GPS World

Author: GPS World Staff

  • Expert Opinions: What is the GNSS/PNT industry “Issue of the Year”?

    Q: What is the GNSS/PNT industry “Issue of the Year”?

    Jose Angel Avila Rodriguez, signal and security implementation engineer, European Space Agency

    A: The growth of PNT applications has been impressive and will continue. Assurance of PNT will thus gain an ever-increasing role, in both the security and the civil domains.

    For GNSS, the key PNT contributor, there is in addition another challenge: its piece in the PNT cake will be contested by newcomers, such as telecom networks. Whether we will continue talking about A-GNSS or instead talk about Assisted 5G, with GNSS in that case taking on the role of signal of opportunity — that will depend on today’s decisions about future GNSS upgrades, the modernized versions of Galileo second generation, GPS III, and Beidou/Compass III, that will be flying around 2040.

     

    Gyles Panther, president and CTO, Tallysman Wireless, Inc.

    A: The key issues for PNT going forward, and into the indefinite future, are simply stated: availability and accuracy. Re-deployment of the eLoran infrastructure is a no-brainer. A potentially highly negative step would be the introduction of communication services within the mobile satellite L-band downlink frequency band (1525 MHz to 1559 MHz). Multi-constellational receivers track a much larger number of satellites and better disposed SVs (space vehicles) provide a lower horizontal DOP and hence greater accuracy.

    Finally, GNSS needs to be defended against interference both intentional and accidental. Why on earth would we want to damage something that is providing so much utility to mankind?

  • U.S. Air Force declares first GPS III ‘available for launch’

    U.S. Air Force declares first GPS III ‘available for launch’

    The U.S. Air Force has declared the first Lockheed Martin-built GPS III satellite “available for launch,” (AFL) ushering in a new era of advanced GPS technology.

    The Air Force’s “AFL” declaration is the final acceptance of Lockheed Martin’s first GPS III Space Vehicle (GPS III SV01) before its expected 2018 launch. GPS III SV01 will bring new capabilities to U.S. and allied military forces, and a new civil signal that will improve future connectivity worldwide for commercial and civilian users.

    GPS III SV01 now awaits a call up to begin pre-launch preparations. In the meantime, the advanced satellite is stored in an environmentally controlled clean room, where engineers can perform maintenance and continue to service the satellite.

    New GPS Capabilities

    The U.S. Air Force declared the first Lockheed Martin-built, next-generation GPS III satellite “Available for Launch” in 2018. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

    GPS III SV01 is the first space vehicle of an entirely new satellite design. GPS III is a next generation technology and capability leap over any of the 31 GPS Block II satellites that currently populate today’s operational GPS constellation.

    • Better accuracy. For military forces, precision is essential. GPS III signals will provide them three times more accuracy than any current GPS satellites. How accurate is that? We cannot get specific, but stretch your arms out, we are within that range now.
    • Improved anti-jam. It is no secret that future adversaries will try to nullify tools like GPS that give our military an edge in conflicts. GPS III’s powerful new signals have eight times improved anti-jamming capability, and the satellites’ nearly 70 percent digital payload will provide the Air Force with greater operational flexibility.
    • Stronger design. Space is a tough neighborhood and GPS III is built tough. GPS III comes with a more resilient design and a design life which can expand its operational life to 15 years. That’s 25 percent longer than the newest GPS satellites on-orbit today.
    • New civil signal. GPS III will be the first GPS satellite broadcasting L1C, a new, common signal being adopted by other international Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), like Europe’s Galileo. In the future, users of civilian GPS receivers will be able to connect to L1C from multiple GNSS constellations, allowing for greater connectivity.

    Designed for the Future

    One of the keys to Lockheed Martin’s GPS III is it was designed for today’s mission with an eye on tomorrow’s needs.

    “As we designed GPS III, we knew that mission needs would change in the future and that new technology will become available,” said Mark Stewart, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Navigation Systems mission area. “We wanted the satellite to be flexible to adapt to those changes. To do that, we intentionally developed GPS III with a modular design. This allows us to easily insert new technology into our production line.”

    Future satellites — already with a robust, production-ready design — also would benefit from the inherent risk-reductions already proven out in GPS III, like compatibility with OCX and the existing GPS constellation. Significant work has already been completed on future requirements like an accuracy-improving Laser Retro-reflector Array and a Search and Rescue payload.

    For Lockheed Martin, the completion of GPS III SV01 is a major milestone on a challenging development program to design and build the most powerful GPS satellites ever envisioned. With all major development risks behind them, the company is now in full production on ten GPS III satellites at its GPS III Processing Facility near Denver.

    “Lockheed Martin’s GPS III team owes much of its success to the Air Force’s Back to Basics program,” Stewart added. “We are proud to partner with the Air Force on this important program and look forward to launching the first GPS III satellite in 2018.”

    The GPS III team is led by the Global Positioning Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Air Force Space Command’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron (2SOPS), based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, manages and operates the GPS constellation for both civil and military users.

  • Orolia’s VersaPNT helps soldiers navigate battlefields without GPS

    Orolia’s VersaPNT helps soldiers navigate battlefields without GPS

    Orolia, through its Spectracom brand, has launched VersaPNT. VersaPNT provides virtually failsafe battlefield navigation, even in GPS-denied environments, to protect critical networks with Assured PNT technology, the company said.

    The new, ground, air or sea vehicle-mounted solution is designed for military environments, with a ruggedized, compact, low-power and lightweight form factor.

    Today, military vehicles are portable networks, providing seamless connections with U.S. headquarters, regional command posts and individual soldiers. Remote areas are challenging environments for military networks, and enemy forces are jamming, spoofing and disrupting operations.

    “VersaPNT provides continuous mission assurance and C4ISR support, even in hostile environments,” said Rohit Braggs, Orolia vice president, PNT networks and sources. “This innovative technology solution protects critical networks for complex military and homeland security land, air and sea operations.”

    Every minute counts on the battlefield, and VersaPNT provides critical decision support with real-time situational awareness to facilitate a rapid response, according to the company. This lifesaving technology can also help keep soldiers and civilians out of harm’s way, while ensuring continuous tracking of friendly and enemy forces.

    VersaPNT provides essential command and control, navigation, communication and electronic intelligence support for U.S. and allied military, homeland security, first responder, civilian agency, special operations and intelligence missions.

    Demonstrations are available at the AUSA Annual Meeting, Orolia Booth #2944.

  • Research Online: Search-and-rescue/Galileo system deployment and performance

    By Carmela Ruta, Francesco Paggi and Monica Gotta, Thales Alenia Space-Italia; D. Oskam, Airbus Defence and Space; and Rafael Lucas Rodriguez and Igor Stojkovic; European Space Agency / Presented at the European Navigation Conference, Switzerland, May 2017

    The European Space Agency, Thales Alenia Space-Italy and Airbus Defence and Space contributed to the Search and Rescue/Galileo Forward Link system deployment and performance evaluation with a full-scale System Performance Validation test campaign, aimed at evaluating the performances of the SAR/Galileo system, in terms of distress detection rate, localization probability and localization accuracy.

    Forward Link Message Detection probability in 10 minutes.

    The paper describes SAR/Galileo principles and the COSPAS-SARSAT MEOSAR concept (detection and localisation of distress events based on MEO satellites). It presents the space and ground segments of the Galileo infrastructure that enables the SAR/Galileo Forward Link Service provision and the main inherent performances of the system. The SPV test campaign is described in terms of objectives and organization; the main results are presented, and the foreseen milestones for SAR/Galileo deployment are summarized.

    Global availability of 5 km beacon localisation accuracy (95%) in 10 minutes.

  • Hexagon presents solutions for geospatial, construction industries at Intergeo

    Hexagon AB showcased its geospatial and construction portfolio at Intergeo 2017 in Berlin, Germany.

    Hexagon’s sensor portfolio combined with a range of software creates solutions that support the geospatial and construction industries.

    According to the company, visitors were able to explore a number of solutions, including mobile mapping; asset collection and management for geographic information systems (GIS); 3D laser scanning; photogrammetry; remote sensing; airborne sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); global positioning and monitoring like GNSS; construction project controls and progress documentation; utility detection; measurement software and cloud-based dynamic mapping. Hexagon will be at booth A1.024 in Hall 1.1.

    “Hexagon is focused on creating smart digital realities,” said Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. “At Intergeo, we will demonstrate the productivity and savings that can be realized from digitalizing customer workflows, automating processes and ensuring all stakeholders have access to dynamic, critical information.”

    During the conference portion of Intergeo, Hexagon executives addressed the growing need for digitalization in geospatial and construction industries:

    • Transformation through digitalization. Hexagon Geosystems President Juergen Dold provides the Intergeo opening keynote exploring the need for businesses to transform from efficient digitisation to connected digitalisation for continued progress.
    • The power of combining cost, schedules and models in the cloud. Director of Global Business Development for HxGN SMART Build at Hexagon PPM, Cathi Hayes, explains how SMART Build integrates model, schedule, cost and digital layout capabilities into a single solution that addresses the most critical phases of construction planning and execution.
    • Hexagon integrated solution for utility detection and mapping. Leica Geosystems Construction Tools President Katherine Broder and IDS GeoRadar President Alberto Bicci present how to achieve high productivity in mapping utilities with Hexagon’s underground detection portfolio, including ground penetrating radar (GPR) solutions.
    • Escaping the flatlands. Hexagon Geospatial President Mladen Stojic envisions new and easier approaches that ingest the influx of data, use automated approaches to extract the signal from the noise and provide intuitive ways of communicating insights to decision makers and field teams so they can shape smarter change.
    • Connecting perceptions with reality in the world of BIM, GIS and survey. Leica Geosystems Laser Scanning Vice-President of Business Development Faheem Khan looks at the benefits of sensor fusion, the growth of digital reality solutions and how both are affecting project lifecycles in the real, digital world.
    • Streamlining UAV workflows for surveying, construction and inspection. Leica Geosystems Product Manager for UAV Solutions Valentin Fuchs and Leica Geosystems Director of Marketing and Communications for UAV Solutions Benjamin Federmann deliver a series of presentations and hands-on demonstrations on how Hexagon integrates UAVs as part of the technology tool kit to digitalise workflows.

  • Live from ION GNSS+ 2017

    The GPS World staff is reporting live from ION GNSS+ Sept. 25-29 in Portland, Oregon, providing news, photos, videos and more. GPS World will be there with a full team, including Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Alan Cameron, Managing Editor Tracy Cozzens and Digital Media Manager Joelle Harms.

    We will be providing coverage of the show on GPSworld.com, Facebook and Twitter.

    Take a look at the full show program.

    VIDEO PLAYLIST

    NEWS

    Father of consumer car navigation addresses ION GNSS+

    High-end GNSS simulator generates realistic test scenarios

    ION GNSS+ Twitter contest

    What to expect from ION GNSS+ and Intergeo 2017

    ION GNSS+ includes other sensors, offers new short courses

    Skydel’s latest SDX release features new jamming option

    Microsemi SyncServer incorporates SAASM for defense market

    U.S. Air Force awards Lockheed Martin GPS M-code contract

  • Live from Intergeo 2017

    Live from Intergeo 2017

    The GPS World staff is reporting from Intergeo Sept. 26-28 in Berlin, Germany. The massive trade show, dubbed the “global hub of the geospatial community,” brings together more than 17,000 visitors from more than 107 countries and features approximately 525 exhibitors. Check out some of the latest industry news, as well as photos and videos from the event.

    News

    Videos

  • PNT Roundup: Ericsson HQ gets indoor positioning upgrade

    PNT Roundup: Ericsson HQ gets indoor positioning upgrade

    Photo: senion.com

    With personal or work-issued smartphones, more than 4,000 employees can now use a corporate app to easily find available rooms and spaces to work in the 500,000-square-foot, 20-floor, four-building Stockholm headquarters of telecom company Ericsson.

    The Senion StepInside indoor positioning system, designed by partner Flowscape, helps Ericsson employees reduce wasted time searching for people, places or things, thereby increasing productivity.

    The StepInside software development kit (SDK) offers location readings in latitude, longitude and floor level in real time. The SDK can easily be integrated into any smartphone application. StepInside relies on an advanced sensor fusion algorithm that works with the smartphone’s movement and radio sensors to provide accurate and robust positioning.

    “Indoor positioning technology is perfect for large offices with multiple floors, offices, and meeting spaces — the bigger and more intricate the better,” said Christian Lundquist, CEO and co-founder of Senion. Ericsson’s StepInside implementation is part of the company’s larger global platform designed to enable rapid IoT application development.

    The system as implemented today is the starting point for a bigger roll-out with additional workplace enhancements at Ericsson.

    Senion’s comprehensive IPS services include analytics, wayfinding, geofencing, friend-finder and tracking. With more than 300 indoor positioning system installations globally, Senion has worked closely with shopping malls, hospitals, corporate campuses and more to improve workflows. Senion is headquartered in Linkoping, Sweden, and San Francisco.

  • Microsemi SyncServer incorporates SAASM for defense market

    Microsemi SyncServer incorporates SAASM for defense market

    Microsemi Corporation’s new SyncServer S650 SAASM server incorporates a Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM).

    The SAASM capability provides a highly secure, accurate and flexible time and frequency platform for synchronizing mission-critical electronics systems and instrumentation applications in the defense market, such as satellite communications and defense operational infrastructure, the company said.

    Military Grade. The new SyncServer S650 SAASM, designed for use by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and other government agencies as well as their approved suppliers, received the GPS Directorate Security Approval to incorporate a military-grade, GPS SAASM receiver module.

    Microsemi SyncServer S650 SAASM Time and Frequency Server.

    This enables U.S. armed forces to confidently deploy features of Microsemi’s popular commercial SyncServer S650 in a military-grade configuration. In addition, the integrated SAASM module adheres to industry standards allowing for a migration path to GPS Military Code (M-code) support.

    “Our key military and DOD-related customers require flexible, secure and extremely reliable time and frequency technology for their most critical applications, which they have come to rely upon from Microsemi. Enabling support for SAASM provides the extra security and reliability necessary for this market,” said Randy Brudzinski, vice president and business unit manager of the Frequency and Timing Division at Microsemi. “The addition of the SyncServer S650 SAASM to our product line further demonstrates Microsemi’s commitment to providing the highest quality time and frequency technology in support of vital government programs.”

    The SyncServer S650 SAASM is a highly versatile time and frequency system with the company’s FlexPort technology for multiport, user-definable output signal configurations for time codes, pulses and a variety of signal types essential for system synchronization.

    This makes the SyncServer S650 SAASM ideal for DoD electronics system engineers synchronizing mission-critical, system-level instruments. This is coupled with Microsemi’s NTP Reflector technology for robust security, accuracy and reliability of network-based time services such as Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP).

    Resilience to Threats. According to a 2017 GNSS Market Report, global navigation satellite system (GNSS) jamming and spoofing are specifically identified as increasing and notable cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure.

    Furthermore, resilience to these threats has become mandatory by critical infrastructure policy makers and GNSS receiver manufacturers. Without the use of SAASM technology in the presence of these threats, deliberate or unintentional, the most mission-critical systems operated by the DOD may be subject to the side effects of degraded time and frequency performance.

    Microsemi’s new SyncServer S650 SAASM is designed to generate precise time and frequency signals to synchronize high bandwidth mission-critical communications systems and critical infrastructure requiring the highest levels of security support.

    In addition to offering superior low phase noise performance, the device is compliant with the Joint Chiefs of Staff SAASM GPS mandate and developed for authorized military users only.

  • Expert Opinions: Ensuring full utility while evolving GNSS

    Q: How can the safety, security, and full utility of GNSS applications be ensured while evolving to the best and most efficient use of limited and extremely valuable electromagnetic spectrum?

    Mitch Narins, principal consultant, Strategic Synergies, LLC

    A: (1) Agree that “No electromagnetic spectrum use will be approved, now or in the future, that impacts GNSS PNT users.” – a common mission statement essential to establishing trust!

    (2) Determine how best to migrate today’s GNSS PNT users to be more resilient to both interference and planned future adjacent band services.

    (3) Provide detailed architectures, network layouts, and implementation plans for rollout of new adjacent band services compliant with (1) and supportive of (2).

    John Fischer, VP, Advanced R&D, Orolia/Spectracom

    A: We cannot ignore fielded legacy systems, but neither can we chain ourselves to old technology and hinder progress.

    Spectrum usage cannot be solved by less regulation, but it can be with innovative regulatory ideas adhering to minimalist principles. For example, would a “cash for clunkers” program work to eliminate weak receivers from the field to enable more efficient spectrum use?

    This is one of those situations where government involvement can spur an innovative solution.

  • Trimble introduces lower power GNSS-inertial boards

    Trimble has introduced a new family of Trimble BD GNSS boards for high-precision guidance and control applications.

    The BD boards’ simple connectivity and configuration allow system integrators and OEMs to easily add GNSS positioning and orientation — with the ability to upgrade its capabilities — using the same board footprint, connectors and software interface for specialized and custom hardware solutions, the company said.

    The compact Trimble BD boards include a broad range of receiver capabilities, from high-accuracy GNSS only to full GNSS-Inertial features for positioning and 3D orientation. Firmware options are upgradeable, allowing functionality to be added as requirements change.

    Product manufacturers in markets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous vehicles, fleet management and aviation now have the ability to offer customers an extensive range of capabilities to meet all their needs.

    According to Trimble, the low-power BD family of boards includes the BD940 GNSS and GNSS-Inertial boards and new top-of-the-line BD990 GNSS, GNSS-Heading and GNSS-Inertial boards, enabling customers to choose the most appropriate receiver for their applications.

    In addition, the BX940 and BX992 are available in a rugged enclosure for applications used in harsh environments.

    Integrating Trimble RTX technology, which enables precise and robust location worldwide without the use of a base station, the BD boards are ideal for flexible positioning. Trimble RTX technology enables users to subscribe to a complete portfolio of real-time correction services that deliver varying levels of accuracy depending on the user’s application requirements.

    The new BD family incorporates the latest Trimble Maxwell technology with advances in high-precision GNSS-Inertial positioning. By integrating inertial sensors onto the GNSS boards, users can experience more robust performance in a variety of challenging environments such as urban canyons, tunnels, heavy canopy or other GNSS-denied environments.

    Robust centimeter-level, real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning is achieved through the combination of multi-frequency GNSS — full triple-frequency support of all available GNSS satellite constellations—and onboard inertial sensors.

    System integrators and OEMS also have the ability to detect interference with the included RF Spectrum Monitoring and Analysis tool embedded in the receiver. The GNSS engine with 336 channels is capable of tracking L1/L2/L5 frequencies from the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou constellations.

    “The OEM and system integrator communities demand high performance, reliability and support for their positioning solutions,” said Elmar Lenz, general manager of Trimble’s Integrated Technologies Division. “The new BD family of boards deliver the latest GNSS and inertial technology in an easy-to-integrate form factor.”

    The new Trimble BD OEM GNSS family is available now through Trimble’s Integrated Technologies Precision GNSS Sales Channel.

  • ION GNSS+ Twitter contest

    Headed to ION GNSS+ 2017?

    Tweet a selfie with @GPSWorld Group Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Alan Cameron OR in the GPS World booth at ION GNSS+ and you will be entered to win two tickets to the GPS World Leadership Dinner!

    To qualify, simply tweet a selfie with @gpseditor Alan Cameron, or in the GPS World booth, tag @GPSWorld and use #iFoundAlan. One winner will be randomly selected at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, and contacted via direct message on Twitter. Photo must be taken at ION GNSS+ 2017 and submitted prior to noon on Sept. 28.