital slot 2.

    On January 4, the GLONASS System Control Centre announced that GLONASS 743 was to be moved from orbital slot 2 to orbital slot 8 beginning on January 5. The move is expected to take until February 15. IGS M-GEX stations stopped tracking GLONASS 743 at about 05:23:30 GPS Time on January 5.

    Subsequently, the GLONASS System Control Centre announced that GLONASS 701K, the GLONASS-K test satellite (also known as GLONASS 801 by the
    IGS), was re-introduced into the broadcast almanac beginning January 6. It will use almanac slot 8 and transmit on frequency channel -5 (minus 5). Note that the satellite is physically near orbital slot 21. Experimental work with GLONASS 701K will continue until GLONASS 743 completes its orbital slot move.

  • u-blox 3G module certified by Korean’s SK Telecom

    u-blox, the Swiss positioning and wireless chip and module company, has received approval for its LISA-U110 UMTS/HSPA wireless module from SK Telecom, Korea’s largest mobile telecom operator with more than 50 percent market share. SK Telecom provides multimedia services and connectivity to 24 million customers throughout South Korea.

    The certification allows the LISA modem to be used in a wide range of consumer and M2M applications operating over SK Telecom’s nation-wide 3G network including vehicle infotainment, supply chain management, industrial automation, metering, security, and location-based services.

    “We are very pleased that SK Telecom has chosen to work with us on this 3G approval. Our compact and high-speed LISA 3G module is a perfect fit with their strategy to provide converged wireless services supporting entertainment, business and financial applications. Our local support in Korea was a key factor in obtaining this certification” said Samuel Ji, u-blox Country Manager, Korea.

    The LISA-U110 is an embedded wireless UMTS/HSPA module delivering high data rates in 3G networks intended for consumer, automotive and industrial applications. For telematics applications, the series provides easy integration with u-blox GPS, GLONASS and QZSS receivers.

    LISA modules come in SMT form factor and have a very small footprint, allowing easy mounting on any application board. The LISA form factor enables easy manufacturing, u-blox said, as well as simple migration from u‑blox’ GSM/GPRS modules. Support for A-GPS and u-blox’ CellLocate positioning technology is embedded to facilitate advanced telematics applications including indoor positioning.

    Features include compatibility with quad-band GPRS/EDGE, low power (idle mode less than 2 mA) and operating temperature -40 to +85 deg. Celsius. RIL software for Android and Embedded Windows is available free of charge.

    LISA modules are manufactured in ISO/TS 16949 certified sites and are fully qualified according to ISO 16750 — Environmental conditions and electrical testing for electrical and electronic equipment for road vehicles to provide high durability and reliability.

     

  • NovAtel GNSS Receivers Provide BeiDou Support

    NovAtel announces support for the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System on its OEM6 family and select OEMStar GNSS receivers.

    The long-anticipated BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) Interface Control Document (ICD) release is a significant milestone that facilitates global acceptance of BeiDou into the growing range of satellite-based positioning applications, NovAtel said.

    NovAtel has a long-standing partnership with several Chinese GNSS system manufacturers. This partnership has allowed NovAtel to verify B1 and B2 signal tracking on its latest generation receivers. The company has been supplying GNSS receivers that include the BeiDou constellation since Q4 2010.

    “We are excited to see what performance improvements BeiDou will provide to our AdVance RTK, GL1DE and SPAN GNSS/INS positioning algorithms,” said Pat Fenton, NovAtel CTO.

    BeiDou positioning has been available through NovAtel’s Chinese partners utilizing the receiver Application Programming Interface (API) feature. With the BeiDou ICD made available to the public, NovAtel is now able to offer BeiDou positioning on its receiver products directly.

    Firmware updates for the OEM6 and OEMStar receivers will enable tracking of the BeiDou signal in conjunction with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS signals that are currently supported. Over the coming months NovAtel will be working with early-adopter customers to optimize their receiver positioning engines to support the BeiDou signals.

    Customers interested in trialing BeiDou functionality on their receivers should contact NovAtel Customer Support at [email protected].