Author: GPS World Staff

LandViewer offers long-term observations, enhanced vegetation analysis

LandViewer, a cloud service developed by EOS Data Analytics, provides access to satellite data and fast-paced analytics. In recent months, it has undergone numerous updates, which have expanded the existing catalogue of satellite imagery, introduced more tools for analysis and added other new features.

By the end of 2018, free space and airborne data available for browsing, analysis and download via LandViewer included imagery from the European Space Agency’s (ESA’s) Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1, NASA-USGS’s Landsat 8 and previous missions, MODIS, CBERS-4 and NAIP.

This broad selection of Earth observation data has grown even larger with the addition of high-resolution commercial imagery from Airbus, SpaceWill and SI Imaging Services.

LandViewer has evolved into a single platform. On top of open-source data, users can freely explore the potential of commercial data with global coverage, short revisit periods, and spatial resolution up to 40 centimeters.

The current catalogue includes imagery from Pléiades 1a/1b, SPOT 5, SPOT 6 and SPOT 7, along with KOMPSAT-2, 3, 3A and SuperView. The high-resolution imagery browser offers free preview, automatic price calculation by selected area, and fast image delivery within three business days via cloud EOS Storage.

Preview of KOMPSAT-3A image collected over Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Oct. 29, 2018. (Photo: EOS)

Long-term observations. An abundance of available data, such as weekly updated Sentinel-2 imagery and historical Landsat data, has made it much easier to monitor changes over long time spans. Rather than taking a long time to select and process years of satellite data to get a multitemporal perspective, the LandViewer’s new Time Series Analysis will crunch the remote sensing data and deliver the results in an easily interpretable graph.

Sentinel-2 time series graph generated for agricultural fields in Kansas state. (Screenshot: EOS)

Users can select an area of interest (AOI), and a satellite dataset and a time period between 1 month and 10 years. The algorithm can then pick all imagery with minimum cloudiness and calculate NDVI, NDWI or NDSI in just a few moments. By default, the generated Time Series graph contains lines (representing the min, max, mean and std values) that can be hidden or displayed for convenience; whenever an unusual spike or drop in values is noticed, a satellite scene that represents that part of the curve can be visualized to establish the cause. The results can be downloaded either as an image (.png), or a .csv file for working in Excel.

Enhanced vegetation analysis. Users searching for an in-depth look at vegetation cover can use LandViewer’s new spectral indexes: SAVI, EVI, ARVI, GCI, SIPI and NBR. These indexes complement generalized NDVI analysis by making corrections for atmospheric and topographic effects or soil brightness influences, depending on vegetation density, climate and elevation in the area of interest.

The NBR index is designed to highlight burned areas against healthy vegetation; the difference between pre-fire NBR and post-fire NBR values can be applied to estimate the severity of burn.

The use of several indexes simultaneously enables better insight into plant health and helps to identify stressed or infected vegetation at an early stage.

Sentinel-2-derived SAVI analysis of an arid agricultural region in Saudi Arabia. (Screenshot: EOS)

User-friendly legend and area calculation. Another new LandViewer feature, the index legend, is designed to solve the problem of interpreting the index results, a common issue for new users. Now when a spectral index is applied over the selected territory, the user can view a detailed legend, where each color-marked class contains a short description.

For example, calculation of NDVI will identify and highlight areas with “dense”, “moderate”, “sparse vegetation”, “open soil” or “no vegetation”.

Screenshot: EOS

Another new time-saving functionality is that the area of each class within the spectral index legend is calculated automatically, in both square meters and by percentage.

Also, the expanded Area of Interest (AOI) tool enables bulk uploading of AOIs and speeds up work by allowing simultaneous visualization and fast switching of all AOIs on a map for imagery searches or new scene subscription.

Advanced zone analytics. By introducing the clustering function, EOS’ remote sensing experts and software developers have taken LandViewer’s spatio-temporal analytics to the next level. With this function, users can run unsupervised satellite data-based classification of an area up to 200 square kilometers into as many as 19 clusters (or zones). This process involves setting custom parameters (size/number of zones) and waiting a few moments for LandViewer to build a raster image of the area with color-marked zones, and a vector layer outlining the boundaries. Both outputs can be downloaded.

This scalable analysis can provide various insights across agriculture, forestry, coastal monitoring and other industries. For example, a farmer can make use of convenient color mapping of zones within the field based on NDVI values for precise in-field navigation and crop management.

Engaging animations. With the informative spectral data contained in satellite image pixels, LandViewer has introduced a time-lapse animation feature allowing journalists and active social media users to create engaging animated stories and share them on the internet. Each GIF can contain up to 300 scenes, with indexes or band combinations applied. From calving of glaciers to construction of new stadiums, satellite imagery is full of information that’s worth watching and sharing with the world.

February 26, 2019
Trimble XR10 includes Microsoft HoloLens 2 for field work

Trimble is offering a wearable hard hat compatible device that enables workers in safety-controlled environments to access holographic information on the worksite — the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2.

In addition, an expanded set of Trimble software and services will be available to provide field-oriented workflows that leverage constructible 3D models and mixed reality to solve daily work tasks.

The announcement was made with Microsoft at MWC Barcelona (formerly Mobile World Congress), being held this week.

The Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 is the first device created with the Microsoft HoloLens Customization Program and integrates the latest spatial computing technology into a certified solution for use with a hard hat for worker safety.

Photo: Trimble

With a wider field-of-view, improved usability and a unique, flip-up viewscreen, the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 combines state-of-the-art mixed reality and safe operation in restricted access work areas.

The full solution provides even greater accessibility to 3D models by front-line workers. Field-oriented workflows enable broad adoption of mixed-reality for jobsite activities to improve efficiency, productivity and quality of work. Continued development of the cloud-based collaboration platform, Trimble Connect for HoloLens, is enabling workers in the field to get more value from constructible 3D models and transform daily work such as assembly and inspections.

“Microsoft has provided both the vision and execution needed to stay at the forefront of the mixed-reality evolution,” said Aviad Almagor, director of Trimble’s Mixed-Reality Program. “We’re excited to extend our collaboration with Microsoft in producing a safety-first mixed-reality solution that can be used in production environments such as construction, where workers are building, monitoring and inspecting products and services that deliver tangible value every day.”

“The ability to access and interact with holographic content has inspired new visualization, collaboration, and production workflows in enterprise markets,” said Alex Kipman, technical fellow, AI and Mixed Reality at Microsoft. “For people that spend their days on the work site, the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2 and Trimble’s portfolio of software unlocks the power of mixed-reality to help them get more work done.”

February 26, 2019
Hexagon acquires Thermopylae for 5D visualization

Hexagon AB has signed an agreement to acquire Thermopylae Sciences and Technology, a software provider primarily focused on the U.S. government and defense market that specializes in geospatial applications, mobile frameworks and cloud computing for enhanced location intelligence.

Thermopylae has developed advanced visualization solutions to support tactical edge mapping in support of mission critical operations. Built upon the Google technology stack, its defense and intelligence solutions are targeted at addressing the challenges involved in working with critical problem sets in secure or classified government environments.

In addition, its portfolio is applicable to a host of markets in the private sector, including real estate, finance, insurance, retail and media, with customers ranging from startups to Fortune 50 companies.

“Thermopylae’s software and domain expertise nicely augment our ability to deliver the visual location intelligence necessary for enabling autonomous connected ecosystems,” said Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. “Ultimately, the addition of Thermopylae will enrich the 5D experience delivered through our Hexagon Smart M.App and Luciad portfolios — both of which enable smart digital realities with 3D, 4D (real-time sensor feed integration) and 5D (dynamic analytics) capabilities. Not only does the acquisition provide an avenue for international market adoption of Thermopylae’s technologies but also an additional avenue for Hexagon to accelerate adoption of our 5D visualization capabilities in U.S. government agencies.”

Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, Thermopylae will operate as a part of Hexagon’s Geospatial division, which is reported under the Geospatial Enterprise Solutions segment. Sales in 2017 amounted to $20 million.

Completion of the transaction (closing) is subject to customary regulatory approvals, including a voluntary filing to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

February 25, 2019
Spain and Australia commission Orolia for Sarsat

Orolia’s LEOSAR-GEOSAR-MEOSAR (LGM) Mission Control Center (MCC) solutions are now commissioned as Nodal MCCs in Spain and Australia, enabling global distribution of critical search-and-rescue information through the Cospas-Sarsat system.

With the successful commissioning of their Nodal MCCs, Spain and Australia will now be able to share critical information with the U.S. and France, providing worldwide coverage for global search and rescue.

In addition, since they will be authorized to commission other MCCs in their regions, they will also significantly advance the Cospas-Sarsat MEOSAR program.

Orolia’s McMurdo PRISMA MCC features satellite search-and-rescue technology with full LGM capability. It is the commercial solution of choice for search-and-rescue authorities in Norway, the UK and many other countries.

“We’re proud to support the world’s most critical search and rescue operations,” said Steve Ludwig, Orolia’s director of SARSAT Operations. “With Orolia onboard, you can rely on proven solutions in critical environments where failure is not an option. Our PRISMA Mission Control Center systems are the only successfully deployed, Cospas-Sarsat commissioned commercial solutions available, meeting the highest standard for search-and-rescue support.”

The Orolia PRISMA Mission Control Center. (Photo: Orolia)

Orolia has been developing global search-and-rescue programs for nearly 30 years, reaching a major milestone with the Medium-altitude Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) system in 2011, and completing all global MEOSAR system installations since.

To date, 75 percent of the Earth’s surface is monitored by Orolia’s MEOSAR systems.

Through its McMurdo brand, Orolia has equipped these systems with the latest search-and-rescue technology to increase response times and save more lives worldwide.

February 25, 2019
Rohde & Schwarz GNSS simulator works with Vector for V2X testing

Rohde & Schwarz has expanded the capabilities of its R&S SMBV100A/B GNSS simulator and R&S CMW500 LTE network simulator to operate with Vector CANoe .Car2x, a software tool for simulation, development and test of V2X-based communication applications.

Image: Rohde & Schwarz

The solution enables engineers to easily verify critical end-to-end safety-related V2X scenarios in a lab environment. It uses the C-V2X software package for the R&S CMW500 to simulate the physical- and MAC-layer, transmitting and receiving data over the simulated PC5 interface. This covers ideal, faded and congested channel conditions to the device under test (DUT). In its current form, the solution supports both GNSS and PSSS/SSSS sidelink synchronization options.

Rohde & Schwarz and Vector have successfully demonstrated its solution, which is designed to configure and run traffic scenarios to comprehensively test the physical layer 3GPP Rel. 14 up to the application layer of C-V2X ECUs in a lab environment.

Rohde & Schwarz is demonstrating the test solution at Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona in hall 6, booth 6C40, Feb. 25-28.

The automotive industry is evolving toward connected and autonomous vehicles that offer many benefits, such as improved safety, less traffic congestion, reduced environmental impact, and lower capital expenditure. With the trend to equip vehicles with 3GPP Release 14 C-V2X ECUs, peer-to-peer data transfer in ad-hoc networks between vehicles will be realized. All vehicles share location, speed and trajectory, enabling warnings regarding on-road dangers to be shared between drivers.

Applications cover use cases such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, data exchange with roadway infrastructure (V2I), and interaction with vulnerable road users such as pedestrians (V2P). Data communication is implemented in the 5.8 GHz and 5.9 GHz intelligent transportation system (ITS) spectrum bands.

Traffic scenarios

CANoe .Car2x offers a range of functions designed to configure and run traffic scenarios. This allows the stimulation of a C-V2X control unit according to a defined traffic situation that tests the implemented application in a structured manner.

The included Car2x Scenario Editor supports the creation of traffic scenarios using a graphical interface. CANoe .Car2x generates the corresponding ITS communication based on the test scenario. The scenario is then played back with the R&S CMW500 providing the radio access layer with the specific physical interface. This verifies data transmission and reception over the PC5 interface so that the functions of the ECU can be tested comprehensively.

The combined solution covers all layers – the complete stack, 3GPP Radio Access Layers for C-V2X Mode 4, region specific ITS protocol layers such as EU ITS-G5 and U.S. WAVE and the ITS application message sets.

This enables testing of specific use cases such as Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL), Left-Turn Assist (LTA) or Intersection Movement Assist (IMA), as well as more complex scenarios with multiple simulated vehicles such as a congested highway.

Additionally, security mechanisms could also be verified running simulations with both valid and invalid signed certificates. On top of this CANoe supports all common automotive bus connectivity such as CAN, LIN, MOST, FlexRay and Automotive Ethernet, enabling the test engineer to analyze or stimulate the ECU within an entire system from their desk.

By extending the solution with the VN4610 interface from Vector, customers can access IEEE 802.11p and CAN (FD) networks as well. This enables users to analyze and test C-V2X and IEEE 802.11p (DSRC) communication and related applications with a single setup and a common user interface.

“C-V2X device testing through the application layer is a significant step towards achieving the goal of having fully connected vehicles to improve road safety,” said Anton Messmer, vice president of Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz. “Our efforts in developing and verifying C-V2X end-to-end application scenarios are enabling user equipment manufacturers and OEMs to reduce the time needed to roll out C-V2X technology on a worldwide basis.”

“CANoe .Car2x has a strong focus on testing V2X based protocols and ADAS applications. This combined solution, CANoe .Car2x with the R&S CMW500, enables our customers to stimulate the V2X ECU with real scenario data in order to perform tests from physical layer up to the application,” said Stefan Krauß, director of Tools for Network and Distribution Systems at Vector. “The collaboration on this solution shows what can be achieved when leading players from the automotive and telecommunication industries work hand in hand.”

February 25, 2019
RDO becomes first WingtraOne drone Certified Repair Center

Swiss-based Wingtra, creator of professional vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) surveying drones, and RDO Integrated Controls, a division of RDO Equipment Co., have rolled out the first Wingtra Certified Repair Center.

The agreement between the two companies further enhances RDO Integrated Controls’ customer support to a growing Wingtra customer base.

Specifically, the training and certification process delivered by Wingtra will greatly reduce downtime when repairs or maintenance is required across RDO Integrated Controls’ territory, which includes the U.S. upper Midwest, Pacific Northwest and Southwest.

Along with advanced technical training, the agreement includes strategic warehousing of Wingtra systems and components across RDO Integrated Controls’ regions.

“This is a monumental step in our joint efforts to not only deliver the best professional VTOL surveying drone available, but to also provide our customers with unbeatable long-term support,” said Scott McTavish, North American sales manager at Wingtra. “Our advanced aerial surveying platform is enhancing the industrial workspace in so many ways. We are fortunate to have a partner in RDO who shares our values of caring for our end users. Rapid response and local support is key to user satisfaction.”

“The addition of the Certified Repair and Service Center is the next logical step in our winning relationship with Wingtra,” Brad Reich, service operations manager for RDO Integrated Controls, said. “RDO and Wingtra can now provide UAV customers with the best service and support in the North American market.”

The new service and repair capacity at RDO means rapid response and local long-term support for WingtraOne customers. (Photo: Wingtra)

Wingtra develops, produces and commercializes high-precision VTOL drones that collect survey-grade aerial data. Wingtra entered the market in early 2017 and has been selling globally ever since.

Founded in 1968, RDO Equipment Co. sells and supports agriculture, construction, environmental, irrigation, positioning and surveying equipment and is a total solution provider.

February 25, 2019
Nestwave demos low-power GPS for IoT at Mobile World Congress

Image: iStock.com/metamorworks via Bentley Systems

Nestwave has developed an ultra-low power, advanced GNSS solution for use in internet of things (IoT) applications.

Nestwave, a Paris-based startup, is demonstrating its new low-power, high-accuracy GPS IP at Mobile World Congress, being held Feb. 25-28 in Barcelona, Spain.

The software-based GNSS solution allows modem customers to add accurate position-based services to their modem platforms.

When integrated with an IoT modem such as NB-IoT, Cat M1, LoRa or Sigfox, the solution offers low-cost geolocation for emerging applications such as asset tracking, smart factories and smart cities, without the need for an external GNSS chip.

“After several years of development and based on a number of key signal processing breakthroughs, we believe Nestwave is well-positioned to provide a best-in-class solution for low-power IoT applications where position awareness is key,” said Rabih Chrabieh, Nestwave CEO. “We are excited to demonstrate our GPS solution, in collaboration with Cadence by leveraging their Tensilica Fusion F1 DSP platform at MWC this year.”

“The Fusion F1 DSP is gaining traction with customers as a platform for low-cost, power-sensitive IoT communications standards like NB-IoT,” said Gerard Andrews, director of marketing for Tensilica products at Cadence.

The Cadence Tensilica Fusion F1 DSP is designed for low-cost IoT applications requiring a single processor core that is proficient at both DSP and control-code workloads.

Developed on a highly configurable architecture, the Fusion F1 DSP is specifically designed to excel at “always-on” processing, including wake-on-voice and sensor fusion applications.

Additionally, the Fusion F1 DSP instruction-set architecture is very efficient at running narrowband wireless communications standards like BLE, Thread, Zigbee, 802.11ah, NB-IoT and GNSS.

Visit the Nestwave/Cadence demo at the Cadence booth at Fira Gran Via, hall 6, stand 6L34.

February 25, 2019
OriginGPS multi-constellation module ready for IoT

OriginGPS, maker of small-format GNSS modules and cellular internet of things (IoT) systems, presented new products with customized IoT and GPS demonstrations at Embedded World 2019, Nuremberg, Germany, Feb. 26-28, Hall 3, Booth 3-121.

OriginIoT systems enable developers to rapidly develop IoT products with stackable add-ons, while all data is configured from the cloud, and no additional embedded code or RF knowledge is required.

OriginGPS’ latest release is the multi-constellation ORG1518-MK06 module. It combines low power modes for extended battery life, 8MB built-in Flash memory, AGPS support for extended ephemeris improving position calculation, and UART+I2C or UART+SPI interfaces.

Selectable add-on sensor boards click on the OriginIoT cellular IoT system, offering backward compatibility with 2G, 3G, CAT1 and CAT M. (Image: OriginGPS)

An ultra-sensitive integrated patch antenna easily switches over to an external antenna via an integrated RF switch.

The ORG1518-MK06 is suitable for solutions requiring multiple antenna options, such as automotive aftermarket and agriculture applications.

Addressing the global IoT market with fast data transmission, the OriginIoT NB-IoT/CAT M with 2G fallback will be suited to devices that are battery-powered and transmit data only occasionally, such as parking and agriculture applications, resulting in a very long sensor battery life, typically 10+ years. The new model will be released later this year.

“The new products are based on OriginGPS patented technologies and retain the miniature footprint for which the company has become synonymous,” said Robert van Tilburg, vice president, Global Sales and Business Development, OriginGPS. “We are excited to offer our customers additional features and options to choose from, enabling them to reduce overall solution costs. 2019 is going to be an exciting year with technology advancements facilitating our product offering with more personalized IoT and GNSS products.”

OriginGPS partner Gemalto will also be presenting OriginIoT demos at Hall 3, Booth 3-438. Gemalto’s Cinterion LTE-M module is integrated in the OriginIoT systems to provide 2G, 3G, Cat1, Cat-M and NB-IoT cellular communication.

February 25, 2019
Skyhook to provide location service protections to Rivetz network

Image: iStock/hanibaram

Skyhook is partnering with Rivetz to integrate Skyhook’s global mobile location services to enhance the Rivetz platform.

Skyhook is the operator of a worldwide independent location services platform. The company’s technology provides the foundation for mobile location services in the global market for connected devices.

Skyhook’s hybrid positioning system locates devices using observed radio signals — including GNSS, Wi-Fi and cellular — ensuring that all devices can be located in all environments.

Rivetz offers decentralized, embedded cybersecurity tools.

By enabling Skyhook’s advanced location capabilities on the Rivetz Network of cybersecurity tools, Rivetz users can take advantage of location service protection in any signal environment, regardless of GPS availability.

Accurate and accessible device location services are a critical component of all end-to-end security solutions, particularly in regulated environments or other markets where trusted and verifiable location is a requirement.

“We are pleased to partner and collaborate with Rivetz, a trusted leader in decentralized mobile security,” said Kipp Jones, Chief Technology Evangelist of Skyhook. “We share the values that our products must be built on the pillars of trust and respect for individual privacy. We look forward to providing Skyhook’s industry-leading location services to the Rivetz Network.”

“We are proud to join forces with Skyhook to enable powerful location services to the Rivetz Network,” said Steven Sprague, co-founder and CEO of Rivetz. “A simple and safe security model is our greatest priority, and precise device location is a cornerstone of protecting our cybersecurity solutions.”

Rivetz’s security solutions hinge upon access to the Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), which is an isolated, measured computer environment separate from the operating system. By provisioning all digital transactions through the TEE, Rivetz assures that users’ private keys cannot be altered or stolen if the operating system were tampered with or infected by malware.

February 22, 2019
Airbus launches OneAtlas service for GIS imagery, data
Airbus Defence and Space has launched The OneAtlas Platform, a collaborative environment to access premium imagery, perform large-scale image processing, extract insights and benefit from Airbus assets for solution development.

OneAtlas is offering a 30-day free trial, giving customers streaming access to imagery, sample change detection reports, and global imagery and data layers, including the basemap and the WorldDEM.

Besides access to a comprehensive archive with premium imagery, users can try services such as:
- Ocean Finder for the maritime industry
- Verde for precision agriculture
- Starling for forest management
- Earth Monitor for tracking changes over an area of interest
The developer portal provides more information through API documentation and discusses how to benefit from the imagery either in streaming or download format.

The Ocean Finder provides a satellite-based maritime ship detection service. (Photo: OneAtlas)
February 22, 2019
Rugged Trimble T7 tablet designed for survey and construction

Photo: Trimble

Trimble has introduced its T7 Tablet, a rugged, lightweight and versatile device designed for construction surveying applications.

Using Trimble Siteworks Software for construction surveying, the Trimble T7 provides real-time data to visualize cut/fill levels, calculate material volumes, check grade and communicate work orders to increase productivity and enable better decision-making.

The T7 brings powerful processing to the field — a sunlight readable 7-inch touchscreen that supports pinch, tap and slide gestures and a digital keyboard. Users can interact with the T7 intuitively — zooming, panning and selecting items on the touchscreen.

The T7 also leverages the power of Windows 10 Professional, driven by an Intel Pentium 64-bit quad-core processor. The processor and operating system make it easy to process data in spreadsheets and run office software programs. Using third-party apps, front- and rear-facing cameras allow contractors to video conference from the field for on-the-job support and capture of high-definition videos and images, the company said.

The Trimble T7 tablet. (Photo: Trimble)

The lightweight T7 is built to withstand the wear-and-tear of daily construction work in various weather conditions. It meets stringent MIL-STD-810G for drops, vibration, immersion and temperature extremes and with IP65 and IP68 ratings, is sealed against water and dust. The full-color, 7-inch screen uses a Gorilla Glass display that is scratch and impact resistant.

“The Trimble T7 Tablet is the next step in the evolution of our data collection portfolio,” said Scott Crozier, general manager for Trimble’s Civil Engineering and Construction Division. “Surveyors, supervisors and inspectors can complete tasks with less downtime, combining Trimble reliability with the flexibility to adapt to a variety of configurations and jobsite conditions.”

Optional, user-interchangeable Trimble Empower modules make the T7 a flexible solution for a variety of applications. The Empower platform is a modular expansion system that gives users the power to customize their mobile computing solution to their workflow. Optional modules such as barcode imager, a barcode imager/RFID combo and sub-meter GNSS give users the confidence of knowing that that their investment is scalable for future needs.

The T7 is optimized for use with Trimble Siteworks Software, survey software tailored for construction workflows. Siteworks Software features an interface optimized for ease-of-use and productivity. Configurable views, colorful graphics and natural interactions and gestures make Siteworks Software intuitive and easy to learn. The release of the T7 increases the available hardware configuration options for Siteworks users.

February 22, 2019
Rohde & Schwarz and Bluetest partner on A-GNSS OTA antenna testing

Testing the antenna performance of GNSS signals such as GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo and Metropolitan Beacon Systems (MBS) is key to location accuracy performance of a mobile device.

To address the testing need for A-GNSS services, Rohde & Schwarz and Bluetest are partnering in creating test concepts for over-the-air (OTA) antenna measurements.

The CMW500 wideband radio communication tester. (Photo: Rohde & Schwarz)

The two companies integrate the R&S LBS Server, a software component running on the R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester, and the Bluetest OTA test solution for A-GNSS systems based on Bluetest’s RTS65 reverberation chamber and Bluetest’s Flow measurement software.

In the test setup, the R&S LBS Server controls the Rohde & Schwarz base-station simulator R&S CMW500 for LTE, WCDMA and GSM, and uses the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator for simulation of GNSS and MBS signals.

A simple and straightforward upgrade of the setup for 5G will be available soon, making sure that investments are protected and most relevant standards can be tested with the same system.

The R&S LBS Server is an essential part of the R&S TS8991 OTA Performance Test System. This cooperation between Rohde & Schwarz and Bluetest marks the first time that the R&S LBS Server, used here as a software tool on R&S CMW500, is available also for third parties.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Bluetest to contribute with our test and measurement expertise to OTA 4G/3G/GSM and GNSS technology development,” said Alexander Pabst, vice president, Systems and Projects at Rohde & Schwarz. “With a strong global footprint for location based services LBS and close cooperation with partners, Rohde & Schwarz is committed to accompanying the evolution path from OTA testing for GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo with innovative test and measurement solutions.”

“The addition of A-GNSS measurements means that the full range of wireless technology in a modern cellular device can be verified with just one test solution,” said Robert Rehammar, Bluetest CTO. “Bluetest has enjoyed the close cooperation with Rohde & Schwarz on this project, leading to a very strong joint solution and customer offering.”

February 21, 2019