GPS World

Author: GPS World Staff

  • Lockheed responds to report on Air Force review of GPS III propulsion

    Lockheed Martin responded to a report by Bloomberg last week that the U.S. Air Force has opened a review of the propulsion systems used for Lockheed Martin’s GPS III and other military satellites, following a problem during an attempt to boost one into orbit.

    A Lockheed spokesperson said the first GPS III satellite passed all of its qualification testing and verification.

    “On Feb. 27, the Air Force declared GPS III Space Vehicle 01 (SV01) ready for storage following the completion of all space vehicle Factory Functional Qualification Testing (FFQT) and successful verification of more than 30,000 pre-storage technical requirements,” responded Chip Eschenfelder, communications lead for Lockheed’s Military Space division.

    “Out of an abundance of caution, the Air Force and Lockheed Martin are thoroughly evaluating the A2100 GPS III Propulsion Subsystem, prior to declaring the satellite Available for Launch (AFL),” Eschenfelder said. “This review is a standard process for our rigorous systems engineering approach to assure mission success.”

    The plan remains to launch the first GPS III satellite by spring of 2018.

    “Lockheed Martin is working closely with the Air Force on resolving any concerns about the mission readiness of SV01’s Propulsion Subsystem,” Eschenfelder said. “We are confident that this review will not delay the Air Force’s planned spring 2018 Initial Launch Capability (ILC).”

    Today, more than 50 Lockheed Martin A2100 bus satellites are operating successfully on orbit.

     

  • Red Hen offers geotagging and mapping webinar

    Red Hen offers geotagging and mapping webinar

    RedHen-webinar-geotagging-W
    Screenshot: GPS World

    Red Hen Systems is hosting a geotagging and mapping webinar at 10 a.m. MST on Tuesday, March 14.

    Webinar participants will learn how to add GPS coordinates — latitude and longitude — to videos and photos in real-time and post process. They will also learn how to view and analyze data in Esri ArcMap and Google Earth maps.

    Those interested can sign up for the webinar here.

  • Next-generation of grade control integrates 3D automatics

    Next-generation of grade control integrates 3D automatics

    (Photo: Trimble)

    Trimble is offering Trimble Earthworks for Excavators and Earthworks for Dozers. Trimble Earthworks is transforming machine control with integrated 3D aftermarket excavator automatics capability.

    In addition, a new dozer configuration moves the receivers from the blade to the roof of the cab. Reengineered from the ground up, Trimble’s innovative, next generation grade control platform features intuitive, easy-to-learn software that runs on an Android operating system.

    State-of-the-art software and hardware gives operators of all skill levels the ability to work faster and more productively than ever before, Trimble said.

    “Trimble pioneered machine control,” said Scott Crozier, director of marketing for Trimble Civil Engineering and Construction. “Now, Trimble Earthworks takes machine control to the next level, with a platform that reinvents machine control technology, making it easy to use and learn, and more accessible for many different types of contractors.”

    Live demonstrations of Trimble Earthworks for Excavators and Trimble Earthworks for Dozers will be showcased at ConExpo 2017, March 1-7, one of the world’s largest international exhibitions for the construction industry. Trimble will be located in the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall #N-12067.

    Intuitive Software. The Trimble Earthworks grade control application is built on the Android operating system, and runs on the new 10-inch (25.7 centimeter) Trimble TD520 touch-screen display. The Earthworks application was developed based on feedback from construction equipment operators around the world, resulting in an interface optimized for productivity.

    Colorful graphics, natural interactions and gestures, and self-discovery features make the software intuitive and easy to learn. Each operator can personalize the interface to match their workflow and a variety of configurable views make it easier to see the right perspective for maximum productivity.

    In addition, Earthworks allows data files to be transferred to or from the office wirelessly and automatically so that the operator is always using the latest design. Using the Android operating system, users can download other applications that provide the operator with additional useful tools inside the cab. To make the system even more flexible, contractors can use the Trimble TD520 display or a third-party Android device.

    Excavator Automatics. With Trimble Earthworks, contractors can now take advantage of the first integrated 3D aftermarket grade control automatics for excavators, allowing operators to create smooth, flat or sloped surfaces more easily.

    When the excavator is placed in Autos mode, the operator controls the stick, and Trimble Earthworks controls the boom and bucket to stay on grade, reduce overcut and increase production. By automating excavator operation, Trimble Earthworks allows operators to achieve grade consistently, with high accuracy and in less time.

    Mastless Dozer Configuration. Trimble Earthworks for Dozers mounts dual GNSS receivers on top of the cab to eliminate masts and cables traditionally located on the blade. The dual-GNSS receivers are ideal for steep slope work and complex designs with tight tolerances. The new configuration keeps valuable receivers safer and can also save contractors time by reducing the time needed to remove and reinstall them each day.

    Trimble Earthworks for Excavators is expected to be available globally in the second quarter of 2017 from the SITECH dealer channel. Trimble Earthworks for Dozers is expected to be available in the second half of 2017 from the SITECH dealer channel.

  • GPS III satellite propulsion under US Air Force review

    The U.S. Air Force has opened a review of the propulsion systems used for Lockheed Martin’s GPS III and other military satellites after a problem during an attempt to boost one into orbit, according to the service, Bloomberg reports.

    The review has delayed the Air Force’s acceptance of Lockheed’s first GPS III satellite, which is 34 months late. The most recent delivery goal had been Feb. 28, and the plan remains to launch it by spring of 2018.

    While there’s no evidence that the propulsion system on the first GPS III satellite has a flaw, the Air Force has decided to keep it in storage at a Lockheed facility out of an abundance of caution, Captain AnnMarie Annicelli, an Air Force spokeswoman, told Bloomberg. It was placed into storage after having successfully completed all planned test and integration activities.

  • Spirent’s new wireless test solution optimized for IoT devices

    Spirent Communications is now offering the Elevate IoT Device Test Solution, a new cellular test solution designed to support a wide range of testing areas applicable to Internet of Things (IoT) applications, including end-to-end cloud server connectivity, security vulnerability assessment and battery-life measurement.

    The announcement was made at Mobile World Congress, which is taking place Feb. 27 to March 2 in Barcelona, Spain.

    The compact and flexible device test solution, available via the Spirent Elevate platform, addresses critical areas that are affected when designing 3G, LTE, and upcoming narrowband wireless technologies into IoT devices.

    Innovative IoT developers are emerging worldwide with many of their applications reliant on communicating via a cellular network. Cellular deployment has several benefits including higher guaranteed service quality, more robust air interface security, and broader coverage availability. Yet designing IoT devices can present a myriad of complex challenges, especially when cellular connectivity enters the equation.

    Testing on a live network has several limitations: data traffic is not visible between the device and cloud server; the appropriate live network may not be deployed where the development takes place; and there is no ability to control network settings such as power levels.

    Spirent Elevate provides easy access to a controllable, lab-based testing environment, allowing developers to explore the special challenges a cellular network presents in a repeatable manner.

    A number of recent events, including widespread Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, has illustrated the very real exposure of IoT device security, highlighting the immediate need for developers to ensure devices are protected from known baseline vulnerabilities.

    The Elevate IoT test solution facilitates access to Spirent SecurityLabs services, including dedicated teams of experienced security professionals offering comprehensive scanning, penetration testing and monitoring services for embedded devices.

    Many IoT devices require operation in hard-to-reach places for extremely long periods of time while in potentially unforgiving environments, making it imperative that batteries perform as expected under variable conditions. The Elevate IoT Device Test Solution allows developers to accurately determine predictable battery life in real-world conditions with actual usage profiles.

    “The Internet of Things is here to stay — it represents a cultural and technology revolution, and has serious implications for security,” said Jeff Wilson, research director and advisor, cybersecurity technology, at analyst firm IHS. “The post-IoT threat landscape is complicated, and the consequences of attacks are increasingly severe. If a device is compromised, it can either fail to work itself, or introduce threats into a wider network, or both; the Mirai and LizardStresser IoT botnets used to launch DDoS attacks were just the tip of an enormous iceberg. Successfully managing connectivity, technology and risk will be vital to IoT implementations from this point forward.”

    Spirent’s IoT Device Test Solution is an integrated suite of tools centered in a compact network emulator that brings a repeatable cellular test bed into any hardware or software lab, providing the ability to replicate service providers’ wireless networks in a portable desktop system.

    When used as part of an expanded Spirent solution that can simulate multiple types and levels of security attacks, the system allows users to accurately understand how a device will hold up against each one and what factors may be impacted.

    Emulating as many conditions as possible helps developers understand exactly how devices, including factors such as battery life, may be impacted in the real world.

    “For IoT developers, many of them new to cellular technology, it can be dauntingly complex to navigate new technologies, manage power performance challenges, and care for imminent cybersecurity threats,” said Saul Einbinder, vice president of new venture development at Spirent Communications. “Our aspiration is to help developers, operators, and service providers optimize their IoT solutions and get to market faster, while also staying considerate of the budget constraints of IoT device realization.”

  • SAP offers connected vehicles technology with Concur, Hertz, Nokia and Mojio

    SAP SE demonstrated new technology to make life easier for drivers and rental car users through an Internet of Things (IoT) collaboration with Concur Technologies, Hertz and Nokia.

    The announcement was made at Mobile World Congress, being held Feb. 27–March 2 in Barcelona, Spain.

    Also, Mojio — a connected vehicle platform and app provider for Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile USA — has joined SAP Vehicles Network and will provide parking and fueling through its app in the United States and Europe.

    A part of the SAP Leonardo portfolio, the SAP Vehicles Network solution creates an intelligent, automated experience — from car rental to parking and fueling location and payment, to integrated navigation and expense management for business travelers.

    SAP-vehicle-network

    SAP Vehicles Network, built on SAP Cloud Platform, enables participating network companies to provide mobility services to drivers and passengers. By standardizing the business processes, SAP Vehicles Network enables integration and collaboration to facilitate new revenue streams and business opportunities for network members.

    Through the network, member companies can offer secure, convenient services — independent of devices or vehicles — such as parking, fueling and location-based food services, tailored for the business traveler or the individual consumer.

    The new collaboration showcased at Mobile World Congress draws on the strengths of each participating vendor:

    • Concur, Hertz, SAP and other members of the Nokia-founded IoT Community, a worldwide ecosystem of companies collaborating on the development of innovative IoT solutions, drove the development of the connected rental car experience.
    • Nokia provided its Intelligent Management Platform for All Connected Things (IMPACT) to securely control and manage devices and sensors in the vehicle, including the personalization of driver settings and entertainment systems, as well as the automatic configuration of in-vehicle communications without Bluetooth paring, which ensures data privacy for drivers. The Nokia IMPACT IoT Platform works in conjunction with payment systems in SAP Vehicles Network for parking and fueling authorization to create a seamless and driver-optimized experience.
    • Hertz, one of the world’s leading rental car companies, is developing new products and services for its next 100 years of meeting customers’ needs. By exploring the use of connected-car technology in collaboration with leading technology and travel players such as SAP, Nokia and Concur, Hertz is evaluating the opportunity to integrate travel and itinerary planning, along with in-car personalization, through its customer apps as part of an elevated car-rental experience.

    https://youtu.be/CmMoPUgEXS8

    With the connected car prototype, business travelers can automate route guidance through Concur TripLink integration with other Concur solutions in addition to accessing seamless trip reporting capabilities for all travel-related expenses, including parking and fueling transactions. All in-trip payment transactions can be reported in Concur Expense in real time and be ready for the traveler to submit by the time the trip is complete.

    Mojio’s cloud integration with SAP Vehicles Network takes the guesswork out of parking, enabling drivers to plan and reserve a parking spot based on calendar events or search, as well as to find and pay for a spot in real time based on the connected vehicle’s location. A “tap” inside Mojio’s app toggles between personal and business, allowing for automated expense reporting to Concur solutions. Together, Mojio and SAP plan to bring automated parking and fueling services to a growing base of connected drivers around the world.

    SAP Vehicles Network makes any car smart and transactional by providing drivers with cashless access to on- and off-street parking and connected fueling stations. It minimizes unnecessary drive time and fuel expenditures and helps reduce traffic and emissions caused by drivers searching for open spaces.

    “With leading partners like Hertz and Nokia and new customers like Mojio, SAP is delivering new levels of value for businesses and end consumers based on SAP Cloud Platform, SAP Leonardo and tight integration with Concur solutions,” said Tanja Rueckert, executive vice president, IoT and Digital Supply Chain, SAP. “SAP Vehicles Network puts the end consumer in the driver’s seat by transforming the vehicle into the ultimate digital wallet and making car rental into a seamless, intelligent experience.”

    For more information on SAP Vehicles Network, including videos, see here. For video on collaboration with Hertz, see here, and Mojio, see here.

  • CalAmp’s fleet management devices aimed at connected vehicle market

    calamp-logo-WCalAmp, a provider of wireless products, services and solutions, is offering two new high-end telematics devices designed for connected vehicle applications anywhere in the world.

    The new devices address growing global market demand in Europe and Latin America for more connected vehicle technology options and enable a broad range of applications such as fleet management, usage-based insurance, crash notification, stolen vehicle recovery, vehicle finance and auto rental.

    New products include:

    • LMU-2640 – Designed for sophisticated fleet management applications, the LMU-2640 incorporates the flexibility of GSM/GPRS wireless communication along with highly sensitive GPS, a powerful processing engine and a triple-axis accelerometer that detects and communicates driver behavior. The LMU-2640 supports CalAmp’s Instant Crash Notification (ICN) services suite, delivered via email, SMS (text) or through an Application Programming Interface (API).
    • LMU-200 – Ideal for track-and-trace applications, the LMU-200 provides reliable, economical connectivity through GPRS wireless communication. The LMU-200 features highly sensitive GPS, motion detection, remote starter disable and built-in antennas that lower overall deployment cost and simplify installation. Built on CalAmp’s scalable hardware and device management platform suite, each product employs the company’s PEG on-board alert engine and processing environment as well as PULS over-the-air device management and maintenance application. These pioneering systems allow customers to leverage one platform to manage their entire portfolio including remote firmware updates regardless of the vehicle type or use case.

    “The introduction of these two new devices represents our ongoing, strategic investment in solutions that enable the connected vehicle ecosystem in key markets such as Europe and Latin America,” said Justin Schmid, senior vice president and general manager of the Telematics Systems business at CalAmp. “With CalAmp as a leading IoT enablement solutions provider with new technology and a growing product portfolio, customers in these regions now have more options to choose from whether they’re looking for a simple vehicle tracking option or a full solution to support complex mixed fleet applications.”

    CalAmp’s newest products are on display at booth #8.1B71 (Hall 8.1/Upper Level) at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 27–March 2.

  • Panasonic showcases connected airport at Mobile World Congress

    Panasonic showcases connected airport at Mobile World Congress

    Panasonic Business introduced its connected airport concept at Mobile World Congress, which is taking place this week in Barcelona, Spain, and is showcasing a suite of intelligent technology solutions for the first time in Europe.

    Panasonic LinkRay.
    Panasonic LinkRay. Photo: Panasonic

    High-tech airports

    A key technology on display is LinkRay, a one-to-one customer engagement tool for public spaces. With LinkRay, dozens of people can simultaneously get native language information from display panels and LED lighting to their smartphone, so that display panels in an airport can contain links to transport information in multiple languages.

    Also on display is HD Beacon technology, which can assist localized mapping and wayfinding within the terminal buildings at an airport. So, for instance, airport staff or people with limited mobility could use their mobile device to find the nearest electric cart to get them quickly to their gate.

    At MWC, Panasonic is displaying at the 120m2 booth (Hall 6, Booth H31) with technology for retail, car rental, communications, security, logistics and ground handling.

    Car rentals

    In the car rental area of the booth, Ficosa, who has had a business alliance with Panasonic since 2015, will introduce the latest technologies in connected cars. These solutions will transform the in-vehicle experience, providing innovative vehicle services, enabling more autonomous driving with higher levels of safety and efficiency.

    Within the airport logistics hub area, Panasonic’s Parcel Picking Director uses barcode technology to project key parcel information onto parcels themselves, making it viewable by workers at a distance.

    Panasonic Media Track allows organizations to track and optimize the deployment of mobile assets such as baggage containers, trolleys and wagons, perfect for ground handling operations. While Intelligent Warehouse Software (iWS) use CCTV cameras and software to find lost parcels or luggage in minutes rather than hours spent manually searching through security footage.

    “We know that our connected, intelligent technology solutions are well matched for the transportation market,” said Tony O’Brien, managing director of Panasonic System Solutions in Europe. “Our research tells us that improving the passenger journey through better connectivity and information sharing is an important driver in this space and Mobile World Congress gives us the opportunity to showcase what Panasonic can do to innovate within transportation.”

  • Qualcomm platform powers TomTom’s plans to crowdsource mapping data for autonomous driving

    Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, is working with TomTom on using the Qualcomm Drive Data Platform for high-definition (HD) map crowdsourcing for autonomous driving.

    Qualcomm Drive Data Platform collects and analyzes data from different vehicle sensors, supporting smarter vehicles to determine their location, monitor and learn driving patterns, perceive their surroundings, and share this perception with the rest of the world reliably and accurately.

    TomTom’s HD Map, including RoadDNA, is a highly accurate, digital map-based product that assists automated vehicles to precisely locate themselves on the road and help determine which way to maneuver, even when traveling at high speeds.

    Traditional development of maps requires deploying dedicated fleets of vehicles equipped with professional-grade sensors to collect location, raw imagery, lidar and other data, which is then transferred, stored and processed in data centers. Now that cars are increasingly connected and equipped with a range of sensors, new and complimentary approaches become possible.

    Using the precise positioning, on-device machine learning, heterogeneous compute and connectivity capabilities of the Qualcomm Drive Data Platform, which features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820Am automotive processor, TomTom and Qualcomm Technologies aim to facilitate adding an improved, scalable and cost-efficient crowdsourcing approach to the mix of sources for HD mapmaking.

    The new concept is designed to allow massive numbers of connected cars to see and understand their environment, traffic and road conditions, and support real-time input for map and road condition updates.

    “Feature-rich, highly accurate and frequently updated HD maps are critical to support some of the most advanced applications envisioned in the automotive industry, especially for autonomous driving,” said Willem Strijbosch, head of autonomous driving, TomTom. “We are building the cloud-based platform to make and maintain HD maps using a range of input sources, including crowdsourced data from swarms of intelligent connected vehicles. We’re excited to explore the connectivity and compute capabilities of the Qualcomm Drive Data Platform to help map the world for the future of driving.”

    “Qualcomm Technologies is demonstrating today that an affordable and easy-to-integrate mapping solution for autonomous vehicles is realizable,” said Nakul Duggal, vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “The Qualcomm Drive Data Platform is designed to integrate key technologies into a cost-effective edge compute solution required to support safer, highly connected and smarter transportation, and we are pleased to offer this technology for HD Map providers such as TomTom as well as automakers, shared mobility service providers and automotive industry at large.”

    For more information about the Qualcomm Drive Data Platform, visit the Qualcomm booth at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Feb. 27–March 2, Hall 3, Stand 3E10, or go to www.qualcomm.com/automotive.

  • U-blox receives certification for Toby modules offering IoT access

    U-blox receives certification for Toby modules offering IoT access

    U-blox has received PTCRB certification of its TOBY-R202 and TOBY-R200 LTE Cat 1 modules for T-Mobile’s U.S. 4G LTE network.

    The u-blox Toby module.
    The u-blox Toby module. Photo: uBlox

    Both modules will be available for both of T-Mobile’s IoT Access packs, which offer simple IoT pricing with a Cat 1 module and support a broad range of industrial internet of things (IIoT) applications, reducing the cost for product makers to introduce new LTE devices on the network.

    The TOBY-R202 and TOBY-R200 modules deliver true industrial performance. They are robust and reliable with extended temperature range of negative 40 degrees Celcius to 85 degrees Celcius and manufacturing in ISO/TS 16949 certified production sites.

    LTE Cat 1 provides efficient power consumption with battery life lasting up to five years, depending on the application. In addition, TOBY-R200 includes a wider supply voltage input that allows for less expensive design and further lowers power consumption.

    “U-blox is a global leader in developing cellular modules designed for IoT and M2M applications,” said Drazen Drinic, product manager of cellular at u-blox. “We are excited to now have two LTE Cat 1 modules available to IoT product makers as part of T-Mobile’s IoT Access packs.”

    The u-blox modules will now be included in T-Mobile’s IoT Access packs, which provide product makers with a simplified launchpad for their IoT devices. For a limited time, customers can get unlimited data at 64 kbps for $20 per year per device, with up to $16 per certified module covered via a bill credit from T-Mobile upon activation.

    “T-Mobile’s low-cost IoT access packs give our customers industry-leading Category 1 chipset options to quickly launch their devices on the nation’s fastest 4G LTE network,” said Doug Chartier, senior vice president at T-Mobile.

    The two u-blox TOBY-R2 LTE Cat 1 modules support many IoT and M2M applications and are specifically targeted at those markets requiring industrial performance, such as smart metering, alarm and security systems, connected health, automotive and transportation, as well as smart payment solutions.

    They come in a compact 24.8 millimeter by 35.6 millimeter form factor and operate on LTE bands 2, 4, 5 and 12. TOBY-R202 provides fallback on 3G bands 2 and 5, while TOBY-R200 provides global 2G and 3G fallback. Thanks to u-blox nested design, migration between the TOBY-R2 modules and other u-blox 2G, 3G and 4G modules is easy, while enabling future-proof, seamless mechanical scalability across technologies.

  • Raytheon, US Air Force upgrade navigation in decoy-jammer vehicle

    Raytheon, US Air Force upgrade navigation in decoy-jammer vehicle

    Raytheon Company and the U.S. Air Force validated performance of an upgraded navigation system for the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J) in six flight tests from B-52 and F-16 aircraft at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

    The system upgrade, designated as GAINS II (GPS-Aided Inertial Navigation System), includes an enhanced multi-element GPS-controlled antenna assembly. The new technology improves MALD-J navigation performance in a GPS jamming environment. Improvements and efficiencies within the design helped to reduce GAINS II unit costs.

    “Improving performance while reducing costs is a win for Raytheon and our customer,” said Brian Burton, director of MALD Programs for Raytheon.

    Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems in El Segundo, California, supported design work for GAINS II, while Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona, supplied systems engineering, integration and testing. Raytheon is now producing and delivering MALD-J systems with the upgraded navigation.

    About MALD and MALD-J

    MALD is a state-of-the-art, low-cost expendable flight vehicle that is modular, air-launched and programmable. It weighs fewer than 300 pounds and has a range of approximately 500 nautical miles. MALD-J adds radar-jamming capability to the basic MALD platform.

    MALD confuses enemy air defenses by duplicating friendly aircraft flight profiles and radar signatures.

    MALD-J maintains all capabilities of MALD and adds jamming capabilities.

  • Friday is deadline for GPS OEMs to join live-sky spoofing event

    Friday is the deadline for GPS manufacturers to apply to test their equipment at a special event with live-sky test scenarios focused on spoofed GPS signals.

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is offering an opportunity for manufacturers of GPS equipment used in critical infrastructure to test their products against GPS jamming and spoofing.

    The GPS Testing for Critical Infrastructure (GET-CI) event, set for April 17-21 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Indiana, is the first in a series of test opportunities.

    “Accurate and precise position, navigation, and timing (PNT) information is vital to the nation’s critical infrastructure,” said Robert Griffin, acting DHS under secretary for Science and Technology. “S&T has established this program to assess GPS vulnerabilities, advance research and development, and to enhance outreach and engagement with industry. The objective is to improve the security and resiliency of critical infrastructure.”

    The GET-CI events provide industry an opportunity to test GPS equipment in unique live-sky environments. For the April event, DHS S&T will be creating live-sky test scenarios focused on spoofed GPS signals.

    DHS S&T invites manufacturers of commercial GPS receivers and equipment used in critical infrastructure to submit applications for participation. For submission instructions and further information, see the Request for Information for Participation (RFIP) announcement on FedBizOpps.

    Interested organizations should submit their applications for participation by March 3.

    Email [email protected] with questions about the event and how to participate.