Telit Cinterion, an end-to-end IoT solutions enabler, has expaned its GNSS portfolio with two dual-band positioning modules: the ultracompact SE873K5-D and the high-end SE869eK5-DRK.
Built on the AG3335 chipset series from long-time partner Airoha, the new modules support space- and power-constrained internet of things (IoT) devices and use cases that require continuous, ultraprecise positioning.
The SE873K5-D and SE869eK5-DRK provide a scalable path to adopt dual-band L1 + L5 GNSS. Device manufacturers can add advanced correction technologies and resilient positioning architectures without redesigning hardware.
When combined with Telit Cinterion cellular connectivity solutions, the modules support the injection of RTCM corrections worldwide. This feature enables higher accuracy across connected IoT deployments.
SE873K5-D The SE873K5-D expands the established SE873K5 family with a dual-band L1 + L5 variant. It is designed for size- and power-constrained applications.
This new module maintains the same 7 x 7 mm footprint and pin-to-pin compatibility as the single-frequency SE873K5. OEMs can scale performance without changing hardware designs.
The SE873K5-D supports multiconstellation GNSS across the L1 and L5 bands. Compared to single-frequency solutions, it improves accuracy and robustness against interference and multipath effects.
With DGNSS support via RTCM corrections, the module enables submeter accuracy. It is ideal for myriad use cases, from wearables to fleet management.
Two power supply variants enable designers to optimize for either minimal size or ultralow power consumption in battery-operated devices. Multiple configurable usage profiles, such as tracking and drone modes, provide added flexibility across IoT verticals.
SE869eK5-DRK The SE869eK5-DRK is the next evolution of Telit Cinterion’s high-end GNSS offering. Based on the upper tier of the AG3335 chipset family, this module builds on the previously announced SE869eK5-DR. It adds support for RTK positioning with untethered dead reckoning.
This powerful combination enables uninterrupted, centimeter-level positioning. It maintains performance even when GNSS signals are degraded or unavailable due to interference or signal blockage.
The SE869eK5-DRK has an embedded inertial measurement unit. This feature helps maintain accurate position fixes in environments like tunnels and dense urban areas. The module supports DGNSS for submeter accuracy when RTK corrections are unavailable or when centimeter-level precision is not needed.
The SE869eK5-DRK is designed in an industry-standard 16 x 12.2 mm form factor. It introduces a proprietary extended pinout while remaining backward-compatible with existing designs. The added pins enable future-proof implementations and customization. OEMs can expand capabilities over time without redesigning their products.
Engineering validation testing samples of the SE873K5-D are available now. Design validation testing samples are expected soon. Mass production is planned for Q2 2026.
Design validation testing samples for the SE869eK5-DRK are available now. Mass production is planned for Q2 2026.
For more information about the SE873K5-D and the SE869eK5-DRK, visit Telit Cinterion at Embedded World at Booth #3-620. The event runs March 10-12 at the Exhibition Centre Nüremberg.
Honeywell has launched the HGuide i700, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that delivers high-accuracy performance for unmanned air, land and sea vehicles. By pairing near navigation-grade capability with a no-license-required (NLR) classification, the HGuide i700 provides integrators worldwide with a powerful new option for critical sensing and navigation.
The HGuide i700 uses high reliability sensors and electronic architecture found in Honeywell’s HG3900 inertial measurement unit (IMU). Compact and low power, the HGuide i700 delivers near-navigation-grade accuracy and reliability while being optimized to support longer range navigation in GNSS-denied environments
“As customers explore new autonomous, robotic and precision-guided solutions, they want the accuracy and reliability of inertial systems that can be tailored to their program requirements,” said Matt Picchetti, vice president and general manager, Navigation and Sensors, Honeywell Aerospace. “The HGuide i700 offers strong GNSS-denied performance for by limiting maximum acceleration and spin rates in a license-free package that simplifies the complexity of system development while preserving reliability.”
The latest in Honeywell’s HGuide suite of no-license inertial solutions, the HGuide i700 allows customers to streamline development cycles, simplify system architecture and transition to field deployment more quickly than existing technology.
The HGuide i700’s rugged design, compact size and low-power profile make it suitable for diverse commercial, industrial and defense applications, such as:
Unmanned aerial, land or sea vehicles
Mobile mapping and surveying systems
Long duration unmanned ground or surface platforms
Robotics and industrial automation
Stabilized payloads and pointing systems
Honeywell has been a top innovator in IMU technology for more than three decades and pioneered the use of MEMS technologies in navigation. For more information about the Honeywell HGuide i700 and Honeywell’s navigation solutions, visit Honeywell Aerospace.
Qualinx will showcase its market-ready 1 mW QLX3Gx Series GNSS chip with its dynamic reconfigurable architecture, along with a developer evaluation kit (EVK), at Embedded World 2026 taking place March 10-12 in Nuremberg.
The QLX3Gx EVK enables OEMs to directly validate Qualinx’s power-to-performance leadership and integration readiness in real-world device environments across IoT, UAVs, wearables, asset tracking, mobility and infrastructure applications. Additional demos include ultra-low-power GNSS powered by Dragonfly Digital RF, on-chip Galileo authentication with EUSPA’s OSNMA, QLX3AX AFE flexibility, beacon-to-beacon communication and sustainable smartwatch integration.
1 mW GNSS Powered by Dragonfly
Qualinx’s patented Dragonfly Digital Radio Frequency (DRF) architecture is at the core of the QLX3GX chip and shifts traditionally analog RF functions into the digital domain, an approach that brings RF back in line with Moore’s Law and, as such, significantly reduces power consumption without compromising performance.
Market-ready and built for scale, the highly integrated chip combines an ultra-low-power digital RF front end with an advanced GNSS digital baseband engine, ready for high-volume production and OEM deployment.
Additionally, the Dragonfly architecture enables dynamic, over-the-air (OTA) reconfiguration of the device throughout its lifecycle, eliminating substantial cost and complexity from customers’ supply chains and sparking new cycles of downstream product innovation, all from a single chip.
Supported by a European-designed GNSS architecture engineered for industry-leading power-to-performance versatility, hardware-level security and resilience, tracking is performed natively on-chip rather than in the cloud, further improving resilience to spoofing, jamming and interference.
Live demonstrations planned
Live demos at Embedded World 2026 highlight Qualinx’s performance and agility, and reinforce the company’s strategy to redefine connectivity by ensuring ultra-low-power, secure, and reconfigurable GNSS is accessible at scale:
QLX3Gx developer evaluation kit (EVK). Hands-on validation of real-world power consumption, reconfigurability and integration readiness.
Ultra-low-power GNSS powered by Dragonfly Digital RF. The 1 mW operating mode reduces one of the largest energy drains in connected systems, enabling longer battery life, smaller form factors and lower carbon footprint.
Qualinx Transmit. Qualinx will demonstrate that the same chip used for beacon-to-beacon collaboration can enable a range of new applications in which devices work together as an intelligent swarm, accelerating the deployment of ambient IoT.
Galileo OSNMA authentication with EUSPA. With more than 4 billion devices connected to Galileo, Qualinx on-chip navigation message authentication strengthens protection against spoofing among connected devices while reinforcing alignment with Europe’s sovereign Galileo infrastructure.
QLX3AX analog front end (AFE). A dynamic OTA reconfigurable AFE supporting multiple radio technologies for specialized receivers and custom systems.
Wearable integration display. Smartwatch-class form-factor readiness, validating compact footprint and suitability for IoT and wearable devices.
The availability of the QLX3Gx GNSS chip and EVK follows the recent announcement of a €20M investment round to support and accelerate Qualinx’s growth and international expansion. As governments and enterprises reassess their exposure to fragile, globally concentrated semiconductor supply chains, Qualinx stands out as a European deep-tech company that combines European IP and manufacturing, with hardware-level security that delivers resilient, ultra-low-power connectivity and does not rely on cloud-based processing.
All Qualinx chips, including the QLX3Gx GNSS chip, are designed and manufactured in Europe, anchoring production within the EU and reducing supply chain risk.
OEMs are invited to register their interest in the Qualinx developer EVK at Embedded World, from 10-12 March at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg, Hall 3, Booth 2211, to secure hands-on evaluation of the QLX3Gx GNSS chip for upcoming consumer, industrial, and mobility applications ahead of mass production this year. Contact [email protected] to schedule a media interview.
Spirent Communications, now part of Keysight Technologies, has launched SimXTRACT, a GNSS test tool that bridges the gap between field and laboratory.
SimXTRACT enables signals captured in field environments to be comprehensively decomposed into individual, discrete signals and applied to lab simulation for realism at every stage of the development test cycle.
“By combining real-world insights with lab-based control and repeatability, our customers will no longer have to compromise on how they test in this fast-moving technology area,” said Peter Terry-Brown, divisional CEO of Spirent’s Positioning business. “SimXTRACT ensures customers get the best of both worlds, with enhanced realism delivering more accurate results, quicker issue resolution, and faster time to market.”
Developers usually rely on either RF record-and-playback or lab simulation for testing and validation of PNT systems and devices. While both methods play important roles in product development, neither is able to combine the richness of the real world with the control needed for tasks such as research and development, receiver integration, or regression testing.
The introduction of SimXTRACT brings the advantages of both field and lab test methods together by taking real signals captured in field environments and accurately breaking them apart to create realistic simulator drive data for use in Spirent simulators.
Using signals and scenarios captured in the field by Spirent record-and-playback devices, SimXTRACT performs complex signal decomposition, breaking down each received signal into discrete line-of-sight and multipath ray paths, along with metadata such as Doppler offset, code error, power level, and angle of arrival (AoA).
This decomposed environment is then automatically converted into fully controllable simulation scenarios for Spirent GNSS simulators, reducing time spent in the field, cutting the cost and complexity of scenario capture and generation, and enabling repeatable, high-fidelity testing.
Combined with the option for developers to analyze and understand signal recordings, as well as search for and recreate specific conditions in order to focus testing, SimXTRACT will help accelerate development workflows for sectors that include automotive, chipset, consumer devices, defense, critical infrastructure and more.
“In today’s high-precision PNT ecosystem, SimXTRACT redefines how you can develop, test and debug PNT-enabled systems,” said Terry-Brown. “You can now bring the real-world environment into every stage of your product realization process, saving you time and money, while also improving product quality.”
Türkiye is no stranger to earthquakes. In February 2023, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the Türkiye-Syria border, followed by another nearly as strong.
Six Turkish universities have launched a real-time geodetic monitoring network to track earthquake-related ground deformation across Thrace and the Southern Marmara region, reports Hürriyet Daily News.
TR-TRAK-GNSS will monitor seismic and tectonic activity using 28 GNSS stations. The system is designed to evolve into a major scientific and early-warning infrastructure capable of detecting tectonic deformation in real time and identifying structural movements in buildings across cities and university campuses.
Once fully deployed, the network will form a continuous monitoring ring encircling Thrace and Southern Marmara.
The project will be financed through each participating university’s Scientific Research Projects resources, with institutions covering the installation costs of GNSS stations within their own areas of responsibility.
Digital Mapping Group, a pioneer in high-accuracy GNSS solutions for more than two decades, has released FastXY, a powerhouse mapping application for iOS and Android.
FastXY is designed to transform standard mobile devices into professional-grade data-collection tools for geospatial information system (GIS) and architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) professionals.
As the industry shifts away from bulky, proprietary hardware, FastXY offers professionals the ability to collect point, line and polygon data with the devices already in their pockets. Unlike “lite” mapping apps, FastXY delivers advanced capabilities including 3D basemaps, construction staking, topographic surveying, on-the-fly datum transformations, and survey-grade elevations.
Credit: Digital Mapping GroupCredit: Digital Mapping GroupCredit: Digital Mapping GroupCredit: Digital Mapping GroupCredit: Digital Mapping Group
One of FastXY’s most disruptive features is its built-in Bluetooth data parser. This allows users to configure the app to collect data from virtually any instrument supporting BLE Bluetooth or RS-232 — including echosounders, radiation sensors, laser rangefinders, barcode scanners and more — and marry that data instantly with precise GNSS coordinates.
“Our goal to create the most useful GNSS field data collection software for iOS/Android that uses the latest software tools,” said Ryan Skeele, software engineer. “The power of iOS/Android mobile devices increases every year, and we intend to iterate quickly to provide users more powerful solutions in the field.”
Available in two versions: Free and Premium
Essentials (free version)
High-accuracy ready. Works with device internal GNSS or Eos Positioning Systems’ Bluetooth receivers.
Offline-first approach. No internet connection required for field editing/data collection.
Rich visualization. 3D basemap featuring satellite, terrain and building overlays.
Smart logic. Attribute picklists with computational operations.
Survey-grade datum support. Real-time horizontal and vertical datum transformations.
Professional powerhouse (premium version)
Advanced point staking, auto-topographic data collection and cross track navigation.
Hardware integration. Full support for Eos Positioning Systems’ Skadi Tilt compensation and Smart Handle hardware.
Sensor hub. Connect to echosounders, laser rangefinders, barcode readers, radiation sensors, and other instruments with the external instrument configurator.
Advanced field workflow. Import Trimble Data Dictionaries, CAD/GIS files, KMZ/KML, and drone-captured raster imagery.
Post-processing. RINEX data collection and direct OPUS submission for static post-processing.
“We’re excited to offer an app for high-precision AEC users that runs on the mobile device in your pocket,” said Eric Gakstatter, principal GNSS consultant and former GPS World survey editor. “Separately, the unique Sensor Hub feature allows FastXY to consume data from almost any external instrument, combining it with high-precision GNSS data.”
FastXY is available for download today on the Apple App Store and Google Play. For more information, visit fastxy.com.
Digital Mapping Group
Founded 24 years ago, Digital Mapping Group has deployed tens of thousands of high-accuracy GNSS solutions globally. Their expertise spans utilities, public works, AEC, environmental, transportation and government sectors.
Austria is breaking new ground in space. BeaconSat is the largest satellite ever developed in Austria and also the country’s first military satellite. The project is being led by Austrian start-up GATE Space, based in Schwechat. Launch is planned for February 2027 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
BeaconSat is designed to detect and analyze jamming and spoofing attacks on GNSS — targeted attempts to interfere with and manipulate navigation signals such as GPS or Galileo. Austria is responding to a security policy development that has real implications for aviation, transport, energy supply, and military operations.
Attacks on critical infrastructure
Jamming and spoofing incidents are frequent in geopolitically tense regions. In aviation, repeated disruptions have affected civilian aircraft.
“Space is now a central component of Europe’s and Austria’s security and defense strategy,” said Major General Friedrich Teichmann, head of the ICT and Cybersecurity Center. Navigation signals have long been part of critical infrastructure, and securing them is therefore of great strategic importance.
However, many of these attacks remain invisible. Countries often do not know where the interference is coming from, how systematic it is, or what pattern lies behind it. This is where BeaconSat comes in.
Technology demonstrator with strategic dimension
BeaconSat will systematically detect and analyze GNSS interference signals from orbit for the first time. The aim is to obtain data on when and where navigation systems are being deliberately disrupted. The mission is designed as a multi-year research and development project.
“It is important that we are able to act independently in terms of communication and navigation when necessary. This is a question of resilience and military capabilities,” emphasized Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. “Space is an essential part of military capability.”
The satellite is not intended to be an isolated military project, but rather a demonstrator. Civil space technologies are being further developed for security-related applications and tested under real-world conditions. The findings will be incorporated into the operational processes of the Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVL).
Austrian industry at the center
GATE Space has overall responsibility for the project. Founded in 2022, the spin-off from TU Wien develops chemical propulsion systems for satellites and currently employs around 27 people. For BeaconSat, the company is supplying the propulsion system, the satellite structure, and the thermal management system, among other things.
“With BeaconSat, we are making a direct contribution to Europe’s security. The market for such capabilities is huge,” said Managing Director Moritz Novak.
The engines were tested in more than 8,000 hot runs at the site near Vienna Airport, both under atmospheric conditions and in one of Europe’s most powerful vacuum chambers.
GATE Space was supported by the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure (BMIMI) through Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws) with funding of around 750,000 euros.
Jamming and spoofing detection
A central contribution to the payload comes from the Graz-based company IGASPIN, which develops systems for the precise detection and analysis of GNSS interference. Additional components, including the on-board computer, are supplied by the Danish company Space Inventor.
At the European level, the mission is supported and co-financed as a technology demonstration via the European Space Agency’s ESA Marketplace. Off-the-shelf systems are specifically used to test commercially available technologies under security-relevant conditions.
New space chapter in the Ministry of Defense
BeaconSat also marks a turning point institutionally. The BMLV is currently setting up its own organizational unit for space services. The focus is on three areas: satellite communication, satellite navigation, and satellite-based reconnaissance.
“These space services are key to cross-domain operations and make a substantial contribution to the Austrian Armed Forces’ modern reconnaissance, command, and control network,” Teichmann said.
BeaconSat will provide data that will be directly integrated into military decision-making processes. At the same time, the project contributes to European resilience: those who recognize threats early on can respond diplomatically, politically, or technically.
Space as a growth area
The strategic importance of space technologies is growing both in terms of security policy and economics. Austria has recently increased its contribution to the ESA from 260 to 340 million despite budgetary constraints. Space and aviation technologies are anchored in the government’s industrial strategy as one of nine key technology fields.
Satellites have long been considered critical infrastructure. They enable navigation, communication, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and security applications. At the same time, new markets are emerging in the areas of propulsion systems, data analysis, and dual-use technologies.
With BeaconSat, Austria is repositioning itself in terms of security policy and industry. The project is an example of how startups, established technology companies, ministries, and European partners can and must work together successfully.
With full multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS signal protection, the GAJT-AE3 provides assured positioning, navigation and timing (PNT)
Hexagon | NovAtel has launched the latest addition to its battle-proven GNSS Anti-jam Antenna Technology (GAJT) lineup: GAJT-AE3. The GAJT-AE3 emerges in response to the escalating power and sophistication of jamming techniques that disrupt satellite-based navigation systems, a concern highlighted by current worldwide geopolitical conflicts.
As jammers become more powerful and low cost, with the capability of targeting a wider range of GNSS frequencies, there is a critical need for next-generation functionality and reliability.
To address this, the GAJT-AE3 protects all major GNSS constellations with full multi-constellation, multi-frequency coverage. This significant advancement in jamming protection — in a compact format — ensures reliable PNT in demanding airborne environments.
“This is a revolutionary expansion in our battle-proven anti-jam solutions designed specifically for space-constrained platforms,” said Stig Pedersen, president, Aerospace & Defence Division, Hexagon. “The GAJT-AE3 offers unparalleled signal coverage and multi-jammer direction finding for superior protection and heightened situational awareness.”
The GAJT-AE3’s antenna electronics mitigate interference by creating up to seven nulls per band in the direction of jammers, providing significant anti-jam protection even in dynamic multi-jammer scenarios. The output is a protected radio frequency signal, free from jamming and suitable for input to modern and legacy GNSS receivers.
Protecting and supporting all GNSS frequencies, including L-band corrections and Iridium PNT, the GAJT-AE3 is an easy-to-integrate, compact unit suitable for use on a variety of platforms, from UAVs to complex weapons. It can be paired with a range of antennas from the Hexagon | Antcom portfolio, including custom options.
Hexagon | NovAtel’s GAJT-AE3 is now commercially available.
In recent years, scientists have shown that detecting changes in navigation signals from GPS and Galileo after they bounce off Earth’s surface (GNSS reflectometry, or GNSS-R) can deliver valuable information on sea ice. Now research drawing on data from Spire Global has enabled the generation of Arctic-wide sea ice maps, marking a major step forward for the emerging technique.
Spire Global‘s sea ice freeboard maps use data captured by Spire’s GNSS-reflectometry multipurpose listening constellation.
The research — enabled by the Third Party Missions (TPM) programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) — suggests that harnessing reflected navigation signals could become an important complement to established ice-monitoring altimetry missions.
The study leveraged Spire’s GNSS-R data to retrieve sea ice freeboard measurements across an entire winter season. The results show strong alignment with established altimetry datasets, including the ESA’s CryoSat mission, validating the complementary role of commercial satellite data alongside government missions.
Arctic-wide sea ice freeboard map for January 2024. (Credit: ESA)
The study was led by Felix Müller at the Technical University of Munich (DGFI-TUM) and Robert Ricker at the Norwegian Research Centre, experts in GNSS-R.
“The primary purpose of signals emitted from GNSS is to fix the location of a device at any point on Earth,” Müller explained. “However, when these signals bounce off Earth’s surface, their properties change. By analyzing these changes, we can infer information about the characteristics of Earth’s surface.”
“Previous research has shown that this technique works well experimentally,” Ricker added. “Using the Spire constellation, we aimed to demonstrate whether it would hold up on a larger scale by generating an Arctic-wide map of sea ice freeboard, which is a measure of how far ice protrudes above the waterline.”
Spire’s GNSS-R constellation
Spire’s constellation was first used to sample the atmosphere for weather forecasting. Then scientists began exploring other applications. Spire started collecting reflected signals arriving at shallow angles using a technique called grazing-angle GNSS-R. This method is particularly well suited for ice monitoring.
The research team analyzed data detected over the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas between October 2023 and July 2024. The data was obtained via the TPM program, through which ESA disseminates data from a range of commercial and institutional partners on a free basis for research and development purposes.
The team focused on one of the most critical challenges in sea ice altimetry: reliably identifying narrow openings in the ice pack, known as leads. These openings are reference points for determining sea surface height and, ultimately, sea ice freeboard.
In turn, sea ice freeboard can be used to infer sea ice thickness — an essential parameter for tracking climate change, estimating sea level, and modeling ocean and weather patterns.
Identifying leads in sea ice with GNSS-R data. (Credit: ESA)
Classifying surface properties
“In the initial phase of the project, we used two complementary methods to identify surface properties based on GNSS-R data, with the aim of identifying leads,” Müller said.
The first — known as the adaptive threshold technique — involved measuring the power of the reflected navigation signal to classify surface type as either water or ice. This method allows rapid processing of the entire GNSS-R dataset, while remaining robust to changes in signal conditions.
The second method — known as unsupervised clustering — offers a more complex approach to classifying surface conditions. In addition to signal power, it considers multiple other signal features that tease out more nuanced information on surface type, including identifying thin or refrozen ice.
Both methods were compared with co-located CryoSat surface-type classifications and Sentinel-1 imagery, confirming that the GNSS-R classifications were largely comparable against conventional satellite products.
Mapping sea ice freeboard
“Building on this classification work, we then took the research to the next step by producing Arctic-wide sea ice freeboard maps from GNSS-R data,” Ricker said.
The team corrected ice surface height measurements generated from GNSS-R data for tidal variations, sea surface height, and atmospheric delays, which is standard practice in altimetry. A refined algorithm then identified where leads in the ice were likely to occur, with the lowest points in these areas revealing estimated sea surface height. Sea surface height estimates were then subtracted from ice surface heights to retrieve freeboard. Using this approach, monthly gridded freeboard products were generated for the full winter season.
The team reported that the GNSS-R datasets showed strong agreement with CryoSat freeboard datasets across much of the Arctic, confirming that GNSS-R can reproduce large-scale patterns previously observed by dedicated altimetry missions. Independent validation against upward-looking sonar measurements in the Beaufort Sea further supported the accuracy of the retrieved freeboard values.
However, as expected, the GNSS-R estimates became less reliable during spring, when surface melt alters reflection characteristics. This limitation is consistent with earlier GNSS-R and radar altimetry studies and remains an active area of research.
The contribution of commercial data
While GNSS signals have long been used for positioning, this research highlights how reflected signal analysis can extend their value into large-scale Earth observation applications, delivering persistent coverage independent of sunlight or weather conditions, said Theresa Condor, Spire Global CEO.
“Advances in miniaturization, digital signal processing, and machine learning have fundamentally changed what’s possible in RF sensing,” Condor said. “Commercial constellations can now deliver persistent, high-quality RF data that complements traditional government systems with greater flexibility and cost efficiency.
“As environmental monitoring requirements intensify, we’re seeing agencies increasingly integrate commercially sourced RF datasets into operational architectures, reflecting the continued maturation of this market and the growing role of commercial infrastructure in government missions.”
“By producing analysis-ready gridded datasets, this work marks an important milestone in the progress of grazing angle GNSS-R from an experimental method to a reliable technique for mapping Arctic sea ice freeboard at scale,” said Matthieu Talpe, Remote Sensing Product Engineer, Spire Global. “In doing so, it strengthens the case for the grazing angle GNSS-R technique employed by the Spire constellation as a valuable complement to existing ESA and partner missions, helping to close observational gaps in one of Earth’s most rapidly changing regions.”
A new technology called Mars Global Localization lets Perseverance determine precisely where it is, without human help.
Imagine you’re all alone, driving along in a rocky, unforgiving desert with no roads, no map, no GPS, and no more than one phone call a day for someone to inform you exactly where you are. That’s what NASA’s Perseverance rover has been experiencing since landing on Mars five years ago. Though it carries time-tested tools for determining its general location, the rover has needed operators on Earth to tell it precisely where it is — until now.
A new technology developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California enables Perseverance to figure out its whereabouts without calling humans for help. Dubbed Mars Global Localization, the technology features an algorithm that rapidly compares panoramic images from the rover’s navigation cameras with onboard orbital terrain maps.
Running on a powerful processor that Perseverance originally used to communicate with the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, the algorithm takes about two minutes to pinpoint the rover’s location within some 10 inches (25 centimeters). Mars Global Localization was first used successfully in regular mission operations on Feb. 2, then again Feb. 16.
“This is kind of like giving the rover GPS. Now it can determine its own location on Mars,” said JPL’s Vandi Verma, chief engineer of robotics operations for the mission. “It means the rover will be able to drive for much longer distances autonomously, so we’ll explore more of the planet and get more science. And it could be used by almost any other rover traveling fast and far.”
This panorama from Perseverance is composed of five stereo pairs of navigation camera images that the rover matched to orbital imagery in order to pinpoint its position on Feb. 2, 2026, using a technology called Mars Global Localization. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
The upgrade is especially valuable given how well Perseverance’s auto-navigation self-driving system has been working. Enabling the rover to re-plan its path around obstacles en route to a preestablished destination, AutoNav has proved so capable that the distance Perseverance can drive without instructions from Earth is largely limited by the rover’s uncertainty about its whereabouts. Now that it can stop and determine its exact location, Perseverance can be commanded to drive to potentially unlimited distances without calling home.
Implementation of Mars Global Localization comes on the heels of another innovation from the Perseverance team: the first use of generative artificial intelligence to help plan a drive route by selecting waypoints for the rover, which are normally chosen by human rover operators. Both technologies enable Perseverance to travel farther and faster while minimizing team workload.
Beyond visual odometry
Unlike on Earth, there is no network of GPS satellites in deep space to locate spacecraft on planetary surfaces. So missions — whether robotic or crewed — must come up with other ways to determine their location.
The Mars Global Localization algorithm runs on a fast commercial processor in the Helicopter Base Station — the upper, gold-colored box that was integrated into NASA’s Perseverance rover in a clean room. Perseverance used the base station to communicate with the now-retired Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
As with NASA’s previous Mars rovers, Perseverance tracks its position using what’s called visual odometry, analyzing geologic features in camera images taken every few feet while accounting for wheel slippage. But as tiny errors in the process add up over the course of each drive, the rover becomes increasingly unsure about its exact location. On long drives, the rover’s sense of its position can be off by more than 100 feet (up to 35 meters). Believing it may be too close to hazardous terrain, Perseverance may prematurely end its drive and wait for instructions from Earth.
“Humans have to tell it, ‘You’re not lost, you’re safe. Keep going,’” Verma said. “We knew if we addressed this problem, the rover could travel much farther every day.”
After each drive comes to a halt, the rover sends a 360-degree panorama to Earth, where mapping experts match the imagery with shots from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). The team then sends the rover its location and instructions for its next drive. That process can take a day or more, but with Mars Global Localization, the rover is able to compare the images itself, determine its location, and roll ahead on its preplanned route.
“We’ve given the rover a new ability,” said Jeremy Nash, a JPL robotics engineer who led the team working on the project under Verma. “This has been an open problem in robotics research for decades, and it’s been super exciting to deploy this solution in space for the first time.”
The small team began working in 2023, testing the accuracy of the algorithm they’d developed using data from 264 previous rover stops. The algorithm compared rover panoramic photos to MRO imagery and correctly pinpointed the rover’s location for every single stop.
How Ingenuity helped
Key to Mars Global Localization is the rover’s Helicopter Base Station (HBS), which Perseverance used to communicate with the now-retired Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. Equipped with a commercial processor that powered many consumer smartphones in the mid-2010s, the HBS runs more than 100 times faster than the rover’s two main computers, which, built to survive the radiation-heavy Martian environment, are based on hardware introduced in 1997.
As a technology demonstration designed to test capabilities, the Ingenuity mission was able to risk employing more powerful commercial chips in the HBS and the helicopter even though they hadn’t been proven in space. It paid off: Expected to fly no more than five times, the rotorcraft completed 72 flights.
The power of the HBS processor inspired Verma to look for ways the Perseverance mission might harness it. “It’s almost like a gift. Ingenuity blazed the trail, proving we could use commercial processors on Mars,” Verma said.
Tapping into the HBS computer has had its challenges. To address reliability, the team developed a “sanity check”: The algorithm runs on the HBS multiple times before one of the rover’s main computers checks to ensure the results match. During testing, the team repeatedly found the rover’s position was off by 1 millimeter. They discovered damage to about 25 bits — a minuscule fraction of the processor’s 1 gigabyte of memory — and developed a solution to isolate those bits while the algorithm runs.
Alongside the broader Mars Global Localization process, the team’s sanity check and memory solutions are expected to find new uses as faster commercial processors are employed in future missions. In the meantime, the team has already turned their sights to the Moon, where difficult lighting conditions and long, cold lunar nights make knowing exactly where spacecraft are located all the more critical.
More about Perseverance
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is managed for the agency by Caltech, built and manages operations of the Perseverance rover on behalf of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, as part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program portfolio. Learn more about Perseverance.
Topcon Positioning Systems and Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (GSSI) are collaborating to pair GSSI’s advanced ground penetrating radar systems with Topcon’s GNSS solutions and mass data workflow software. The new integrated solution will support applications across infrastructure and construction projects.
“GSSI is a long-standing industry leader in ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems, and we are excited to work with them on providing industry professionals with an advanced, integrated solution,” said Ron Oberlander, head of the Topcon Geomatics Platform. “By combining GSSI’s GPR technology with Topcon’s HiPer XR GNSS receiver, Topnet Live correction services, and Collage Web mass-data workflow software, we are bridging subsurface detection and spatial context from field to analysis.”
“Collaborating with Topcon allows us to unify GPR data and GNSS data to deliver visual, decision-ready insights, providing a more complete picture of the world above and below the surface,” said Chris Green, chief executive officer of GSSI. “Together, GSSI and Topcon are helping customers plan smarter, validate faster, and deliver higher quality outcomes with fewer surprises.”
The new solution will be showcased in both the Topcon Positioning Systems booth and the GSSI booth at CONEXPO-CON/AGG, taking place March 3-7 in Las Vegas.
Wear Elite is a personal AI platform designed to unlock the next generation of truly personal, always-on, intelligent wearable computing devices. It works acrossWearOS by Google, Android and Linux with a neural processing unit (NPU) for on-device AI and advanced suite of ultra-low power connectivity solutions.
The Snapdragon Wear platform introduces a multi‑mode connectivity architecture integrating six advanced technologies: GNSS, 5G RedCap, Micro‑Power Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth 6.0, UWB and NB‑NTN. The company’s GNSS solution enables advanced processing for precise location context that helps AI better understand where users are and adapt interactions accordingly.
Snapdragon Wear Elite delivers key on‑device capabilities that support rich, real‑time agentic experiences. By integrating the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU to support up to billion‑parameter models at the edge, and pairing it with advanced sensor fusion, high-performance, low-power connectivity and computing, Snapdragon Wear Elite enables a new class of Personal AI experiences, including context‑aware recommendations, natural voice interactions, life logging and AI agents that can take actions and orchestrate tasks on users’ behalf.
Snapdragon Wear Elite delivers a massive leap in power efficiency backed by 5x improvement on single-core CPU performance and up to 7x faster GPU, for app launching, multitasking and smoother rendering.
The platform supports multi-day battery life, reducing charging sessions, while advanced power management enables 30% longer day of use compared to the previous generation. When recharging is needed, rapid charging powers a device up to 50% in approximately 10 minutes.
