GPS World

Author: GPS World Staff

  • GMA selects Sensonor inertial engine for land navigator

    GMA selects Sensonor inertial engine for land navigator

    A high-performance navigation system by GMA is being supported by a Sensonor inertial module. Sensonor is in serial deliveries supporting the AXD-LNS land navigator, which went into regular production in late 2016, following five years of development.

    The AXD-LNS land navigator by GMA.
    The AXD-LNS land navigator by GMA. Photo: GMA

    The STIM210 provides high-accuracy inertial data for the Land Navigator, which specifically addresses the stabilization and guidance needs of the defense market — all of its components comply with the demanding standards of safety and reliability used in defense. It is intended for a wide range of applications, such as advanced navigation displays and navigation control systems in armored vehicle programs.

    Because of its high-stability MEMS sensor-based architecture, the AXD-LNS equipment is easily configured for platform stabilization applications, Sensonor said. In a GPS-denied environment, the system exploits the velocity aiding with help of the high-accuracy inertial data, providing a continuous navigation solution.

    stim210-miniature-gyro-module
    The Sensonor STIM210 inertial module. Photo: GMA

    STIM210 is a small, lightweight and low power, ITAR-free high-performance tactical grade gyro module with three gyros. The STIM210 is closing the performance gap to fiber-optic gyro (FOG). It is also free from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

    STIM210 is currently deployed in applications such as unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites, portable target acquisition systems, land navigation systems, turret stabilization, missile stability and navigation, and mortar aiming systems.

    STIM210 has been in regular production since 2010 and is part of the STIM gyro and IMU family that has fielded more than 50,000 gyros worldwide.

    NASA Supplier. Sensonor first began supplying its standard inertial measurement unit (IMU) and gyroscope modules for low-Earth orbit (LEO) space applications in 2012, beginning with the launch of the NASA-sponsored AeroCube-4 satellite.

    In August 2016, Sensonor became a supplier for NASA’s current and future low- and near-Earth orbit space applications.

    Sensonor’s STIM300 and STIM210 inertial products are now a standard part in many spacecraft similar to the AeroCube-4.

    Current NASA projects using STIM inertial systems include the Raven technology demonstration and Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout.

    Raven is testing key elements of an autonomous relative navigation system. Its technologies may one day help future robotic spacecraft autonomously and seamlessly rendezvous with other objects in motion, such as a satellite in need of fuel, or a tumbling asteroid.

    The NEA Scout cube satellite is a robotic reconnaissance mission that will be deployed to fly by and return data from an asteroid representative of NEAs.

    NASA, in conjunction with the Aerospace Corporation, spearheaded the use of STIM products in space, and many other commercial launch and satellite companies have since followed NASA’s lead. More than 30 companies around the world use Sensonor inertial products in various space applications, with several satellites successfully flying with STIM gyroscope modules for more than three years.

    The STIM gyroscope modules are often used in combination with GPS or a star tracker and Kalman filter to orient and stabilize the satellite, as well as to provide feedback on satellite motion induced by its reaction wheels. In some applications, the gyroscopes are used to stabilize satellite-to-satellite communications.

  • European Geosciences seeks abstracts for high-precision GNSS session

    The General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union will be held April 23-28 in Vienna, Austria.

    One session in particular focuses on high-precision GNSS, and abstracts are being sought.

    G1.4 – High-precision GNSS: methods, open problems and geoscience applications

    This session is an activity of IAG SC4.4. “Multi-constellation GNSS” and IAG-ICCT JSG 0.10 “High-rate GNSS”

    Session G1.4 description: In the past two decades high-precision GPS has been applied to support numerous applications in Geosciences. Currently, there are two fully operational Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and two more are in the implementation stage. The new Galileo and BDS systems already provide usable signals, and both, GPS and GLONASS, are currently undergoing a significant modernization, which adds more capacity, more signals, better accuracy and interoperability, etc. Meanwhile, the huge technology development provided GNSS equipment (in some cases even at low-cost) able to collect measurements at much higher rates, up to 100 Hz, hence opening new possibilities. Therefore, on one side, the new developments in GNSS stimulate a broad range of new applications for solid and fluid Earth investigations, both in post-processing and in real-time; on the other side, this results in new problems and challenges in data processing which boost GNSS research. Algorithmic advancements are needed to address the opportunities and challenges in enhancing the accuracy, availability, interoperability and integrity of high-precision GNSS applications.

    This session is a forum to discuss new developments in high-precision GNSS algorithms and applications in geosciences; in this respect, contributions from other branches in geosciences (geodynamics, seismology, tsunamis, ionosphere, troposphere, etc.) are very welcome.

    We encourage, but not limit, submissions related to:

    • Modeling and strategies in high-precision GNSS,
    • Multi-GNSS benefit for Geosciences,
    • Multi-GNSS processing and product standards,
    • Inter-system and inter-frequency biases and calibrations,
    • New or improved GNSS products for high-precision applications (orbits, clocks, UPDs, etc.),
    • Precise Point Positioning (PPP, PPP-RTK),
    • High-rate GNSS,
    • GNSS and other sensors (accelerometers, INS, ecc.) integration for high-rate applications,
    • Ambiguity resolution and validation,
    • CORS services for Geosciences (GBAS, Network-RTK, etc.),
    • Precise Positioning of EOS platforms,
    • Precise Positioning for natural hazards prevention,
    • Monitoring crustal deformation and the seismic cycle of active faults,
    • GNSS and early-warning systems,
    • GNSS reflectometry,
    • High-precision applications for Geosciences,
    • and more.

    Papers are welcome on all aspects of these issues. Deadline for receipt of abstracts is Jan. 11.

  • Palm-sized selfie drone introduced at CES

    Palm-sized selfie drone introduced at CES

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    Photo: Nine Eagles

    Nine Eagles, an emerging high technologies company that focuses on aerial vehicles developing and manufacturing, launched a selfie drone named MOLA-UFO at the CES 2017 in Las Vegas.

    As an intelligent aerial photographer, MOLA-UFO is palm-sized and UFO-shaped. It has a patented triple axes EIS technology to ensure stability and high quality of the images. It also has and advanced image recognition technology that enables intelligent tracking of the subjects.

    The MOLA-UFO is portable and intuitive, so users can launch the drone from their palms.

    The selfie drone also features a unique recognition technology that can identify the subjects and lock them in frame, to intelligently track them. It can follow the subjects and shoot with a range of 360-degrees with its high-resolution 4K camera. Furthermore, the UAV is equipped with an app that features beauty selfie, time-lapse shooting and instant sharing via social networks.

  • Spirent, Tata Elxsi V2X automotive test system adopted by researchers

    Spirent, Tata Elxsi V2X automotive test system adopted by researchers

    A V2X test system developed by Spirent and Tata Elxsi has been adopted by CAICT, a scientific research institute directly under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China.

    V2X, or “vehicle to everything,” includes vehicle to vehicle (V2V) and vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) connected technology as well as vehicles to pedestrians, devices or transportation grids.

    Tata Elxsi, based in Bangalore, India, is a design and technology services provider for product engineering in industries including broadcast, communications and automotive.

    The next-generation test system provides a flexible, scalable and comprehensive test environment for testing and performance benchmarking of V2X applications, in various stages of the development cycle, from early research up to pre-production.

    The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) in Beijing.
    The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) in Beijing.

    Using a combination of Tata Elxsi’s patent-pending V2X Emulator software and Spirent’s advanced solutions for GNSS and radio channel simulation, the integrated V2X test bed offers the ability to bring real-world traffic scenarios into the lab, significantly reducing costs and time associated with extensive field testing.

    Various driving scenarios can be emulated under a variety of terrain, wireless channel and atmospheric conditions. The V2X test bed, which supports both WAVE-DSRC (U.S., Asia) and ITS-G5 (Europe) standards, offers a comprehensive platform for both functional and performance assessment of V2V and V2I/I2V safety applications, V2X security testing and test report generation.

    “V2X technology is gaining tremendous interest among global OEMs and tier-1 companies for delivering safer driving experience,” said Nitin Pai, senior vice president of marketing, Tata Elxsi. “With China being the largest automotive market in the world, this latest win with CAICT in China is significant for us and automotive companies targeting this market.”

    The V2X Test System enables multi-standards compliance testing using a single solution. The system has the capability to emulate more than 100 onboard units (OBU) and roadside units (RSUs) on a single hardware, enabling repeatable testing of complex scenarios from early development stages without the high risks and costs associated with live vehicle testing.

    “V2X communication will contribute significantly to making the autonomous car a safe and secure reality,” said Peter Tan, Greater China and East Asia, Spirent. “The U.S. DOT’s [Department of Transportation] newly issued regulation proposal mandating V2V communication for light vehicles is another confirmation of this widely accepted fact. With test solutions for conformance, functionality and performance developed in partnership with Tata Elxsi, Spirent is proud to help our customers ensure that their devices meet all conformance functionality and performance requirements to master these major changes ahead.”

    Tata Elxsi is showcasing the V2X Test System along with an array of other automotive solutions covering integrated e-cockpit, infotainment, ADAS, autonomous vehicle technology and telematics at its booth 6223 at CES 2017, Las Vegas.

  • TomTom launches new car nav devices in US

    Netherlands-based TomTom has launched two car navigation products in the U.S. under the TomTom GO and TomTom VIA lines. The advanced GPS devices offer TomTom’s latest innovations and most up-to-date maps.

    TomTom made the announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show, CES 2017, which is being held this week in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The TomTom GO devices are available in two models, GO 520 and GO 620, in 5-inch and 6-inch capacitive touchscreens, respectively. They include a new Wi-Fi capability feature and integrate seamlessly with smartphones, the company said.

    TomTom VIA1625.
    TomTom VIA 1625.

    TomTom GO devices can read text messages aloud, enable full use of smartphone personal assistants and allow hands-free calling to keep drivers’ eyes on the road. Lifetime World Maps or software can be updated via Wi-Fi with no computer connectivity.

    The devices are able to learn drivers’ habits and can predict destinations: The devices become familiar with regularly driven commutes, automatically alert drivers to traffic and provide alternate routes.

    The slim TomTom VIA GPS devices are available in three models: VIA 1425, VIA 1525 and VIA 1625, available in 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch touchscreens, respectively. They offer an enhanced address search that helps drivers define destinations from the search menu or by touching a point on the map.

    TomTom VIA devices also offer Advanced Lane Guidance, helping drivers prepare for exits and intersections by clearly highlighting the correct driving lane for a planned route. Drivers also have the ability to update maps for the device’s lifetime at no extra charge with Lifetime Maps.

    TomTom Go 520.
    TomTom Go 520.

    “At TomTom we continue to bring innovation to our navigation products working to make the experience safer and smarter,” Corinne Vigreux, co-founder and managing director, TomTom Consumer. “We constantly strive to make more accurate maps, deliver faster and more detailed traffic information, and create smarter routing. This combination is what makes the TomTom driving experience so unique.”

    “Listening to our customers, we understand the responsibility we have as the most trusted companion to drivers, and with the new TomTom GO and TomTom VIA series, we’re once again honoring that trust and confidence,” Vigreux said.

    The TomTom GO and TomTom VIA devices will be available on TomTom.com in March 2017.

    Visitors to CES can visit TomTom to find out more at Sands Expo Hall C, Booth No. 43705 (level 2).

  • Vanilla Aircraft claims record with 56-hour unmanned flight

    The Vanilla Aircraft VA001, a small diesel-powered airplane under development through DARPA (left), flew for 56 hours recently over Las Cruces, New Mexico (right), setting a new world record for flight duration for its weight class. The airplane is designed to ultimately carry a 30-pound payload at 15,000 feet for up to 10 days without refueling. (Images: DARPA)
    The Vanilla Aircraft VA001 flew for 56 hours recently over Las Cruces, New Mexico (right), setting a new world record for flight duration for its weight class. The airplane is designed to ultimately carry a 30-pound payload at 15,000 feet for up to 10 days without refueling. (Images: DARPA)

    On Dec. 2, Vanilla Aircraft‘s VA001 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) completed a world record non-stop, unrefueled 56-hour flight.

    The flight was supported by the technology innovation investments of the U.S. Department of Defense’s Rapid Reaction Technology Office (RRTO) and DARPA-funded efforts through Naval Air System Command (NAVAIR 4.11 – Patuxent River).

    The VA001 10-day Endurance UAS.
    The VA001 10-day Endurance UAS.

    The flight, planned as a 120-hour mission, was ended early because of forecasts of severe icing and range restrictions. However, the airplane landed with enough JP-8 fuel on board for an additional 90 hours of flying, or enough for a total of six days of flight.

    The flight was certified as a world-duration record for combustion-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the 50-500 kilogram subclass (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Class U-1.c Group 1). A representative from the National Aeronautic Association was present to witness the record. Moreover, the flight was the fourth-longest for any unmanned airplane and the 11th-longest for an airplane of any type (manned or unmanned, solar or fuel-powered).

    Originating and ending at Las Cruces International Airport, the flight was conducted under the authority of the New Mexico State University UAS test site designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

    “This effort represents tremendous and unprecedented coordination among civil, defense, academic, and private industry to bring a heretofore only imagined capability to reality,” said Vanilla Aircraft CEO Rear Adm. Timothy Heely (ret.).

    Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are an increasingly important means for military forces — especially small dismounted units — to bring extra communications or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to the field. Current designs, however, offer relatively limited range and flight endurance; additionally, their need for frequent refueling, specialized launch and recovery equipment, and regular maintenance often limit them to flying from fixed bases close to the front lines.

    “This record-breaking flight demonstrated the feasibility of designing a low-cost UAV able to take off from one side of a continent, fly to the other, perform its duties for a week, and come back — all on the same tank of fuel,” said Jean-Charles Ledé, DARPA program manager. “This capability would help extend the footprint of small units by providing scalable, persistent UAV-based communications and ISR coverage without forward basing, thereby reducing personnel and operating costs. We’re very pleased with what the Vanilla team has accomplished.”

    Two VA001 UAVs by Vanilla Aircraft.
    Two VA001 UAVs by Vanilla Aircraft.

    The airplane carried 20 pounds of actual and simulated payload, flying at 6,500 to 7,500 feet above mean sea level (MSL), and was a further step for the VA001 towards demonstrating the system’s objective performance of carrying a 30-pound payload for 10 days at an altitude of 15,000 feet.

    The payload included a NAVAIR-provided relay and operated continuously throughout the flight to demonstrate functionality out to the maximum range.

    The airplane also carried a NASA-provided multispectral imaging payload as a demonstration of Earth science and agricultural remote sensing.

    “The VA001 has transformational potential, providing a scalable aerial system solution without increasing personnel or operating costs,” said co-founder and chief engineer Neil Boertlein. “The ability of a low-cost platform to provide persistent surveillance, battlefield pattern of life, or aerial mesh network relay, in a responsive and robust manner, and without forward basing, does not currently exist.”

    Vanilla Aircraft is also planning a groundbreaking role for the VA001 in commercial applications, especially in agriculture. Vanilla is exploring strategic partnerships and equity financing to expand into this market.

    “The VA001 would be a cost-effective option for widespread and regular low-level surveying,” said co-founder and program manager Jeremy Novara. “We could fill a wide cost and payload-capability market gap between small electric and large military unmanned aircraft, which is perfect for many commercial applications.”

  • TRAK Microwave offers 50-channel GPS reference clock

    TRAK Microwave has added a GPS time and frequency clock to its product offerings. The 50-channel 8835 GPS reference clock serves satcom, defense and wireless applications.

    The 8835 GPS clock has extreme power and interoperability options while maintaining GPS accuracy and reliability, TRAK Microwave said. While tracking GPS, the clock exhibits a frequency accuracy of <1 x 10-12 and a 1 PPS accuracy with <50 nanoseconds, RMS.

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

    The proprietary oscillator steering discipline algorithm can enhance the RMS accuracy of either the double oven crystal oscillator or optional enhanced rubidium oscillator for greater depths of accuracy.

    To increase interoperability, the 8835’s 10/100 base-T Ethernet interface can leverage a range of network protocols including NTP, SNMP, Telnet, SSH and FTP for status and control. The unit can also accept a variety of power sources including 24 VDC, 48 VDC or 100-240 VAC with an external AC/DC converter.

    The highly compact and configurable device operates from -30oC to +60oC with a TNC GPS receiver port. A datasheet on the 8835 can be downloaded here.

  • International GNSS summer school goes to Norway

    The University of the Bundeswehr Muenchen and the Norwegian Space Centre are organizing the International Summer School on Global Satellite Navigation Systems 2017.

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    Longyearbyen, Norway.

    This year the Summer School will be held at Longyearbyen, Svalbard – Spitsbergen, Norway, Sept. 4-15. Lectures start the morning of Sept. 5 and end Sept. 14 following dinner.

    The Summer School is open to graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, early-state researcher and young professionals seeking to broaden their knowledge.

    Svalbard is an Arctic wilderness series of islands comprising the northernmost part of the Norwegian territories. It is mostly uninhabited, with only about 3,000 people. Longyearbyen, however, is a living community with an airport, a university, a hospital, schools, shops, restaurants, pubs, hotels, and the world’s largest commercial ground station.

    The summer school will provide key information, fresh ideas, basics, innovative approaches and practical advice on such topics as:

    • Basics of satellite navigation
    • Ionospheric and tropospheric effects on GNSS
    • Carrier-phase positioning
    • GNSS RF link performance
    • GNSS signals
    • GNSS receivers
    • Leadership and team effectiveness
    • GNSS threats and countermeasures
    • Navigation in GNSS denied environments
    • Cyber safety for civilian navigation
    • Become a GNSS entrepreneur
    • Location data and raw measurements in Android
    • IPR and patents in GNSS
    • Liability issues in GNSS
    • Railway high-integrity navigation overlay system (RHINOS)
    • Multi-frequency multi-system GNSS
    • Evolution of GNSS, in particular of the Galileo system
    • Satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) and receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM, ARAIM)
    • ECSS standards (phases, reviews, documentation, etc.)
    • GNSS space service volume and deep space navigation

    The summer school will be held in cooperation with the European Space Agency and the Joint Research Centre, as well as, ISAE Supaero, Stanford University and TU Graz.

    Learn more at the school website.

  • EndRun solution removes GPS signal delays

    EndRun Technologies, a provider of precision time and frequency solutions, today announced the availability of the Real-Time Ionospheric Corrections (RTIC) option for the Meridian II Precision TimeBase.

    The RTIC option directly measures and removes the ionospheric delay to GPS signals within a single frequency L1 timing receiver. This new Meridian II option optimizes the stability and accuracy of the time and frequency outputs.

    The largest contributor to GPS time-transfer error is the delay of the satellite signals as they pass through the ionosphere, a layer of ionized particles a few hundred kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The RTIC option uses proprietary algorithms within EndRun’s L1 GPS timing receiver to remove ionospheric delays in real-time.

    This unprecedented capability was previously only available with expensive dual frequency L1/L2 GPS receivers.

    “National lab test results have confirmed that the ionospheric corrections performed in EndRun’s single frequency GPS receiver significantly improve upon the GPS ionospheric broadcast model, allowing our products to meet or exceed the timing performance of dual frequency L1/L2 solutions,” said Bruce Penrod, vice president of product development, EndRun Technologies. “We expect the performance improvement to be even greater during periods of high solar storm activity.”

    Key Meridian II performance specifications with the RTIC option and an Ultra-Stable OCXO are:

    • Time accuracy of <10 nanoseconds RMS to UTC (USNO)
    • Stability: TDEV <2 ns @ τ <100k secs, σy(τ) <4×10-14 @ τ=100k seconds
    • Frequency accuracy better than 4×10-14 (1-day average)
    • Short-term stability <5.1×10-13 at 1 second
    • Ultra-low phase noise 5/10 MHz output <-115/-110 dBc @ 1 Hz offset

    The RTIC option is available now for new and existing Meridian II customers. Call +1-707-573-8633 for more information or visit the website.

  • Anti-drone market to reach $1.85 billion by 2024

    The global anti-drone market size is anticipated to reach $1.85 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc.

    The increase in the adoption of UAVs (drones) has resulted in the commencement of another market that focuses on a solution for rogue drones, complete with net-firing bazookas, electromagnetic shields and anti-drone death rays.

    U.S. anti-drone market, by destructive mitigation type, 2014-2024 (USD million).
    U.S. anti-drone market, by destructive mitigation type, 2014-2024 (USD million).

    The steep rise in the adoption of drones for commercial as well as recreational purposes has increased concerns regarding aerials attack and threats. Detection and identification of these unmanned aircraft systems have become a vital factor for the maintenance of the security. Various institutions across the world are increasingly deploying counter drone measures to address the ever-growing need for safety and security.

    As UAVs become deadlier, stealthier, faster, agile, smaller, sleeker and cheaper, the nuisance and threats posed by them are expected to grow at numerous levels, ranging from personal/domestic privacy to national security. With that in mind, there is significant effort both in terms of money and technology being invested in the development of anti-drone technologies.

    Various national security agencies across the world have started to precisely understand the potential threats from drones and increasingly considering commercial as well as consumer drones as the new major threat to the world. It is only a matter of time before redundant and reliable methods of countering drones become mainstream and widely available.

    Several busy airports and hubs across the world are seeking defense measures and regulations to protect their airliners and harbored aircraft from drones straying into commercial airspace and posing innumerable threats of a collision. The detection of a range of drone types is expected to require multiple modalities, data fusion systems to effectively identify and detect target drones amongst a cluttered background.

    The full research report with a table of contents is titled “Anti-Drone Market Analysis By Mitigation Type (Destructive, Non-Destructive), By Defense Type (Detection & Disruption, Detection), By End-Use (Military & Defense, Commercial, Government), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 – 2024.”

  • NovAtel positioning on display at CES autonomy exhibit

    NovAtel Inc. is showcasing its high precision positioning technology as part of AutonomouStuff’s “Roadmap to Autonomy” exhibit at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Jan. 3-8 in Las Vegas. The exhibit is located at the MGM Grand in the Skyline Terrace Suite.

    ces-roadmapAutonomouStuff provides research and development platforms for the safe and reliable testing of automation technologies.

    It uses NovAtel’s exceptionally robust SPAN GNSS + Inertial (INS) technology to provide the highly precise, continuous 3D positioning necessary to evaluate robotic and autonomous solutions for autonomous applications.

    NovAtel’s SPAN technology combines a high-performance Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to deliver deeply-coupled centimeter-level positioning. SPAN provides robustness against short GNSS outages, using IMU updates to bridge the positioning solution. SPAN also provides high data rate position, velocity and attitude (pitch, roll, heading) updates to capture the full real-time motion profile of a vehicle. Widely deployed in the automotive R&D space, SPAN supports applications ranging from autonomous navigation to V2X systems, where it is utilized to provide a source of vehicle ground truth.

    As a committed technology partner, NovAtel has worked closely with AutonomouStuff to optimize SPAN for AutonomouStuff’s vehicle perception kits. As a result of these efforts, AutonomouStuff is able to offer three different levels of positioning performance — “good, better, best” — based on the grade of IMU selected.

    “We are always excited to work with the team at NovAtel and cannot wait to show off their ‘good, better, best’ SPAN GNSS options for autonomy in our suite at CES,” said AutonomouStuff CEO Bobby Hambrick. “Their solutions are a significant piece of autonomous research and development. With three kit options, there is something for everybody. We’ve done the work for you, allowing you to choose which kit is best for you based on your accuracy needs and price range.”

    The collaboration with AutonomouStuff is reflective of NovAtel’s commitment to the development of fully autonomous vehicles for a wide range of industries. In May 2016, NovAtel announced the formation of a new Safety Critical Systems (SCS) Group, tasked with developing functionally safe GNSS positioning products that will meet the exceptional performance and safety requirements of autonomous vehicles.

    “Our team made significant progress in 2016 towards product definition, GNSS integrity for automotive applications, and corporate TS 16949 compliance,” said Jonathan Auld, Director of the SCS Group at NovAtel. “As the world leader in high precision GNSS technology for more than 20 years, NovAtel is leveraging its extensive experience developing safety critical systems for the aviation industry to meet the future safety thresholds required for driverless cars.”

    AutonomouStuff and NovAtel representatives will be available in the MGM Grand Skyline Suite during the CES to answer customer questions. To set up a meeting with the NovAtel SCS team at CES 2017, attendees can contact Allan MacAulay, Business Development Manager, SCS ([email protected]).

  • Qualcomm offers variant of connected car platform

    Qualcomm Technologies Inc. has introduced a new variant of its connected car reference platform using its flagship gigabit class Snapdragon X16 LTE modem to help car manufacturers deliver the high-speed, high-quality and reliable connectivity required for advanced telematics and connected vehicle services — supporting peak download speeds up to 1 Gbps.

    Qualcomm is showcasing the variant at CES 2017, which is being held Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Snapdragon-QualcommBuilding on the Company’s leadership supplying 3G/4G LTE modems for automotive, the reference platform is designed to allow carmakers to quickly and easily integrate the broad range of additional wireless and networking technologies required in today’s vehicles, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy and GNSS, with optional support for DSRC and Cellular-V2X.

    The platform also includes a module reference design for the Snapdragon X16 LTE modem to help automotive suppliers accelerate development and improve time-to-commercialization.

    Highlights of the new connected car reference platform include:

    • Gigabit Class LTE cloud connectivity: The Snapdragon X16 LTE modem supports Gigabit-class download speeds, up to 10x as fast as first generation 4G LTE devices. The modem is designed to employ sophisticated digital signal processing to pack more bits per transmission with 256-QAM, receives data on four antennas through 4×4 MIMO, and supports for up to 4x Carrier Aggregation. All of this comes together to support peak download speeds up to 1 Gbps, helping satisfy the connectivity needs and use cases of the next generation of connected vehicles including high-definition map updates, connected navigation with real-time traffic and road condition information, software upgrades, Wi-Fi hotspot and multimedia streaming.
    • In-car networking and satellite navigation: The connected car reference platform also integrates Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2, sensor support for stolen vehicle tracking and recovery, quad-constellation GNSS and 3D Dead Reckoning (DR) location solutions, with optional support for vehicle-to-everything communications using DSRC/802.11p or Cellular-V2X. The solution is designed to manage concurrent operation of multiple wireless technologies using the same spectrum frequencies. In addition, the reference platform features in-vehicle networking technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet with Automotive Audio Bus (A2B), Controller Area Network (CAN) and Local Interconnect Network (LIN) interfaces.
    • OEM and third-party applications support: Qualcomm Technologies also provides a security-rich framework for the execution of custom OEM and third-party telematics applications. The simplified access to tightly-integrated apps processing functionality is designed to help automakers and service providers handle the increasing number of use cases requiring connectivity — simultaneously in many cases — and quickly prototype, develop and deliver unique and differentiated experiences to their customers.

    Qualcomm Technologies has also developed a reference hardware module in two different band configurations, North America and Rest of World (including Europe). The module design is engineered to support up to four antennas to utilize the 4×4 MIMO capabilities of the Snapdragon X16 modem and reach the peak download speeds of up to 1 Gbps. This can help accelerate the time-to-commercialization of this flagship device and the Company is working with module manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers to further optimize 2-antenna and 4-antenna configurations aiming to meet cost-effectiveness and size requirements of specific automakers, specific segments and use cases.

    “Connected cars are becoming intelligent sensors on the road, not only using data for consumer use cases such as Wi-Fi hotspots and video streaming, but also collecting and transmitting critical, rich real-time information about road conditions, map updates and driver status,” said Patrick Little, senior vice president and general manager, automotive, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “As a leader in car connectivity, Qualcomm Technologies is well positioned to address the tremendous data demand, helping automakers integrate the broad set of technologies required by a new generation of connected vehicles.”

    The new connected car reference platform using Snapdragon X16 LTE modem, including its corresponding reference module, is expected to be available in the first half of 2017.

    All major global automakers currently use products from Qualcomm Technologies’ broad portfolio of automotive solutions, including the Company’s flagship Snapdragon automotive processors and modems.

    Across telematics, infotainment and connectivity, Qualcomm Technologies has achieved more than 150 automotive design wins, and car manufacturers across the globe have selected Snapdragon processors for their next generation infotainment solutions. To learn more, please visit Qualcomm Technologies’ automotive booth at CES, north hall, booth #5609, or visit qualcomm.com/automotive.