GPS World

Author: Tracy Cozzens

  • See NASA’s GUARDIAN Catch a Tsunami

    See NASA’s GUARDIAN Catch a Tsunami

    News from NASA

    A new data visualization illustrates how an experimental NASA technology can provide extra lead time to communities in the path of a tsunami. Called GUARDIAN (GNSS Upper Atmospheric Real-time Disaster Information and Alert Network), the software detects slight distortions in satellite navigation signals to spot hazards on the move.

    The animation breaks down a real-life case study: 2025’s massive Kamchatka earthquake and the tsunami that it sent racing across the Pacific and towards Hawaii at more than 500 mph (805 kph).

    The visualization shows the magnitude 8.8 earthquake (seen in purple) strike off the Russian coast on July 29, 2025, triggering the tsunami. The red, orange, yellow, and green ringlets represent real-time readings from ground stations tracking GPS and other navigational satellite signals. The disturbances were spotted by GUARDIAN’s artificial intelligence-powered detection algorithms as soon as eight minutes after the earthquake.

    For the next several hours, signs of the tsunami were picked up by GUARDIAN across the Pacific Ocean in near real time. The system flagged an incoming wave off the coast of Kauai some 32 minutes before it made landfall and was detected by tide gauges (shown in blue).

    The results highlight GUARDIAN’s potential to augment existing early warning systems, said Camille Martire, one of its developers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

    Currently, determining whether an earthquake generated a tsunami remains a challenge. Forecasters rely on seismic data and computer simulations to make their best prediction, then wait for pressure sensors attached to the ocean floor to confirm a passing wave. Those sensors work well but are expensive and thinly dispersed. Gaps in coverage remain. And in those gaps, warning time disappears.

    The GUARDIAN approach is complementary and cost effective because it monitors existing data from GPS and other constellations that make up the Global Navigation Satellite System. It’s also free to access, though for now best suited to analysts trained to interpret its findings.

    How GUARDIAN works

    All day, every day, geopositioning constellations transmit radio signals to ground stations around the globe. On the ground, the data is refined to sub-decimeter (less than 10 centimeters) positioning accuracy by JPL’s Global Differential GPS System. Before the signals get there, however, they must travel through an electrically charged skin of plasma called the ionosphere.

    Solar storms and other space weather can wreak electrical mayhem in the ionosphere, and so can events on Earth. Tsunamis and earthquakes, by displacing large amount of air at Earth’s surface, unleash pressure waves that can slightly perturb the radio signals coming down from satellites. While systems are in place to correct for this “noise,” GUARDIAN considers it a useful signal.

    Currently, GUARDIAN scours data from more than 350 GNSS ground stations around the Pacific Ring of Fire, a hotbed for the ocean’s deadliest waves. And the system is not confined to tsunamis. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, missile tests, spacecraft reentries, meteoroid splashdowns — anything that produces a large rumble on Earth is potentially fair game. While the Kamchatka event didn’t cause widespread damage to people or property, it showed how the next time disaster strikes, NASA science could give communities a few more minutes to act.

    GUARDIAN is being developed at JPL by the GDGPS project, which is partially supported by NASA’s Space Geodesy Project.

  • CAST Navigation delivers advanced GNSS simulation for complex environments

    CAST Navigation delivers advanced GNSS simulation for complex environments

    Testing GNSS receiver systems in real-world conditions is limited by unpredictability, legal restrictions, and the inability to replicate scenarios. CAST Navigation addresses this challenge with advanced simulation technology that creates controlled, repeatable satellite signal environments.

    When testing a GNSS, comprehensive testing usually isn’t possible when relying on live satellite signals, according to CAST Navigation. In a live environment, engineers can’t determine the exact cause of errors, which can slow development and increase risk, so it’s impossible to establish controlled conditions suitable for experimentation and isolate specific variables without using a controlled signal environment.

    A valid experiment requires repetition of identical scenarios because it enables engineers to validate assumptions, debug faults and compare performance. Without this consistent verification, it’s impossible to put confidence in a satellite system, CAST Navigation said.

    Also, certain GNSS conditions can’t be put into practice in the real world for testing purposes. For example, spoofing or jamming satellite signals is usually illegal because such activities could cause interference or harm in other systems. Also, environmental effects like atmospheric interference or terrain obstruction can’t be easily configured or isolated in a live testing scenario.

    Improving reliable testing

    A controlled simulation environment that can generate repeatable GNSS conditions enables engineers to conduct reliable testing and validation. CAST Navigationprovides such a highly realistic and reliable simulated satellite signal environment, enabling organizations to conduct rigorous testing of guidance systems and positioning technologies. By creating artificial signals that can be precisely repeated as many times as necessary, engineers can get the data they need without the difficulties and restrictions of operating in a real-world environment.

    Multi-constellation frequencies available

    At the core of this technology from CAST Navigation is the ability to generate multi-constellation GNSS signals across multiple frequencies, such as GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou. These systems are highly adaptable to all kinds of experimental conditions. They support simultaneous simulation of multiple satellite systems at once, allowing engineers to account for variables like terrestrial movement and space-based trajectories.

    Using advanced motion modeling, engineers can use CAST’s system to simulate position, orientation and complex motion patterns in real time. But CAST Navigation technology isn’t just modeling satellite movement. It’s also modeling the environment the satellites are operating in, with variables such as atmospheric interference (such as ionospheric delay) fully integrated into the testing environment.

    Engineers can test their production systems in both ideal and adverse environments, such as one where satellite signals are being jammed. This makes CAST Navigation systems suitable for both military and commercial applications, particularly when engineers are trying to design resilient and flexible GNSS systems.

    CAST Navigation offers full-service support.

  • NASA releases GNSS radio occultation data in common CF compliant format

    NASA releases GNSS radio occultation data in common CF compliant format

    The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) and principal investigator Stephen Leroy of JANUS Research Group have released GNSS Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) datasets.

    The data release includes 72 different products from 15 different GNSS-RO receivers (or constellations of receivers) processed at four different GNSS-RO retrieval/processing centers. The data from different processing centers have been reformatted to have a common Climate and Forecast Metadata Conventions (CF) compliant format.

    The algorithm was developed with funding from the NASA ACCESS 2019 program and the NASA Supplements for Open Science Support. These are the version 2.0 GNSS-RO products; version 1.1 is available through the AWS Registry of Open Data. 

    GNSS-RO data undergoes processing that is radically different from that of most atmospheric sounders, but it can still be categorized by its processing step: 

    • uncalibrated data, as provided by the satellite instrument with communication information stripped, are Level 1a (not part of this release); 
    • calibrated data, wherein the clock biases of the transmitters and receivers are removed and precise orbits determined are Level 1b; 
    • extremely high vertical-resolution profiles of RO bending angle and microwave refractivity are Level 2a; and 
    • profiles of temperature, pressure, and specific humidity on a coarser vertical grid are Level 2b.

    Products are still being added to the archive. This initial release is complete for all processing levels of the COSMIC-1 data sets from four different processing centers. After all of the products in the initial release are complete for available data through July 2025, the project will bebegin forward processing for missions still actively producing data.

    For more information about these products please see the README document and the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).

  • EUSPA and EIOPA harness Copernicus data to guide disaster response

    EUSPA and EIOPA harness Copernicus data to guide disaster response

    Using data from satellites to predict and resond to climate-related disasters is considered in a new white paper.

    The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published the joint white paper. 

    It explores how Earth observation (EO) data could be harnessed to enhance the supervision of natural catastrophes and assess the impact of extreme weather events on Europe’s insurance sector.

    As Europe faces escalating climate-related disasters and rising economic losses related to them, the need for more effective risk management and greater resilience against natural catastrophes is paramount — not least through the deployment of innovative solutions.

    The white paper is the result of a joint pilot project between EIOPA and EUSPA — highlights the benefits of using open-access Earth observation data from Copernicus to improve the tracking and management of natural hazards.

    The project demonstrates that satellite-based EO data offers independent, objective and near real-time geospatial insights that can meaningfully improve risk assessment and risk management practices for insurers, communities and supervisors.

    Earth observation technology — especially the open, traceable data that Copernicus provides — can sharpen risk identification, reinforce scenario design and accelerate loss estimates in the aftermath of shocks. Financial supervisors can leverage the technology to:

    • rapidly identify affected areas and exposed insurance undertakings: Satellite imagery makes it possible to map disaster-affected areas (for example, the extent and trajectory of floods) as events unfold. This granular geospatial data can be matched with Solvency II regulatory reporting to estimate the potential impact of natural catastrophe events on individual insurers (micro-prudential perspective);
    • estimate overall loss-magnitudes early on by scaling up the micro-level analysis to the sector as a whole (macro-level perspective); and
    • improve benchmarking, model validation and scenario and stress test design by providing objective, data-driven reference points against which model outputs and reported or calculated losses can be compared.

    The collaboration between EIOPA and EUSPA showcases the value of innovation in addressing the challenges posed by climate-related disasters: when used effectively, Earth observation data can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable insurance sector — one that better protects European citizens and businesses from the damaging effects of a warming climate.

  • US Air Force seeks hardened anti-jam receiver for missle guidance

    US Air Force seeks hardened anti-jam receiver for missle guidance

    The U.S. Air Force has opened market research for a GPS Increment 2 GNSS M-code receiver for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) program.

    The Air Force’s Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base published a Request for Information on March 17 to identify qualified vendors capable of developing and producing the receiver.

    Key requirements include:

    • demonstrating a point-of-departure design at or above Technology Readiness Level/Manufacturing Readiness Level 5 applicable to U.S. Department of Defense tactical missiles
    • identifying existing programs leveraged
    • providing current TRL and MRL status
    • presenting a funded development plan to achieve required maturity.

    Respondents must also

    • describe their technical approach for the GPS receiver
    • identify the status of Increment 2 M-code Application Specific Integrated Circuit certification with the GPS Directorate Security Team
    • demonstrate an active production line delivering DoD M-code receivers where possible
    • provide a notional low-risk development and integration schedule from contract award.

    The government is using the market research phase to assess vendor capability before proceeding to formal solicitation. The opportunity is open to qualified commercial vendors without foreign participation. The government is seeking established manufacturers with demonstrated capability in DoD M-code receiver production.

    Respondents must submit white paper responses of 10 pages or less by May 29. Administrative information including company credentials, facility security clearance, and executed Non-Disclosure Agreements must be submitted separately and do not count toward the 10-page limit.

  • L3Harris M-code receiver deliveries surpass 100,000 units

    L3Harris M-code receiver deliveries surpass 100,000 units

    Modernized GPS is strengthening operational assurance and signaling a new era of assured positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) for U.S. and allied forces

    L3 Harris has reached a milestone with the delivery of the 100,000th next-generation military-code (M-code) GPS receiver to the United States and allied partners through the Modernized GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 1 program.

    M-code receivers are designed to deliver secure, jam-resistant PNT capabilities that are essential as military operations grow more distributed, joint and technologically complex. Unlike legacy systems, M-code-enabled receivers provide enhanced security features and increased resistance to interference, allowing forces to maintain trusted GPS access when signals may otherwise be degraded or denied.

    “As the global threat environment continues to evolve, secure and resilient PNT has never been more critical to ensuring operational advantage,” said Quinlan Lyte, president, Advanced Effects, Missile Solutions, L3Harris. “Reaching this delivery milestone reflects our team’s sustained commitment to equipping the warfighter with reliable technology designed to perform in the most contested environments.”

    Beyond the milestone itself, the scale of fielded MGUE Increment 1 receivers underscores a broader shift toward modernized, mission-ready GPS capability across U.S. and allied platforms. From air and ground systems to maritime and joint operations, M-code technology is helping commanders operate with greater confidence in environments where GPS reliability can no longer be assumed.

    Onto the next phase

    L3Harris is building on the momentum from MGUE Increment 1 as the company advances the next phase of GPS modernization through MGUE Increment 2. Ongoing development includes a new M-code-enabled application-specific integrated circuit and the TruTrak-M Type II receiver, technologies designed to further improve size, weight, power and cost efficiencies while maintaining robust security and performance. These advancements will enable greater integration and flexibility, as well as broader adoption across future platforms.

  • GNSS, INS and neural networks combine for Arctic navigation

    GNSS, INS and neural networks combine for Arctic navigation

    GNSS receivers combined with inertial navigation systems (INS) have been widely applied to various mobile platforms.

    However, in Arctic regions, GNSS positioning accuracy is severely degraded from low satellite elevation angles, frequent ionospheric disturbances, and insufficient visible satellites.

    Moreover, the limited validation of existing onboard navigation systems further exacerbates the challenges of Arctic navigation.

    To address these issues, a new research paper describes a hybrid neural network model based on temporal convolutional networks (TCN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. The hybrid solution has been tested in the Artic with successful results.

    The paper, “Robust GNSS/INS Integrated Navigation in Arctic GNSS-Challenged Environments Based on TCN-LSTM and MDAREKF,” is authored by Wei Liu, Tengfei Qi, Yuan Hu, Kaiwei Zhu, Tsung-Hsuan Hsieh and Shengzheng Wang of Shanghai Maritime University (DOI 10.1088/1361-6501/ae5279).

    The proposal combines the pseudo-measurement information of GNSS predicted by the model with INS for integrated navigation to compensate for the interruption of GNSS and correct the error of INS.

    Considering the potential bias in predicted pseudomeasurements, an adaptive robust extended Kalman filter (AREKF) algorithm based on Mahalanobis distance is further developed to dynamically adjust the innovation covariance matrix, thereby enhancing filter robustness.

    Field experiments conducted on an Arctic survey vessel demonstrate that the proposed TCN-LSTM combined with AREKF significantly improves both the robustness and accuracy of integrated navigation under GNSS-constrained environments. In particular, during GNSS outages of 50 seconds, 140 seconds and 400 seconds, the proposed method reduces the horizontal root mean square error (RMSE) by 47%, 38% and 76% respectively.

  • India’s IRNSS-1F satellite fails after atomic clock malfunction

    India’s IRNSS-1F satellite fails after atomic clock malfunction

    One of India’s four navigation satellites has failed, a setback for the NAVIC network. Satellite IRNSS-1F was lost after its atomic clock stopped functioning.

    Only three satellites — IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1L and NVS-01 — remain operational for providng positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services across the Indian subcontinent. The loss of one degrades location services provided by the NavIC system, a regional navigation satellite system designed to augment global systems (an SBAS).

    “IRNSS-1F satellite launched in March 2016 has completed its design mission life of 10 years on 10th March 2026,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced. “On 13th March 2026, [the] procured on-board atomic clock stopped functioning. However, the satellite will continue to function in-orbit for various societal applications to provide one-way broadcast messaging services.”

    Since July 2013, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched 11 satellites. Since then, six have failed, largely due to defective imported atomic clocks in the initial phase and, in some recent cases, because of orbital complications.

    In 2025, the government stated that only four of the 11 satellites deployed for the NavIC system were fully operational for PNT services, while the remaining spacecraft were being utilized in a limited or sub-optimal capacity.

  • Hemisphere GNSS and Calian produce new high-precision antenna

    Hemisphere GNSS and Calian produce new high-precision antenna

    Hemisphere GNSS, a brand of CNH, together with Calian Group Ltd, have released the A65 GNSS antenna, a jointly developed, next-generation solution engineered to deliver exceptional accuracy, superior interference protection, and robust GNSS tracking performance.

    The A65 is designed as a drop-in replacement for the widely deployed A45 antenna, offering users a seamless upgrade path to the latest precision technology.

    The collaboration reflects a shared focus on combining advanced RF design with real‑world application insight to address increasingly complex GNSS operating environments, with both teams working closely from the earliest stages of development to meet demanding original equipment manufacturer (OEM) performance requirements.

    The antenna architecture itself, including the stacked patch quad feed element and RF front end, was engineered by Calian, and provides Calian’s XF Filtering. Hemisphere GNSS contributed application expertise, system integration requirements, and performance validation within real-world machine control, agriculture, marine and survey environments.

    The result is a precision antenna that delivers:

    • outstanding multipath suppression
    • highly consistent phase center variation
    • accurate tracking across GPS (L1/L2/L5), Galileo (E1/E5/E6), BeiDou (B1/B2/B3), GLONASS (G1/G2/G3), NavIC L5, QZSS, and L-band correction services
    • lower power consumption and broad voltage compatibility

    Together, Hemisphere and Calian ensured the A65 meets demanding field requirements while exceeding the performance benchmarks of the A45.

    Calian XF Filtering for Interference Rejection

    A major advancement of the A65 is the integration of Calian’s XF Filtering. The interference mitigation system rejects out-of-band energy at the antenna level, significantly improving signal quality in RF-challenging environments.

    Calian XF Filtering provides protection against:

    • 4G / 5G cellular transmissions
    • Ligado and adjacent band interference sources
    • broadband marine and aviation systems
    • industrial and urban RF noise

    By combining Calian’s advanced filtering technology with Hemisphere GNSS’s application-level expertise, the A65 delivers cleaner signals, improved reliability, and more stable performance in harsh real-world environments.

    Engineered for rugged field use

    Validated through Hemisphere GNSS field testing and Calian engineering qualification, the A65 includes:

    • IP69K environmental protection
    • High-impact LEXAN radome and robust metallic base
    • Low noise amplifier (LNA) with high gain (2.5 dB NF, 28-30 dB gain)
    • 15 kV electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection
    • -40°C to +85°C operating range

    These specifications are designed to ensure the A65 provides long-term performance across agriculture, survey, machine control, marine and fixed-reference installations.

    The A65 GNSS antenna is available now through Hemisphere GNSS. OEM module versions based on the same Calian engineered design are also offered for integrators requiring embedded solutions.

  • Thales’ TopStar modules enable addition of Galileo OS and PRS to receivers

    Thales’ TopStar modules enable addition of Galileo OS and PRS to receivers

    Thales has developed TopStar Galileo core modules in two standardzed, easy-to-integrate versions.

    The small-form-factor Galileo OS (Open Service) or PRS (Public Regulated Service) sensors are designed to enhanced GNSS receivers and resilient multi-sensor navigation systems, ensuring safer and more reliable satellite-based navigation. 

    The Galileo PRS core module integrates a certified, single-chip, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) security module that incorporates all the necessary Galileo PRS security and navigation functions. It provides dual-frequency (E1/E6) iono-free Galileo PRS positioning, velocity and timing services. It also provides pseudorange and delta pseudorange raw data, along with GPS C/A (coarse acquisition).

    The low-SWaP (size, weight and power) digital solution has been designed to work with any European GNSS receiver manufacturer seeking a standardized, easy-to-integrate Galileo module with which to develop their own GNSS receivers.

    Credit: Thales
    Credit: Thales

    The modules can meet the requirements of a wide range of applications for manned or unmanned vehicles, combat aircraft, helicopters, high-dynamic missiles, and the navy. Their small form factor also makes them suitable for platforms with size constraints, such as ground vehicles, small drones and guided munitions.

    The modules feature standardized interfaces, enabling the Galileo PRS function to be easily integrated into the host system. Furthermore, the TopStar Galileo core module can be embedded with minimum impact by using the analog RF front end of the host receiver.

    The Galileo OS core module version enables the early integration of Galileo functionalities into the host system, as well as export to countries not authorized to use PRS. The PRS core module version provides an easy upgrade to Public Regulated Service capability, offering greater resilience against jamming and crucial protection against spoofing.

  • New u-blox F11 platform provides ultra-low power GNSS for all environments

    New u-blox F11 platform provides ultra-low power GNSS for all environments

    The new u-blox F11 platform provides L1/L5 dual-band standard-precision GNSS designed to significantly improve positioning accuracy while dramatically reducing power consumption to as low as 7 mW in typical configurations using low-energy accurate positioning (LEAP) mode for tracking and wearable applications.

    The F11 platform marks a major step forward in meter-level GNSS positioning, the company said. It combines ultra-low power operation with intelligent signal management to meet the evolving demands of tracking, wearables, telematics and mobility applications — including micromobility solutions and drones. The platform enables device manufacturers to achieve longer battery life, faster and more reliable position fixes, and greater design flexibility, u-blox said.

    Intelligent dual-band operation

    Expanding power saving capabilities, the F11 platform is a new situationally aware GNSS architecture (with integrated geofencing and indoor detections) that dynamically balances accuracy and power consumption. By selectively using dual-band L1/L5 operation only when it helps maintain the positioning performance, the F11 platform reduces energy use while providing resilience and maintaining confidence in location data.

    Compared to previous generations, the platform delivers up to 40% lower power consumption during signal acquisition and up to 30% lower power consumption in continuous tracking modes, while improving position accuracy by up to 30% in challenging environments such as dense urban areas. For long-life tracking applications (assets, livestock, pets and people), optimized first-fix performance further reduces GNSS on-time, enabling multi-year battery operation.

    For scalable, high-volume applications

    The u-blox F11 platform addresses the growing demand for GNSS solutions that are robust, power-efficient, and easy to integrate across a wide range of industries. The platform supports both single-band and dual-band operation within a single footprint, allowing device manufacturers to simplify designs and scale products across multiple market segments.

    Key application areas include:

    • asset and fleet tracking
    • consumer and fitness wearables
    • aftermarket telematics
    • livestock tracking
    • people/pet tracking
    • industrial sensing and IoT
    • micromobility and mobility services
    • consumer drones and action cameras

    By focusing on real-world performance rather than raw specifications, the F11 platform enables faster development cycles, improved user experience, and lower total system cost for OEMs — with form-factor compatibility and firmware upgradeability as a way to future proof designs.  

    Availability

    The platform is being showcased at Embedded World 2026. First products will be available by the end of June 2026. 

  • Iridium launches next-generation IoT platform

    Iridium launches next-generation IoT platform

    Iridium Communications, a provider of global voice, data, and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) satellite services, has unveiled the Iridium 9604, a compact, three-in-one IoT module that integrates Iridium short burst data (SBD) satellite service, LTE-M cellular connectivity, and GNSS positioning into a single platform.

    By combining these features in one device, the Iridium 9604 reduces solution complexity, lowers costs, and accelerates time to market, making dual-mode IoT connectivity viable for price-sensitive, high-volume deployments.

    The Iridium 9604 beta program — launched earlier this year and oversubscribed by a select group of companies — has generated positive industry feedback highlighting:

    • Lower costs, simplified design, and enabling of location-aware network selection
    • Savings of 60 percent or more in board space with the 3-in-1 module, Iridium’s smallest ever form factor
    • Easy-to-use developer resources.

    “As an early Iridium 9604 developer, utilizing the three-in-one module has already fundamentally changed our product economics,” said Alastair MacLeod, CEO, Ground Control. “We eliminated two components from our bill of materials, reduced our board size, and simplified our power architecture.”

    MacLeod continued, “Additionally, having dual mode connectivity options enables a smarter, location-aware network selection in our application. The Iridium 9604 turned what would have been a complex multi-component design into a single-module solution. This is a major breakthrough for our IoT solutions.”

    “Our customers require essential data and real-time intelligence to operate with confidence anywhere in the world,” said Dean Welten, CEO, Everlink. “By integrating the Iridium 9604 with our secure cloud platform, we can now enable global connectivity, greater operational efficiency, and measurable impact at scale.”

    Representing the next phase of Iridium’s IoT strategy, the Iridium 9604 is moving the company beyond traditional satellite-only modules to a unified, multi-mode connectivity architecture. The Iridium network now offers customers three IoT service paths to follow:

    • Iridium SBD packaged with cellular and GNSS in the Iridium 9604 or SBD/Iridium Burst dedicated modules
    • Iridium NTN Direct for standards-based direct-to-device using third-party chips
    • Iridium Messaging Transport-based (IMT) for industrial-scale, larger payload capabilities with the Iridium Certus 9704

    The Iridium 9604, built on the u-blox SARA-R5 platform, delivers a compact 16 mm x 26 mm x 2.4 mm form factor, best for dual-mode IoT deployments previously cost-prohibitive across industrial, infrastructure, and mobility applications.

    Commercial availability begins in June 2026 with the Iridium 9604 Development Kit made available for testing satellite and cellular services. Reserve priority access at www.iridium.com/9604.