GPS World

Author: Tracy Cozzens

  • Genesys launches high-definition ADAS maps for India

    Genesys launches high-definition ADAS maps for India

    Genesys has developed India’s first large-scale high-definition maps engineered specifically for vehicles enabled with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

    Covering more than 1 lakh km of India’s national highways, expressways and strategic corridors, this initiative marks one of India’s most ambitious road intelligence programs and establishes a new benchmark for automotive-grade precision.

    India’s highways account for a disproportionately high share of road fatalities, driven by fast-moving traffic, inconsistent lane discipline, and limited real-time awareness for drivers and vehicles. HD maps narrow this gap by adding the centimeter-level context that traditional maps cannot provide — lane geometry, curves, slopes, signage, barriers and localization cues that help ADAS systems anticipate danger instead of merely reacting to it. This is a big leap forward from current sensor-based ADAS systems, Genesys said.

    The HD maps include ADAS-critical features such as lane geometry, road markings, barriers, signage, medians, elevation and curvature profiles, and localization objects like poles and gantries — all processed to achieve centimeter-grade precision.

    CORS network plays a key role

    To achieve the centimeter-level accuracy required for ADAS Level 2 functionality, Genesys relies on the Survey of India’s Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) network. Real-time GNSS correction signals along major corridors dramatically strengthen field operations, allowing survey teams to capture lane-level and asset-level detail that meets global automotive standards.

    This work builds on the existing memorandum of understanding between Genesys and Survey of India, enabling collaboration on digital twin projects, national mapping programs, and high-accuracy geospatial missions.

    These datasets are owned by Genesys and can be licensed across industries, creating opportunities in commercial fleet navigation, logistics optimization, mobility platforms, safety analytics and automotive R&D.

  • Authentication added to GNSS timing receivers

    Authentication added to GNSS timing receivers

    Furuno will begin providing new firmware for its GNSS receivers for time synchronization, including models GT-100, GT-90 and GT-9001, which adds authentication features (OSNMA/QZNMA) and significantly strengthens anti-jamming and anti-spoofing measures.

    In fields that support critical infrastructure such as telecommunications, finance and power, GNSS vulnerabilities have become a major issue. The Furuno team participated in Jammertest 2025, the world’s largest GNSS resilience testing event. Jammertest 2025 took place in Norway, and verified robustness and reliability under real attack conditions to meet the requirements of critical infrastructure.

    Features of the new firmware

    The GT-100, GT-9001 and GT-90 modules. (Photo: Furuno)
    The GT-100, GT-9001 and GT-90 modules. (Photo: Furuno)
    • Addition of authentication functions (OSNMA/QZNMA): Authentication messages from Galileo (European GNSS) and QZSS (Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System) confirm the authenticity of navigation messages, strengthening resistance to spoofing attacks.
    • Enhanced anti-jamming and anti-spoofing measures: Detect and eliminate various interference signals with high precision, ensuring stable time synchronization.
    • Removal of altitude restrictions, enabling use in the stratosphere and similar environments
    • Addition of TAI (International Atomic Time) output function
    • Support for multiple data formats (RTCM10403.3, RINEX4.1, binary)

    Availability
    For existing users: Provided as a firmware update.

    For new shipments: GT-100, GT-90 and GT-9001 with the new firmware are scheduled to ship beginning in March 2026.

    Related product information
    Furuno has also launched the GNSS Surge Protector, TVA-05V for GNSS antennas.
    This product protects GNSS receivers from surges caused by lightning, further enhancing the stable operation of critical infrastructure.

    In Jammertest 2024, challenges were identified using GT-100; in Jammertest 2025, improvements were validated with the upgraded version, confirming the effectiveness of the resilience algorithms under operational conditions.

  • Positioning Australia expands capabilities with Ginan V4 release

    Positioning Australia expands capabilities with Ginan V4 release

    Geoscience Australia has released Ginan V4, the latest version of its home-grown, open-source toolkit for precise point positioning.

    Developed under the Positioning Australia program, Ginan V4 delivers world-class GNSS capabilities to innovators, researchers and industry professionals.

    Version 4 features a new intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) that makes data processing faster, easier and more accessible. The new GUI was designed to lower the barrier to entry for users across sectors. With simple data loading and streamlined output downloads, the new interface enables anyone — from navigation specialists to disaster response teams — to harness centimeter-level accuracy without needing advanced technical expertise.

    Ginan V4 also introduces enhanced robustness and improved software formatting, reducing errors and accelerating processing speeds. Users can expect smoother workflows and reliable results, whether calculating orbital mechanics or pinpointing precise locations on Earth’s surface.

    Ginan V4 remains fully modular, empowering users to build their own capabilities depending on their needs. From surveying and geospatial analysis to emergency response and scientific research, the toolkit supports innovation across diverse applications.

    Key benefits of Ginan V4

    • User-friendly interface. Simplifies data loading and output generation.
    • Enhanced robustness and speed. Fewer errors, faster processing.
    • Modular design. Customize capabilities for orbital mechanics, surveying or disaster response.
    • GNSS accuracy. Centimeter-level precision based on satellite observations.
    • Free and open source. Available to download via Geoscience Australia’s GitHub.

    As part of Positioning Australia’s suite of capabilities, Ginan V4 reflects Geoscience Australia’s commitment to delivering GNSS capabilities that support innovation, safety and productivity. By making the software free and open source, the program ensures that Australian expertise continues to drive global advances in positioning technology.

    Ginan V4 is available for free download on Geoscience Australia’s GitHub. More information can be found at ga.gov.au/positioning.

  • LEO satellites show promise in boosting navigation accuracy where GPS struggles

    LEO satellites show promise in boosting navigation accuracy where GPS struggles

    Low-Earth orbit (LEO) systems have emerged as a promising complement to GNSS, offering higher received power, better satellite geometry and broader spectrum options. Researchers aim to evaluate whether LEO-PNT can complement or enhance GNSS performance through large-scale simulations and design comparisons.

    Researchers from Tampere University and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona published (DOI: 10.1186/s43020-025-00186-5) a comparative analysis in the December 2025 issue of Satellite Navigation. The study investigates how different LEO constellation configurations perform in positioning accuracy and interference robustness when operating alone or jointly with GNSS.

    Using semi-analytical modeling and 192,000 Monte Carlo simulations, the team evaluated 400 users across European regions in five outdoor scenarios. Key variables included carrier bands (1.5/5/10 GHz), effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) levels and constellation geometry design.

    The team simulated multiple standalone and hybrid constellation architectures, analysing carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N0), geometric dilution of precision (GDOP), position dilution of precision (PDOP) and lower bound 3D accuracy.

    Results indicate that an EIRP of 50 dBm is sufficient for high-quality outdoor positioning when operating in L- and C-bands. While 10 GHz platforms require higher power to compensate for path loss, hybrid LEO + GNSS modes show markedly improved stability and reliability.

    Multi-shell constellations such as Çelikbilek-1 and Marchionne-2 delivered a favorable balance between satellite count and global geometry, outperforming single-shell layouts. In harsh urban canyon conditions, GNSS accuracy degraded up to seven-fold, whereas LEO-PNT maintained stable ranging performance with limited loss.

    Interference resistance also improved. Stronger LEO signal power means jammers require far greater intensity to cause equal degradation. Hybrid designs provided the most significant gains. Combinations such as Çelikbilek-1 + GPS/Galileo, or CentiSpace + BeiDou, yielded better PDOP distributions, faster fix availability and broader user coverage.

    The authors conclude that LEO systems are not aimed at replacing GNSS, but rather to enhance availability and resilience under signal-challenged environments.

    “Our results show that moderate-power LEO constellations can substantially strengthen outdoor positioning without requiring expensive satellite hardware,” the authors noted. “Geometry plays a major role — carefully designed multi-shell constellations achieve strong accuracy even with fewer satellites. As LEO-PNT develops, hybrid integration with GNSS offers the most cost-effective path toward secure, robust PNT solutions. This work provides guidance for future system designers evaluating frequency, transmission power and constellation configuration trade-offs.”

    The findings suggest a realistic rollout pathway for resilient satellite navigation. LEO-enhanced PNT could benefit autonomous vehicles, UAV routing, emergency response, precision farming and critical infrastructure monitoring — especially where GNSS falters in interference-dense or high-rise environments.

    Lower-power LEO transmission also reduces deployment cost, opening access for commercial operators.

    Future work may assess indoor positioning potential, bandwidth expansion, and real-orbit testing to refine simulation assumptions. As global demand for secure PNT grows, the integration of LEO and GNSS could become a cornerstone for next-generation navigation technology.

  • Tersus offers handheld scanner with RTK-SLAM

    Tersus offers handheld scanner with RTK-SLAM

    Tersus GNSS has launched the MVP S1 RTK-SLAM handheld 3D laser scanner for mobile mapping and reality capture. The MVP S1 uses GNSS through an AI-driven RTK-SLAM workflow, as well as lidar data with imagery from dual 48-megapixel panoramic cameras.

    The combination provides survey-grade results in both GNSS-denied and open environments. The system achieves centimeter-level accuracy outdoors and maintains performance indoors or underground through SLAM processing.

    TimeSync 3.0 synchronizes the hardware, aligning sensor data at the microsecond level and supporting consistent datasets and reliable post-processing.

    A mobile application provides users with real-time feedback, including previews of colorized point clouds while scanning, as well as basic scan reports on site. This feature helps operators verify data completeness and quality before leaving the field, reducing the need for repeat visits.

    The MVP S1 supports 3D gaussian splatting (3DGS), enabling creation of textured, photorealistic 3D models. This capability is useful for building information modeling, construction progress monitoring, underground surveys, forestry analysis and industrial site documentation.

  • Galileo adds two new satellites

    Galileo adds two new satellites

    Europe has given fresh momentum to its Galileo navigation system following the successful Dec. 17 launch of two new satellites aboard an Ariane 6 rocket. The launch, the 14th of the program (L14), is one of the final three planned launches of first-generation (G1G) satellites. The two new satellites will strengthen the global positioning, navigation and timing services provided by the system.

    The launch comes at a critical moment for the constellation, which needs to replace its oldest satellites, stated GMV, lead developer and operator of the Galileo ground control segment.

    More than 4 billion users worldwide routinely rely on Galileo. This launch milestone ensures Europe’s ability to operate its own radionavigation system, which is essential for intelligent transportation, logistics, precision agriculture, defense, public safety, communications network operations, and energy generation and transmission.

    From centers in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, and Fucino, Italy, GMV manages post-separation operations from the launch vehicle and ensures the correct insertion of the new satellites into the constellation. GMV also operates 24/7 to monitor the health and position of each satellite, plan and execute orbital maneuvers, ensure signal integrity, and manage critical system operations.

    Coming soon: Second-Gen Galileo

    The L15 and L16 missions will complete the first generation of the system before transitioning to the second-generation Galileo satellites (G2G) under development. These will introduce advanced capabilities, greater accuracy, and enhanced resilience against interference and cyber threats, further strengthening Galileo’s role as a strategic infrastructure for Europe.

  • GNSS MAX 3 Click designed as a professional-grade receiver

    GNSS MAX 3 Click designed as a professional-grade receiver

    A new GNSS board is available from Mikroe. The GNSS MAX 3 Click is a compact add-on board designed for low-power satellite positioning for embedded applications. It is based on the MAX-M10N-10B, a professional-grade standard-precision GNSS receiver from u-blox, built on the ultra-low-power u-blox M10 platform.

    Key Features

    • Multi-Constellation GNSS. Offers exceptional tracking capability across GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS/SBAS systems for reliable global coverage
    • Ultra-low power. Uses the u-blox M10 platform and the LEAP (Low Energy Acquisition and Processing) energy-saving mode for extended battery life
    • Enhanced RF immunity. Features an additional SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) filter for excellent performance in the presence of strong RF interference
    • Interference detection. Includes integrated jamming and spoofing detection for robust security and reliable operation
    • Fast acquisition. Supports AssistNow Predictive and Live Orbits for faster satellite acquisition (time-to-first-fix)
    • Standard precision. Provides consistent L1 GNSS performance at a standard precision level.

    Applications

    • Asset tracking devices and logistics solutions requiring long battery life and accurate location data
    • Portable devices and wearables where power efficiency is critical
    • Industrial monitoring and sensor applications requiring reliable, interference-resilient positioning
    • Any application demanding interference-resilient GNSS positioning.

    EmbeddedWiki

    Hundreds of ready-to-use embedded projects featuring this Click board are available on EmbeddedWiki.

  • Safran Federal Systems selected by Moog for Hercules Avionics Suite

    Safran Federal Systems selected by Moog for Hercules Avionics Suite


    Safran Federal Systems, a provider of assured position, navigation and timing (APNT) solutions, has been selected by Moog Inc. to provide its Skynaute navigation solution as part of Moog’s Genesys Avionics Suite for the Lockheed Hercules platform (L-Series and C-130).

    Skynaute is a hybrid inertial/GNSS navigation system based on HRG Crystal technology. It will serve as a critical component of the Hercules avionics suite designed and integrated by Moog.

    The Skynaute navigation unit by Safran. (Photo: Safran Federal Systems)
    The Skynaute navigation unit by Safran. (Photo: Safran Federal Systems)

    Under this agreement, Safran Federal Systems will supply Skynaute units to support enhanced navigation performance in demanding operational environments.

    “Being selected by Moog underscores the reliability, innovation, and mission readiness of our Skynaute solution,” said Tony Full, senior director of Business Development, Navigation Systems, Safran Federal Systems. “This collaboration continues our tradition of delivering precise, resilient navigation technologies to meet the evolving needs of military aviation.”

    Skynaute is engineered to meet the needs of both legacy and next-generation military aircraft, providing superior accuracy and robustness with minimal size, weight, and power consumption. The system is suited for retrofit and modernization programs, particularly for platforms like the Hercules that remain integral to global air mobility and tactical transport operations.

    Safran Federal Systems supports Safran Defense & Space Inc. (Safran DSI) by providing APNT technologies across a range of defense and aerospace applications.

  • Robosat partners seek improved localization of autonomous machines

    Robosat partners seek improved localization of autonomous machines

    Researchers from Finland, Switzerland, Spain and Romania gathered at Tampere University in Finland for a workshop this month within the Robosat project focusing on localization of autonomous machines.

    Workshop participants discussed and demonstrated novel technical solutions to improve localization, particularly of autonomous machines operating in challenging and unconstrained environments, such as forests and mountainous regions.

    The Robosat project aims to change how autonomous robots navigate in the wild by integrating multi-sensor and multi-GIS data. During the Tampere workshop, partners from Tampere University (Finland), ETH Zürich (Switzerland), Universitat de València (Spain) and CITST (Romania) discussed strategies for sharing data, identifying relevant GIS and GNSS datasets, and leveraging AI for autonomous labeling of large-scale data. 

    Key topics included the integration of multi-sensor and multi-GIS data to enhance positioning accuracy, planning piloting tests with ETH’s ANYmal robot and TAU’s new I/Q GNSS grabber device, and discussing methods for AI-driven data labeling for massive datasets collected during field trials.

    The Tampere University project team includes Elena Simona Lohan and Jari Nurmi as supervisors and Ph.D. students Yelyzaveta Pervysheva and Muhammad Safi.   

    The Robosat efforts supports applications in robotics, environmental monitoring, and industrial automation. By combining expertise across Europe, Robosat intends to pave the way for smarter, safer and more efficient autonomous systems.

    It also aims to provide new open-access rich datasets to the research community. A first dataset enabling multimodal classification studies has already been published on Zenodo as a collaborative work between Tampere University and CITST teams.

    The Robosat project

    Autonomous robot navigation in the wild using satellite-based 3D geographical information (ROBOSAT) aims to provide a scalable MultiGIS high-quality data collection platform through the use of a quadrupedal robot that can autonomously perform long-distance missions in challenging environments, such as Alpes mountains or Finnish forests.

    Consortium organizations are comprised of three universities and one SME:

    • Tampere University, Finland. Expertise: GNSS, wireless positioning, sensing, and communications, RF Fingerprinting and interference mitigation. Coordinator: Elena Simona Lohan
    • ETH, Switzerland. Expertise: automation, mapping, control theory, and legged-robot research. PI: Marco Hutter
    • Universitat de Valencia, Spain. Expertise: computer science, database management, machine learning. PI: Joaquin Torres Sospedra
    • CITST, Romania. Expertise: machine learning/artificial intelligence, robotics, exploitation. PI: Irina Mocanu.
  • IATA sounds alarm over rising GNSS interference

    IATA sounds alarm over rising GNSS interference

    Collated from various news reports

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for vigilance following the increasing number of GNSS spoofing and jamming incidents worldwide. The growing interference poses a significant risk to flight navigation and pilot safety.

    Of note is a spike in incidents at major Indian airports. Almost 2,000 GNSS interference incidents have been logged at airports in India since 2023, including the airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Amritsar, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai.

    IATA represents more than 360 airlines, accounting for 80% of global air traffic. Indian carriers Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express and SpiceJet are members.

    “GPS spoofing and jamming incidents are increasing rapidly across the world,” said IATA Director General Willie Walsh, speaking at an industry event in Geneva. “This is not merely a technical concern — it’s an operational vigilance issue for pilots.”

    Walsh noted a higher frequency of interference events, expanding well beyond conflict zones and affecting global civil aviation routes.

    India’s Civil Aviation Ministry informed Parliament that between November 2023 and November 2025, a total of 1,951 GNSS interference cases were reported. The data collection began after the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an advisory circular in November 2023, mandating airlines to report all GNSS-related disruptions.

  • UK identifies issues in addressing PNT resilience

    UK identifies issues in addressing PNT resilience

    The United Kingdom has issued a summary of input it requested on positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies. The UK deems PNT resilience critical for the UK’s economy.

    The 2023 Government Policy Framework for Greater PNT Resilience included an action to “develop a PNT growth policy, including R&D programmes, standards and testing, to drive innovation for PNT based productivity.”

    After a call for evidence, the UK Department for Science, Innovation & Technology received 128 responses from business, industry, academics and the public. These views on opportunities and challenges for the UK’s PNT industry are gathered in a document available online.

    Key themes identified

    • A viable market exists for GNSS-independent PNT, with respondents citing applications in defense and critical infrastructure.
    • Awareness of GNSS vulnerabilities in end users and critical infrastructure sectors is low.
    • Potential opportunities in GNSS-independent PNT and other technologies include eLoran, LEO-PNT, 5G, quantum PNT, inertial systems, and applications for GNSS-denied environments.
    • Short-term challenges include funding constraints and a lack of legislation and standards.
    • Long-term challenges include scalability, lack of sovereign manufacturing capability, and insufficient planning .
    • The industry is experiencing a skills shortage, especially in engineering, with a limited talent pipeline and lack of dedicated training opportunities.

    In all, 128 responses were received from businesses (sellers and users of PNT), academics, industry bodies and the public. Respondents could select multiple sectors when describing their background; the defense sector was selected most frequently (39 responses), followed by space (35 responses), aviation and drones (28 responses), maritime (28 responses) and communications (27 responses).

    Responses will be used, along with wider research, to inform future government policy interventions to support the UK PNT sector.

  • US Army seeks sources for GNSS-denied optical tracking

    US Army seeks sources for GNSS-denied optical tracking

    The U.S. Army is starting market research for possible sources of an optical tracking solution for its test ranges to use in GNSS-denied environments.

    The Army Contracting Command – Orlando issued a Sources Sought Notice Dec. 11 on behalf of the Test Resource Management Center Test and Evaluation/Science and Technology (T&E/S&T) Program.

    The Army wants to identify potential sources in the market having the interest, skills and ability to complete a thorough technology study and trade space analysis related to the viability of Time-Space-Position Optical Tracking (T-SPOT) for use on test ranges. The technology would be used as a time-space-position information (TSPI) truth sensor in GNSS-denied environments.

    Required capabilities

    The primary objective of a T-SPOT prototype effort would be to develop the system architecture, concept of operations, and comprehensive trade space analysis based on the results of modeling and simulation of the future-state system. The intent of the effort would not be to deliver the fieldable system itself but rather to answer whether/how such a system would achieve its performance goals.

    A future T-SPOT system should

    • achieve 3D TSPI accuracy comparable to the accuracy of real-time kinematic positioning (RTK) GNSS navigation systems.
    • be generated in a near-continuous manner, notionally at an update rate comparable to GNSS navigation systems.
    • achieve full performance during daylight and in good visibility conditions, with the goal of operating at day and at night and in all-weather conditions.
    • support temporary and modular integration with airborne systems being tested, operating at altitudes typical for the operation of U.S. Air Force cargo and single-engine training aircraft, with the goal of supporting aircraft closer to or on the ground. 
    • minimize its size, weight and power (SWaP) budget for integration with crewed aircraft, with the goal of supporting integration with small uncrewed aerial systems.

    In addition to the sensor hardware hosted on the SUT, a future T-SPOT system should rely on terrestrial features solely comprised of passive landmarks (no active emissions; no required power). The system may employ synthetic landmarks (e.g., purposely installed fiducials) and/or pre-existing landmarks (of either natural or human origin).  While the system must operate independently of GNSS, GNSS may be used pre- and post-test (i.e., for landmark surveying).

    More details are on the announcement page. The deadline for responses is Jan. 30.