GPS World

Author: GPS World Staff

  • Sokkia introduces GCX3 integrated receiver

    Sokkia introduces GCX3 integrated receiver

    sokkia-gcx3_infield
    Photo: Sokkia

    Sokkia has introduced the latest addition to its GCX line of GNSS integrated receivers, the GCX3, which features advanced constellation tracking, open format software compatibility and longer range base-to-rover communication.

    “The GCX3 features the new second generation POST2 (precision orbital satellite technology) integrated antenna — adding BeiDou, Galileo, SBAS, QZSS, and GAGAN satellite tracking in addition to GPS and GLONASS to ensure the best positioning availability,” said Charles Rihner, vice president of the Topcon GeoPositioning Solutions Group. “Building on the success of its predecessor, the GCX2, the GCX3 offers all of the lightweight, compact and ergonomic benefits — along with centimeter-accurate positioning — now with expanded satellite tracking capabilities.”

    Sokkia-gcx3-W
    Photo: Sokkia

    The GCX3 is designed as an open-source technology receiver. “You are not locked into a specific software program for downloading and processing data with Sokkia open source technology,” said Rihner. “Whether operators use MAGNET Field, GeoPro Field, or their own custom solutions, a variety of software options are available depending on their preferences for the application.”

    The receiver features radio-free RTK (real-time kinematic) operation via multi-channel, long-range Bluetooth technology. When used as a base station, one GCX3 may support up to three concurrent rovers at a range of more than 300 meters. Each receiver may be used as a base or as a rover.

    “It also functions as an ideal precision network rover when combined with a cellular-enabled field controller,” Rihner said.

  • Trimble incorporates Galileo support in GNSS infrastructure management software

    Higher-Accuracy Positioning to Improve GNSS Network Performance and Reliability

    Trimble has introduced version 3.10 of its Pivot Platform software, a modular solution for real-time GNSS infrastructure management, ranging from a single-base GNSS continuously operating reference station (CORS) to a full real-time network (RTN), serving thousands of end-users worldwide.

    Version 3.10 provides improvements to network performance and office and field productivity. The new features and capabilities include:

    • Galileo support provides access to five GNSS constellations — GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS and now Galileo — allowing end-users to expect improved positioning accuracy and fix performance from the 50 percent increase of accessible satellites;
    • GPS L5 support utilizes all available L5 third-frequency GPS observations to enable end users to further improve field productivity;
    • Code Bias Calibration client and server improvements  provide a higher availability of network-modeled RTK corrections to allow field users to reduce dependency on station biases;
    • Sparse Network supports Galileo and BeiDou. Sparse Network, a Trimble technology, enables RTN operators to achieve the benefits of a full network-processed GNSS constellation even if the network is not fully covered with multi-constellation CORS.
    • Dynamic Station Coordinates (DSC) module improvements minimize the impact of erroneous reference station coordinates to improve system performance.

    “Trimble continues to transform the way our customers manage their real-time GNSS infrastructure by making networks more robust and easier to manage,” said Mark Richter, director of marketing for Trimble’s Advanced Positioning Division. “Accessibility to the Galileo constellation and the addition of the L5 third-frequency observations in particular, makes Trimble’s Pivot Platform significantly more versatile to improve functionality and performance for end users in the field.”

    Trimble Pivot Platform version 3.10 is available now from Trimble’s Distribution Network and Trimble Sales Representatives. Customers with a valid software maintenance agreement receive the new version at no additional cost.

  • Report forecasts global receiver market for 2017-20

    A new industry report provides a study of the global GNSS receiver market, forecasting growth and other factors for the period 2017-20.

    The GPS & GNSS Receivers Market 2017 Research Report by Markets.biz provides a “thorough and complete study on receiver industry volume, market share, trends, growth, applications, utilization ratio, supply and demand analysis, manufacturing capacity and price.

    The report concentrates on a complete analysis of present and past historical details of the market as well as the competitive landscape.

    Vendors mentioned include:

    • Trimble
    • Topcon
    • Navipedia
    • Sokkia
    • Geo
    • NavtechGPS
    • JAVAD GNSS
    • CHC Navigation
    • SOUTH
    • ComNav Technology
    • Hemisphere GNSS
    • NovAtel
    • NavCom Technology
    • Leica Geosystems
    • Eos Positioning Systems
    • NVS Technologies
    • Suzhou FOIF
    • Pulse Engineering
    • CSR
    • Broadcom
    • Garmin

    The report organizes the receiver market across the globe into divisions based on industry standards and on geographical regions. The report throws light on dominant players in each region: United States, European Union, China, Japan). Other regions can be added accordingly.

    Discrete aspects of the receiver industry such as value-chain analysis, rules and policies, factors driving the growth of the market, and the constraints hampering the growth are explained.

    The report mentions products  currently available in the market along with their cost structures, manufacturing volume, requirement and supply analysis, import/export scenario and their overall global contribution to market revenue globally.

    Further, the report analyzes the feasibility of investment and investment return analysis, and shows a complete picture of market development scope and business strategies followed by leading industry players along with their company profiles, market shares and contact information.

  • NOAA seeks new members for hydrographic advisory panel

    The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is seeking new members for its Hydrographic Services Review Panel, a federal advisory committee that advises the NOAA administrator on the agency’s hydrographic programs, products and technology.

    “We depend on the perspectives of the people who rely on NOAA maritime products, especially for safety at sea or commercial efficiency, as we plan for improvements of our navigation data, services, and products,” said Russell Callender, Ph.D., assistant NOAA administrator for the National Ocean Service. “This panel is a vital part of our information gathering process to determine future priorities.”

    The panel advises NOAA on hydrographic surveying, nautical charts, tides and currents, geodetic and geospatial measurements, and coastal preparedness.

    shipping-portApplicants should have expertise in one or more of the following fields:

    • marine navigation and technology,
    • port administration,
    • marine shipping or other intermodal transportation industries,
    • cartography and geographic information systems,
    • geodesy,
    • physical oceanography,
    • coastal resource management, including coastal preparedness and emergency response,
    • other related scientific fields.

    Applications must be received by May 30; those received after the deadline will be kept on file and may be used for future panel vacancies. Members serve four-year terms, with meetings occurring at least twice a year.

    For more information on how to apply, see the Federal Register notice or visit the HSRP website.

  • GPSengine partners with Jointech for fleet tracking

    GPSengine, a hosted platform service provider in GNSS, telematics, IoT and tracking, named Jointech as an official Platform Connect partner.

    With support built into Platform Connect for Jointech’s tracking devices, customers can take advantage of the combined offerings for fleet tracking solutions.

    With a focus on personal tracking, vehicle and fleet tracking, combined with nine years of research, design and tracking device manufacture, Jointech has devices for many industry needs, including remote fuel management systems, container monitoring and fuel level sensors.

  • TRAK Microwave becomes Smiths Interconnect as part of brand transition

    Smiths Interconnect, a division of Smiths Group plc, is unifying its technology brands, including TRAK Microwave, maker of GPS clocks, GPS antennas and network time protocol (NTP) servers.

    Other brands pulled under the Smiths Interconnect umbrella include EMC Technology, Hypertac, IDI, Lorch, Millitech, RF Labs, Sabritec and TECOM.

    TRAK_SmithsAccording to Smiths Group, the brand transition supports a recent strategic reorganization focused on creating a more agile structure that can better anticipate and respond to customers’ evolving needs.

    Individually, the technology brands represent state-of-the-art solutions across the connectors, microwave components and microwave subsystems markets. Providing a strong umbrella brand that supports the breadth of these products and technologies will make Smiths Interconnect a more comprehensive solutions provider, improving the customer experience by streamlining access and interactions across multiple applications.

    “Over time, interactions among our brands have increased across many of our markets,” said Roland Carter, president of Smiths Interconnect. “Aligning all this activity under the Smiths Interconnect name will make us a more streamlined partner, enhancing our customers’ access to the combined strength of our products, expertise and application knowledge.”

    8835 GPS Clock by TRAK Microwave.
    8835 GPS Clock by TRAK Microwave.

    The individual technology brands will continue to be visible in association with the Smiths Interconnect brand during the transition period.

    Smiths Interconnect is a provider of technically differentiated electronic components, subsystems, microwave and radio frequency products that connect, protect and control critical applications in the commercial aviation, defense, space, medical, rail, semiconductor test, wireless telecommunications and industrial markets. It is part of Smiths Group, a global advanced technology company for markets in threat and contraband detection, energy, medical devices, communications and engineered components. Smiths Group employs 22,000 people in more than 50 countries.

  • Spectracom, Satelles sync in multiple indoor locations

    Orolia has synchronized a Spectracom SecureSync high-precision time server with the new Iridium Satelles Satellite Time & Location (STL) time synchronization signal powered by Iridium satellites in several indoor environments in the field. Configured with an embedded STL receiver and a small patch antenna, the SecureSync synchronized with the STL signal in several challenging indoor locations. Indoor success can be attributed in part to use of a low-Earth orbit satellite-based signal 1,000 times stronger than GPS.

    The first successful synchronization was in the interior of a building in one of the most challenging urban canyons on Earth: downtown Manhattan on the 7th floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The second was in the interior of a conference center with multiple sources of potential signal interference during The Institute of Navigation event in Monterey, California. Additional successful indoor timing signal synchronization locations include MiFiD2 events near the Paris Stock Exchange, a multi-story building and inside Gibson Hall in downtown London.

    More GNSS challenged locations to come, the two companies promise.

    Other satellite signals — notably GNSS — have limitations indoors. The Satelles STL signal uses the narrow-band paging channels of Iridium, a one-way transmission from the satellite with a very high gain system. The STL signal is completely different from the wide band, lower gain two-way channel of the Iridium phone. The STL signal is 1,000 times stronger than GPS because it originates from the Iridium constellation of 66 satellites orbiting in a low earth orbit. It is also encrypted for high security, which greatly enhances the resilient PNT capabilities of the Spectracom product lines, specificallly the SecureSync precision time and frequency reference. SecureSync with integrated STL synchronization is available to order from the Spectracom website or by contacting a representative.

    “The new STL signal is the ideal solution for those needing increased security and reliability, applications such as high frequency securities trading, financial transaction time-stamping compliance and critical infrastructure timing,” said John Fischer, vice president of Orolia for advanced R&D. “It is not only an additional signal to back up traditional GNSS, it is also stronger and more secure, adding significantly to the resiliency of high performance systems and networks that must rely on precise time synchronization.”

    Having proven the ability to provide a strong and reliable alternative signal in various indoor field locations, the new globally accessible STL signal adds a significant safety net to any critical GNSS application. Adding to the mix of signals of opportunity the resiliency of positioning and timing for financial, defense and critical infrastructure is greatly enhanced.

    “Orolia is focused on providing Resilient PNT solutions, and by combining and layering technology in innovative ways we help our customers meet their mission goals,” said Rohit Braggs, vice president of Orolia’s PNT networks and sources. “This new satellite-based service provides a unique signal that augments Spectracom systems, enhancing our ability to effectively mitigate emerging GPS and GNSS threats.”

    Orolia is the parent company of Spectracom, McMurdo, Kannad, and Sarbe brands, focused on resilient positioning, navigation and timing (RPNT) solutions that improve the reliability, performance and safety of customers’ critical, remote or high-risk operations.

    Satelles has developed and deployed a real-time PNT service based on low-Earth orbit satellites, the Iridium constellation. Satellite Time and Location (STL) signals are highly secure, penetrate deep indoors, and are available anywhere on Earth.  Satelles partners with other companies to deliver secure time and location capabilities to government and commercial users worldwide.

  • Expert Opinions: Considerations for simulating GNSS signals for UAVs

    Expert Opinions: Considerations for simulating GNSS signals for UAVs

    Q: What are the key factors to consider when simulating GNSS signals for UAVs?

     

    Mitsuo Shiono, CEO, IP-Solutions, Zero C Seven Inc.
    Mitsuo Shiono, CEO, IP-Solutions, Zero C Seven Inc.

    A: For UAV simulation, a record-and-playback system is obviously less applicable, as the user is more interested in defining system operability within a range of parameters rather than in any generalized case. A high-dynamic user performance is required, but users should look at a simulator’s static performance first to ensure high accuracy. Interference, both intentional and unintentional, is the main challenge. At least two RF outputs are required to facilitate development of differential and RTK algorithms and to simulate multiple antennas.

    Iurie Ilie, Chief Technical Officer, Skydel
    Iurie Ilie, Chief Technical Officer, Skydel

    A: Safety and compliance to existing regulations are the key factors for UAVs. To evaluate them in harsh environments, the GNSS simulator should push the UAV’s navigation system to the limits. The simulator should allow for creation of complex scenarios with drastic changes in satellite constellations, signal/frequency diversity and signal quality. The simulation of multipath signals and interference should account for relative dynamics between the UAV and the environment. Importing six-degrees-of-freedom (DOF) complex trajectories is another important factor to consider.

    Tim Erbes, Chief Technology Officer, Talen-X
    Tim Erbes, Chief Technology Officer, Talen-X

    A: The UAS simulator must support realistic flight profiles with the ability to integrate autopilot controllers. Affordable simulators need to support closed-loop simulation so the guidance logic will have an impact on the simulated signals. Another critical aspect to consider is the ability to integrate the threat signals enabling counter-UAS testing. We must have a simulation capable of supporting all signals present in the environment — PNT, threats and communications.

  • Research: Assessment evaluates GNSS receivers’ tolerance of adjacent band

    By Stephen Mackey, Hadi Wassaf, Karen Van Dyke, Christopher Hegarty, Karl Shallberg, John Flake and Terence Johnson.

    OOBE Levels associated with LTE signal power used in testing.
    OOBE Levels associated with LTE signal power used in testing. Source: Stephen Mackey, Hadi Wassaf, Karen Van Dyke, Christopher Hegarty, Karl Shallberg, John Flake and Terence Johnson.

    The Adjacent Band Compatibility Assessment evaluated the adjacent radiofrequency band power levels that can be tolerated by GPS and GNSS receivers, to advance the U.S. Department of Transportation’s understanding of the extent to which such power levels impact devices used for transportation safety purposes, among other applications. The paper describes the testing approach and data analysis used to develop interference tolerance masks (ITMs) based on a 1-dB carrier-to-noise-ratio (CNR) degradation. DOT and other participants tested 80 GPS/GNSS receivers in an anechoic chamber. Four types of testing were conducted which involved a linearity test, 1-MHz Bandpass Noise, 10-MHz Long Term Evolution (LTE), and effects of third order intermodulation.

    This paper also presents the resulting ITMs and puts forward a recommendation for the bounding ITM for each GPS/GNSS receiver category. Given a particular use case scenario, the significance of these bounding ITMs is that they provide information that is necessary for the downstream analysis to determine the maximum Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) that can be tolerated in the adjacent radiofrequency bands on a per category basis. The paper discusses acquisition results as they relate to the 1-dB CNR degradation limit, and a cross comparison for some of the receiver results between radiated and conducted tests incorporating the appropriate antenna characterization data.

    Presented at ION ITM, January 2017.

  • 2017 Simulator Buyers Guide

    Cast Navigation iP-Solutions Racelogic Skydel Spectracom
    Spirent Federal Systems Syntony-GNSS Talen-x

    Cast-5000 GPS wavefront generator

    CRPA and Attitude Determination Receiver Testing

    5000layeredwhite-castnavThe CAST-5000 produces a single coherent wavefront of GPS RF signals to provide repeatable testing in the laboratory environment or anechoic chamber. The basic system generates four independent, coherent simulations that reference a single point and is upgradeable to support seven elements for CRPA testing. With an intercard carrier- phase error of less than 1 centimeter, the CAST-5000 is extremely accurate.

    The system generates a wavefront of GPS when its GPS RF generator cards are operated in a ganged configuration. Each generator card provides a set of GPS satellites coherent with the overall configuration. Several RF generator cards may be utilized together, ensuring phase coherence among the bank of signal generator cards.

    The CAST-5000 Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) tester allows a full end-to-end test of the antenna system. The CRPA antenna, antenna electronics and the GPS receiver can be tested as a unit with or without radiating signals.

    Features

    • Generates single coherent wavefront of GPS.
    • 6-DOF motion generation capability.
    • Complete SV constellation editing.
    • Post-mission processing via ICD-GPS-150/153.
    • Differential/relative navigation.
    • Antenna pattern modeling.
    • Waypoint navigation.
    • RAIM events.
    • Multipath modeling.
    • Spoofer simulation.
    • Satellite clock errors.
    • External trajectory input.
    • External ephemeris and almanac.
    • Several iono and tropo models.
    • Modifiable navigation message.
    • Modeled selective availability.
    • Time-tagged satellite events.
    • Selectable host vehicle parameters.

    www.castnav.com
    phone: 978 858-0130
    email: [email protected]

    iP-Solutions, Zero-C Seven Inc.

    Simceiver, Replicator, ReGen

    iP-Solutions brings its 10-year development for designated users — including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) COSMODE ionospheric scintillation monitor — to general users worldwide.

    MFR1iP-Solutions users have a complete GNSS lab at their disposal. They can simulate, record and process signals in real-time with the company’s receiver, and playback almost any GNSS signal.

    Moreover, users have complete control over the simulated signals in real-time and with high fidelity.

    iP-Solutions provides mid-level and high-end simulation solutions with the same level of accuracy and fidelity.

    Mid-Level Solution
    iP-Solutions’ mid-level Simceiver simulator allows multi-frequency simulation of various GNSS signals with all essential models. The additional ANSI C API allows users to modify existing models or introduce their own.

    iP-Solutions’ mid-level solution range even includes a comprehensive interference and spoofing laboratory.

    The Simceiver is controlled usign the comprehensive ReGen software, providing the user with great freedom to create any desired signal.

    High-End Solution
    ninja-hresiP-Solutions’ high-end Ninja simulator allows for multi-antenna controlled radiation pattern antenna (CRPA) and local-area augmentation system (LAAS) simulation.

    Academia
    iP-Solutions’ educational packages for academia combine hardware at a special academic price with academic versions of all the software and two textbooks authored by iP-Solutions’ lead engineer Ivan Petrovski and JAXA lead scientist Toshiaki Tsujii (published by Cambridge University Press).

    www.ip-solutions.jp
    phone: +81-3-3560-7747
    e-mail: [email protected] (Japan)
    [email protected] (Nth. America)
    [email protected] (International)

    Racelogic

    LabSat 3 Wideband
    LabSat is a cost-effective and intuitive GNSS simulator.

    Labsat_Lid-OffNew to the LabSat range of GNSS record and replay devices is LabSat 3 Wideband, which continues with the established reliability, cost-effectiveness, and simplicity of operation that are the benchmarks of the LabSat system.

    A recording bandwidth of 56 MHz allows for the capture of a very wide range of live-sky satellite signals:

    • GPS: L1 / L2 / L5
    • GLONASS: L1 / L2 / L3
    • BeiDou: B1 / B2 / B3
    • QZSS: L1 / L2 / L5
    • Galileo: E1 / E1a / E5a / E5b / E6
    • IRNSS: L5
    • SBAS: WAAS / EGNOS / GAGAN / MSAS / SDCM

    Depending on the desired bandwidth, recording resolution can be set to 2, 4, or 6 bit. Check out the GNSS frequency guide on the LabSat website — labsat.co.uk — to see exactly which signals can be recorded and at which resolution.

    Even with this greatly increased capacity over the original LabSat 3, the new simulator remains extremely easy to use: one-touch recording, no connection to PC required, battery powered for up to two hours, and with a removable 1-TB solid-state hard drive that can be replaced in no time, the LabSat 3 Wideband is convenient to use. It measures a compact 167 x 128 x 46 millimeters and weighs 1.2 kilograms.

    SatGen Wideband
    For product future-proofing, the soon-to-be-launched SatGen Wideband will allow for testing with signals not yet fully available, such as GPS L2C and L5 — further increasing the power and versatility of the new LabSat 3 Wideband.
    www.labsat.co.uk
    phone: +44 (0)1280 823803

    Skydel

    SDX: Software-Defined GNSS Simulator

    skydel-sdxSDX uses GPU-accelerated computing and software-defined radios (SDR) to create an advanced and fully-featured GNSS simulator. SDX is available as complete turnkey systems or software only.

    The software-defined approach offers many benefits:

    • COTS hardware offers economy of scale and eliminates dependency over dedicated hardware platforms.
    • Generic hardware allow users to repurpose their equipment for different projects.
    • Configurable output to test receiver at various entry point with RF, IF or IQ data.
    • Uncompromised performance with high dynamics and accuracy.
    • Record user interactions and export them to scripts to automate complex use cases intuitively. The export feature reduces the learning curve for advanced concepts.
    • Advanced signal customization (signal signature, private encryption, etc.)

    SDX Key Features

    • Multi-constellation (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou), multi-frequency (upper and lower L-band).
    • Selectable RF, IF frequency and IQ file data.
    • GPS encrypted codes.
    • Fully integrated jammers (static or moving) with over 120-dB jamming-to-signal ratio.
    • Multipath.
    • Additive pseudorange (PSR) ramps.
    • Message modification and corruption.
    • 1000-Hz update rate and high dynamics.
    • Space (LEO-GEO), air and ground vehicle with 6DoF trajectories.
    • Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration.
    • Street maps integration.
    • Raw data logging.
    • Real-time receiver deviation analysis.
    • Powerful and simple API.
    • On-the-fly reconfiguration.
    • Windows and Linux compatible.

    SDX is ideal for design and validation of GNSS receivers, complex integration, academic research, NAVWAR and test engineering.

    Skydel engineering and research teams offer direct support to clients to ensure prompt deployment and integration, or review advanced customization requirements.

    www.skydelsolutions.com
    [email protected]

    Spectracom

    For mission-critical PNT applications

    Spectracom_GSG_highres_smallThe Spectracom GSG series of GPS/GNSS simulators are an essential tool to evaluate risk to jamming, spoofing or any other threat. Spectracom GSG-5/6 series simulators are easy-to-use, feature-rich and affordable, offering high value for hardening GPS-based systems compared to the limitations of testing from live-sky signals. The Spectracom platform approach allows users to buy what they need today and upgrade later. The adaptability of the GNSS RF generation platform can extend to applications for intelligent repeating and meaconing.

    Test Solutions

    • Position accuracy and dynamic range/sensitivity.
    • Simulate movements/trajectories anywhere on or above Earth.
    • Sensitivity to GPS impairments: loss of satellites, multipath, atmospheric conditions, interference, jamming and spoofing.
    • Conducted or over-the-air RF.
    • GPS time-transfer accuracy.
    • Effect of leap-second transition.
    • Multi-constellation testing.
    • Modernization signals/frequencies.
    • Keyless military SAASM, dual-frequency and survey-grade receiver testing.
    • Application packages for, RTK, CRPA (controlled radiation pattern antennas).
    • Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration.
    • Test solutions for eCall and ERA-GLONASS Infrastructure Possibilities.
    • Zone-based indoor location (intelligent repeating).
    • seudolite applications.

    GSG-6 Series 64-channel, multi-frequency, advanced GNSS simulator is powerful enough for any cutting-edge test program. GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS and IRNSS signals are available across multiple frequencies. The GSG-6 is designed for military, research and professional applications.

    GSG-5 Series 16-channel multi-constellation L1-band GNSS Simulator is designed for commercial development/integration programs. If the user is developing commercial products with GNSS capability, the GSG-5 will shorten test programs with confidence.

    GSG-51 single channel signal generator is designed for one purpose — fast, simple Go/No-Go manufacturing test and validation, ensuring the manufacturing line is operating at full capacity with confidence in quality.

    spectracom.com
    email: [email protected]
    phone: +1-585-321-5800

    Spirent Federal Systems

    GSS9000, CRPA Test System, GSS6450 RPS, GSS200D
    Spirent Federal provides simulators that cover all applications, including research and development, integration/verification and production testing.

    GSS9000GSS9000. The Spirent GSS9000 Multi-Frequency, Multi-GNSS RF Constellation Simulator can simulate signals from all GNSS and regional navigation. The GSS9000 offers a four-fold increase in RF signal iteration rate (SIR) over Spirent’s GSS8000 simulator. The GSS9000 SIR is 1000 Hz (1ms), enabling higher dynamic simulations with more accuracy and fidelity. It includes support for restricted and classified signals from the GPS and Galileo systems as well as advanced capabilities for ultra-high dynamics. It can evaluate resilience of navigation systems to interference and spoofing attacks, and has the flexibility to reconfigure constellations, channels and frequencies between test runs or test cases.

    CRPA Test System. Spirent’s Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) Test System generates both GNSS and interference signals. Users can control multiple antenna elements. Null-steering and space/time adaptive CRPA testing are both supported by this comprehensive approach.

    GSS6450. The GSS6450 RF Record Playback System (RPS) takes RF recording and playback systems to a whole new level of performance and flexibility, while being housed in a small (8.5 x 7.8 x 3 inch) portable case. The GSS6450 can record any GNSS signals currently available with bit depths up to 16 bits (I&Q) and bandwidths of up to 50 MHz. The flexible product structure allows the system complexity to grow with the user’s testing needs.

    GSS200D. A truly end-to-end solution that builds up a complete picture of interference activity at site of interest. It continuously monitors the GNSS frequency bands for interference, then captures and analyzes them. The GSS200D is a detection system that operates simultaneously on multi-frequency.

    Spirent Federal Systems
    1402 W. State Rd.
    Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
    www.spirentfederal.com
    [email protected]
    phone: 801-785-1448
    fax: 801-785-1294

    Key contacts: Jeff Martin, VP of Business Development and Sales
    Kalani Needham, Sales West
    Tyson Gurney, Sales East

    Syntony-GNSS

    Montage-gui-constellatorConstellator is Syntony’s cost-effective full soft multi-constellation GNSS simulator. Designed to test receivers against current and future signals, Constellator matches top-end processing performance and RF quality and offers utmost flexibility in simulation control.
    Constellator

    • performs fair-weather tests, but also is designed to subject receivers to suboptimal conditions, extreme situations and combinations of errors difficult to access in real-world tests — all of it finely controlled and indefinitely repeatable.
    • is compatible with other best-in-class test solutions providing GNSS component end-to-end system tests, including hardware in the loop.
    • core is software, ensuring that all future constellations, satellites and codes can be handled. Most functional upgrades will then be software-only.
    • is used in aerospace and defense (among others) for: multi-antenna receiver testing for spacecraft launcher, satellite onboard receiver testing (telecom and observation) and defense UAV receiver testing.


    Main Features

    • 128 channels (extensible) delivering high-quality satellite signals on six distinct frequencies (L and S band)
    • Hardware-in-the-loop testing at 10- to 100-Hz refresh rates
    • Extensive simulation options:
      • • Full-time and location control
      • Receiver trajectories with extreme dynamics
      • Background noise, interference and jamming/spoofing (two units)
      • Atmospheric propagation errors
      • Satellite errors
      • Multipath and obscuration
      • On-the-fly scenario modifications
      • Receiver attitude control
      • Very accurate spaceborne trajectories

    Main Simulation and Modeling Capabilities

    Receiver trajectories: Includes four spatial reference frames and trajectory editors for ground, marine, aerial and spatial motion and import facility.

    Hardware-in-the-loop:     Receives receiver’s position updates from test-rig in real time and generates corresponding GNSS signals and messages.

    Atmospheric errors: Propagation issues can be simulated at individual signal level with different models provided for ionosphere and troposphere.

    Satellite error modeling options include orbital errors, onboard clock errors, satellite electronics (front-end) defects, satellite dysfunctions and signal fade, disappearance and “evil waveform” incidents.

    www.syntony-gnss.com
    [email protected]
    phone :+33(0) 581 319 919

    Talen-x

    BroadSim: The NAVWAR Simulator
    BSim_stacked-forward-facing_reflectionBroadSim was developed to simplify advanced jamming and spoofing scenarios with Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) testing in mind. Powered by Skydel SDX, a 1000-Hz GNSS simulator engine, BroadSim is able to simulate multiple vehicles, constellations, and code types (military and civil). BroadSim is ideal for supporting real-world field tests, NAVWAR testing and jamming.

    Field Testing. Field testing GPS receivers to determine their performance and vulnerabilities in degraded or competing environments is becoming standard practice. BroadSim has proven to excel in field testing events due to its integrated GPS receiver allowing for built-in live-sky synchronization, four independent RF outputs, and a wide dynamic range with up to 0 dBm transmit power. A typical configuration for a live-sky field test would have BroadSim time synchronized to live sky, transmitting C/A, P, Y and M on L1 while simultaneously transmitting P, Y and M on L2 all at 0 dBm.

    NAVWAR. BroadSim is great for NAVWAR testing because of how easy it is to use and configure multiple vehicles. Talen-X has carefully designed the simulator such that users can easily create true signals using two RF outputs and spoofed signals using the other two RF outputs. BroadSim’s graphical user interface (GUI) is intuitive and designed to meet the demand of NAVWAR testing.

    Advanced Jamming. An innovative feature that has been added to BroadSim is the ability to generate jamming signals without any additional hardware. Using a simple interface, users can specify the jammer location, power level, waveform type and antenna pattern. BroadSim uses its 1000-Hz engine to compute the I/Q data incident on the user antenna for both the GNSS and jammer signals. This new paradigm of jamming simulation makes it easy to simulate complex jamming environments.

    www.talen-x.com
    phone: +1-319-382-5369
    email: [email protected]

  • GEO Business 2017 features free workshops, exhibition

    GEO Business, the London-based international showcase for the geospatial industry, has unveiled its commercial workshop program for 2017.

    Featuring more than 80 workshops from 200 international exhibitors, GEO Business is expected to attract over 3,000 visitors from around the world. Held at the Business Design Centre in London on May 23-24, the workshops and exhibition are all free to attend.

    Tailored specifically to equip geomatics and geospatial professionals with practical demonstrations of the latest research, services and technology in action, the 80-strong workshop line-up covers everything from automation, multi-channel GPR, topographic surveying, and wearable technology to 3D modeling and visualization, hyperspectral imaging, UAV developments and laser scanning.

    “Visitors to this year’s GEO Business will be treated to our most exciting line-up of hands-on commercial workshops yet,” said show director Caroline Hobden. “They’ll enjoy opportunities to experience first-hand, ground breaking new products and services from leading industry innovators, many of which won’t be exhibiting at any other event in the U.K. this year. Being able to compare what’s on offer in the market, and get advice and inspiration to ensure you make the best decisions for your business, is what makes GEO Business such an invaluable experience to the thousands of visitors that attend every year.” The full line-up is now online.

    Workshop highlights include:

    • Next-generation condition reporting and assessment using artificial intelligence and robotics as a service: Learn how these emerging and disruptive technologies can deliver far-reaching gains in productivity and capability (hosted by SCISYS UK).
    • Reality modeling: The capture of infrastructure assets’ as-operated conditions, by the use of simple photos or point clouds into a reality mesh (hosted by Bentley Systems International).
    • HERON, the wearable mobile surveying system: Indoor or outdoor applications, walking or driving configuration able to provide 3D real-time mapping, real-time localization, change detection analysis and a powerful software brain to adjust and optimize scans (hosted by Gexcel).
    • Using MAPublisher to create quality maps: Output to HTML5, GeoPDF and the Avenza Maps app using a wide range of GI tools in Adobe Illustrator (hosted by XYZ Maps).
    • NTM, the country’s most detailed tree map: Updated and upgraded. What’s changed, and who’s using it? (hosted by Bluesky International).
    • Ordnance Survey: Catch up with the latest news on products, services and apps.
    • Hyperspectral Imaging: To support design and maintenance of infrastructure corridors (hosted by Cyient).

    “We’re very much looking forward to GEO Business 2017, and the opportunity to share ideas and innovations around satellite data with delegates in both our workshop session and on our stand,” said Jonathan Summer, business development director at Earth -i UK. “This is an important event on our calendar for this year.”

    A few decades ago, few could have foreseen some of the technological advancements that now seem commonplace. The geospatial industry has certainly seen its share of game-changers. Applying these changes — and figuring out what’s next — is an over-arching theme at GEO Business 2017.

    In addition to the workshops and presentations, the show will feature 200 exhibitors and a packed conference program of keynotes offering real-time insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead. The exhibitor list is available online.

    For more information, and to register for a free ticket to attend the exhibition and workshops, visit www.geobusinessshow.com/register. Continuing Professional Development points are available at all workshops and conference sessions. Conference prices start at £15 per day.

  • SBG Systems rolls out new inertial nav series, Ekinox 2

    SBG Systems rolls out new inertial nav series, Ekinox 2

    SBG Systems has released a new generation of its advanced and compact inertial navigation systems. The Ekinox 2 series features new accelerometers and gyroscopes, enhancing attitude accuracy by a factor of two over the original Ekinox.

    SBG-Ekinox-2-IMU-W
    Photo: SBG

    The Ekinox series is a line of tactical grade MEMS-based inertial navigation systems, first released in 2013. The latest improvements come from a complete redesign of the in-house inertial measurement unit (IMU), integrating cutting-edge gyroscopes and accelerometers.

    With higher accuracy for the same form factor and price level, Ekinox 2 Series is designed for industrial-grade vehicle navigation, equipment motion compensation and data georeferencing. It provides a 0.02-degree roll and pitch, 0.05-degree heading and a centimeter-level position.

    Applications for the Ekinox 2 include hydrography, mobile mapping and antenna tracking. With new accelerometers, this new generation has also significantly improved its resistance to vibration. Finally, the addition of the BeiDou constellation improves signal availability in Asia.

    Compact and light-weight, the Ekinox Series has been designed to simplify installation operations. Configuration is made with an intuitive embedded web interface where all parameters can be displayed and adjusted. For example, users can choose a profile (vessel, plane, car, etc.), and the 3D view will provide a visualization of settings such as the sensor position, alignment and lever arms.

    The Ekinox 2 Series is ITAR Free. The product line will be available during the second quarter of 2017.