Three of the four Galileo satellites 19-22 undergoing fit check with the dispenser that will support them during their Dec. 12 flight into orbit. (Photo: ESA)
Europe’s next four Galileo navigation satellites and the Ariane 5 rocket due to lift them into orbit are being readied for their Dec. 12 launch from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
On Nov. 21, Galileo satellites 19–22 were declared ready for flight, along with their Ariane. Combined activities are now under way, culminating in the satellites meeting their rocket in the Final Assembly Building.
The satellites were flown in pairs to French Guiana last month. Once safely unboxed in the Spaceport’s cleanroom environment, they were tested to ensure they had suffered no damage during their transatlantic flights.
The four Galileo satellites mounted on top of a customised Ariane 5 rocket inside the aerodynamic fairing. (Image: ESA)
Next came their fit check, when they were mechanically and electrically linked one by one to the dispenser that will carry them during their ascent to the target 23,500 km-altitude orbit, before releasing them into space.
Last Friday saw the satellites filled with enough fuel to fine-tune their orbits and orientation during their projected 12-year working lives. Next, they will be attached to their dispenser together for the final time.
In parallel, their customised Ariane 5 is being assembled. Two solid-propellant boosters were mated with its main cryogenic stage before the addition of the interstage that carries the electronics to control the vehicle.
Next came the addition of the storable propellant stage, powered by a reignitable engine, which will deliver the quartet to their target orbit.
Once fully checked, the Ariane will be moved to the final building for the addition of the satellites atop their dispenser, sealed within their protective fairing.
This launch will bring the total Galileo constellation to 22, boosting the global availability of navigation signals. Galileo began Initial Services just under a year ago, the first step before full operations, on Dec. 15.
Galileo’s Ariane 5’s vehicle equipment bay is lowered for installation within the Final Assembly Building of Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Flight VA240 carrying Galileo satellites 19–22 into orbit is scheduled for Dec. 12. (Photo: ESA)
VersaLogic has released an industrial temperature GPS module that provides access to multiple satellite systems. It offers higher accuracy than previous models, for both location and timing data, the company said.
Its multi-channel capability also allows better accuracy and coverage in difficult environments such as cityscape and building canyons.
“The need for enhanced accuracy and precision timing data is growing in embedded computing. The G3 has time pulse accuracy that is less than 20ns when outdoors and 0.5 seconds indoors,” said Kerry Howell, VersaLogic product manager. “When combined with its ability to use multiple satellite systems simultaneously, the G3 becomes a very valuable positioning tool.”
The advanced GPS receiver provides two simultaneous receiver paths with 72-channel operation for stable satellite tracking, as well as aided startup for fast initial signal acquisition. Increased coverage is provided by support for GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou systems.
In addition to positioning and navigation applications, GPS/GNSS signals are widely used as precision time or frequency references for remote or distributed wireless communication, industrial, financial and power-distribution equipment.
The G3’s extremely small Mini PCIe format allows it to be added to a system with little impact to the overall size of the system. The G3 is compatible with a variety of popular x86 operating systems including Windows, Windows Embedded and Linux using standard software drivers.
The G3 is designed and tested for industrial temperature (-40 degrees to +85 degrees Celsius) operation and meets MIL-STD-202G specifications to withstand high impact and vibration. It is RoHS compliant, and includes VersaLogic’s 5+ year production life guarantee.
It is customizable, even in low OEM quantities. Customization options include conformal coating, revision locks, custom labeling, customized testing and screening and more.
A new report describes the benefits growers can experience using NovAtel’s TerraStar-C and TerraStar-L precise point positioning (PPP) technology with a SMART6-L GNSS receiver for automatic steering.
The report, “DLG Test Report 6802, NovAtel SMART6L receiver PPP Automatic Steering Test,” was issued by the German Agricultural Society or Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft (DLG).
DLG promotes technical and scientific progress in the agriculture and food sectors. Set up to test equipment and machinery, the DLG Test Center Machinery and Farm Inputs provide impartial information for practitioners.
DLG awards a DLG-APPROVED quality mark to farm machinery that passes a limited test programme within a DLG usability test. Using a Fendt 828 Vario tractor, combined with the Fendt “VarioGuide RTK” steering system and the NovAtel SMART6-L receiver, steering accuracy was tested using both TerraStar-C and TerraStar-L correction services.
NovAtel’s TerraStar-C correction service provides a 5 cm or less (95%) position accuracy, and TerraStar-L provides a 50 cm or less (95%) position accuracy with a 15-cm pass-to-pass accuracy. The DLG test is designed to measure steering accuracy under various conditions as part of the criteria to receive the DLG-APPROVED quality mark.
The DLG test reported that NovAtel’s TerraStar-C correction service achieved 2-3 cm system steering accuracy on an A-B run on an even track at 8 km/h, and a 3.4 cm accuracy at 15 km/h. The long-term accuracy was reported at 3-4 cm over a 24-hour period. Also, the pass-to-pass error was less than 3 cm over the duration of an hour.
The DLG test reported NovAtel’s TerraStar-L correction service at 17-18 cm accuracy during an hour A-B run on an even track at 8 km/h, and 10-11 cm accuracy on a contour run at 5 km/h. The pass-to-pass error remained below 15 cm for the duration of the tests.
NovAtel’s SMART6-L was awarded the DLG-APPROVED quality mark after successfully completing the PPP autosteering test.
Each webinar provides an overview of the program, the application process, and the specific criteria and deadlines that companies and research groups will be required to meet. Registration is required; only register for one session as they cover the same content.
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 12–1:15 p.m. EST
Monday, Nov. 27, 12–1:15 p.m. EST
The pilot program was launched Nov. 2 to foster innovation and advances the integration of UAS into United States’ airspace to ensure U.S. global leadership in the emerging UAS industry.
“There’s already been tremendous interest in the program and more than 4300 people registered to attend our online webinars to learn how they can participate,” the FAA UAS Integration Office said in a statement. “It’s facilitating partnerships between state, local, and tribal government entities and private industry to gather operational and other data from advanced operational concepts, such as flights over people and package delivery. The results from the program will help to inform the development of future enabling regulations that will expand safe UAS operations and help to transition many of the new and novel operational concepts that we manage today by exception into routine, commonplace aspects of our everyday lives.”
Details about applying, timelines, and requirements are at FAA.gov/Go/DronePilot. Those interested can also subscribe to receive email updates from the FAA’s UAS webpage.
Vertical aerial maps extended to include uninterrupted panorama imagery and measurable oblique images
Nearmap, a location content provider specializing in high-resolution aerial maps, announces the release of new forms of location content — Nearmap Panorama and Nearmap Oblique — available through a new MapBrowser interface.
Nearmap has long provided vertical imagery (also known as orthorectified imagery) covering about 70 percent of the U.S. population. Today, it extends its location content to include new aerial geospatial data services—Nearmap Panorama and Nearmap Oblique imagery.
Nearmap Panorama is unique since it enables users to view perspective maps in all cardinal directions for small or large areas in uninterrupted fashion. Users do not need to jump from one image to another and, in the process, lose context.
They can easily navigate, pan and zoom across any size geography, quickly analyze perspective maps and make faster decisions that impact government and commercial operations — all within an instantly accessible, 100 percent cloud-based environment.
“Nearmap Panorama is delivered via our new, highly intuitive MapBrowser interface, enabling users to effortlessly visualize and navigate across regions or local areas in an uninterrupted way,” said Patrick Quigley, SVP and GM for Nearmap North America. “Our users can inspect aerial location content faster than ever before using Nearmap Panorama. Consistent with past location content, Nearmap Panorama is delivered in high-resolution, 3-inch GSD.”
Nearmap Obliques enable users to interactively inspect and measure the height of features, such as buildings and terrain, from all cardinal directions. Nearmap Oblique images are also accessed through the new MapBrowser.
“Our customers need location content aligned with their requirements,” said Natasha Ridley, product manager for MapBrowser. “For example, with Nearmap Oblique images, government organizations conducting property appraisal can accurately value property using measurement and detailed, tilt-angled perspectives. At the same time, commercial organizations interested in engineering and construction can quickly select a north, south, east or west orientation, measure heights of buildings and better plan changes.”
Users working within MapBrowser can switch from Nearmap Vertical to Nearmap Panorama or Nearmap Oblique location content. “We’ve added new features that our customers are going to be very excited about,” said Ridley. “For example, now users can export our imagery with measurements added. The saved image provides the whole picture, which is very useful in proposal development and communicating specific aspects of the aerial maps essential in planning and operations.”
“These enhancements represent a major step forward in both our location content and delivery capabilities. There’s also more on the way,” said Robert Carroll, VP of 3D commercial and government for Nearmap. “This imagery is produced by our patented HyperCamera2 technology, enabling us to continue to proactively survey the U.S. urban areas including 50 percent of the population with obliques while also producing high-resolution 3D content. Our plan is to extend our leadership position by introducing Nearmap 3D, combining ‘off-the-shelf’ digital surface models (DSM), textured 3D mesh and 3D point clouds in the near future.”
Nearmap will be exhibiting at Autodesk University 2017 in Las Vegas from Nov. 14-16 at booth A503 in the Sands Expo/Venetian Hotel. Nearmap is also hosting a breakout session (“Aerial Imagery Transforming AEC”) on Nov. 15 at 9:15 a.m.
Nearmap is also exhibiting at the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in California from Nov. 13-15. Interested parties can visit Nearmap at booth 441, exhibit hall A.
RTX Fast reduces the convergence time — the duration needed to reach full precision accuracy — by up to 98 percent faster than other satellite-delivered correction services, Trimble said.
The service allows customers to realize horizontal positioning accuracy of better than 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) in as fast as one minute. With RTX Fast, farmers, surveyors, geographic information system (GIS) professionals and construction contractors can work faster, improve productivity, minimize input costs and reduce worker fatigue, Trimble added.
New RTX Fast services have recently launched in Switzerland, Slovakia, Northern Italy, Eastern Poland and the Southern regions of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
In addition, Trimble has a 60 percent larger footprint in the Central U.S., including new coverage in Kentucky and Tennessee.
As the requirement for real-time, absolute positioning grows, Trimble is expanding its RTX Fast coverage to meet the demand both geographically and for the markets it serves, including new emerging applications in vehicle autonomy and location-based services.
The demand for real-time absolute positioning in driving applications continues to rise as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems mature and accuracy requirements become more stringent. RTX Fast provides the network enhancement necessary to deliver fast, high-accuracy RTX corrections for real-time positioning while on the road.
“Trimble RTX technology has been adding value to our core markets since its introduction in 2011. And, now we are demonstrating its capability in new applications such as autonomous driving solutions,” said Patricia Boothe, vice president of Trimble’s Advanced Positioning Division. “We are committed to expanding the reach, use and accessibility of Trimble RTX technology, reinforcing its position as a leading solution for improving GNSS performance.”
Leica Geosystems has released the Leica ScanStation P50 as the newest member of its 3D terrestrial laser scanner P-Series.
The new ScanStation P50 combines all the features of the P40 plus a longer range scanning capability of more than 1 kilometer. Increasing users’ flexibility to offer services in new markets, the rugged and versatile laser scanner enables professionals to 3D capture even at great distances with angular accuracy paired with low-range noise and survey-grade dual-axis compensation.
Scanning the inaccessible. The ScanStation P50 opens new business opportunities for reality-capture professionals, helping them to scan what was previously unreachable such as big mine pits, long bridges, dams and skyscrapers, the company said.
With its range, the P50 enables users to scan any tall or wide infrastructure or dangerous sites from a remote and safe position. The newest member of the P-Series provides the highest quality 3D data and high-dynamic range (HDR) imaging at an extremely fast scan rate of up to 1 mio points per second and ranges of more than 1 kilometer.
“Our customers have requested increased range so that they can capture tall structures and/or far away features without sacrificing the safety of their field crews,” said Mike Harvey, Leica Geosystems NAFTA HDS product and applications manager. “During a recent deployment of the Leica P50 in an urban setting, the extended range allowed us to capture more of a city skyline in less setups. Due to the extended range, the additional data made scan registration very easy and much faster.”
Play ball! GeoVisual Search finds baseball stadiums. (Image: Descartes Labs)
Where are all the windmills on Earth? Or oil derricks? How about baseball stadiums?
You could scan through the millions of satellite images snapped by hundreds of satellites now circling the planet. Or you could try Descartes Labs’ demo search engine.
Satellites are snapping images of the Earth every day. Alongside Planet Inc. and DigitalGlobe satellites, constellations are planned from companies such as Urthecast and Astro Digital (the latter launched its first pair of satellites in July). But how do we make use of all of that data in an organized, searchable way?
New Mexico startup Descartes Labs has created a cloud-based supercomputing platform to apply machine intelligence to massive data sets, using satellite imagery to model complex systems on the planet.
While Descartes started by focusing on forestry and agriculture, its new tool Geovisual Search allows users to find similar-looking objects of any kind all over the globe. Just click anywhere on the map and a red tile appears, enabling users to search for similar objects. “To do this, we use deep learning, a form of artificial intelligence that is loosely inspired by the structure of the brain,” Descartes Labs explains.
“Last year, a team at Carnegie Mellon University applied the principles of visual search to seven cities around the world in a demo called Terrapattern. We were impressed with their work and wondered: could we do this not just for a few cities, but for the entire globe?”
Terrapattern was designed as a prototype for scanning geographical areas for specific visual features. Its focus is on helping people identify, characterize and track indicators that have not been detected or measured previously, and which have sociological, humanitarian, scientific or cultural significance. So far, it focuses only on specific cities: Pittsburgh, San Francisco, New York City, Detroit, Berlin, Miami and Austin.
Terrapattern locates cul-de-sacs in Pittsburgh. (Image: Terrapattern)
Inspired by Terrapattern, Descartes goes farther. The company has built three demo maps on three different scales.
The continental United States — This map uses aerial imagery at 1-meter per pixel from the U.S. National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP). The high-resolution imagery enables detection of smaller items such as orchards.
China — This map uses satellite imagery at 4-meter resolution from Planet. Though the resolution isn’t as high as the NAIP map over the U.S., Planet’s satellites will soon be providing daily pictures of the globe. In this map, you’ll be able to find solar farms and stadiums.
The entire world — This map uses Landsat 8 and is at 15-meter resolution. Though much coarser than the other maps, you’ll be able to find larger scale objects such pivot irrigation and suburbs.
Every time you click on a tile, GeoVisual Search looks over the entire map for visually similar tiles. At this point, GeoVisual Search isn’t trying to get an accurate count of objects such as windmills. Instead, a search will return the top results, up to 1,000.
However, Descartes Labs’ research on teaching the computer visual patterns is an important step on the road to counting objects accurately, the company said in a blog announcing the search engine.
“We use a type of artificial intelligence called deep learning, which is loosely inspired by neurons and the structure of the brain. For every tile on the map we run it through a deep learning algorithm that creates a fingerprint for that tile. Basically, you can think of it as abstracting some of the qualities of that tile in a way that allows the computer to begin representing the image like a human does: with colors, edges, and other features of the image. When you click on something, we compare every other image to that fingerprint and try to return the ones that look like each other.
“Our research will start to focus on object detection at scale: how do we look for wind turbines, derricks, oil tanks, buildings and other important objects all over the planet. For these objects, we’ll use the underlying principles of visual similarity to teach the computer what a wind turbine looks like in all of its forms and then try to do an accurate count of all the turbines globally. Obviously this is a very difficult task, but we think we’ve got the science to tackle this problem.
“Once we’ve counted objects, we can start looking at maps through time and see what changes — how many new wind turbines are there and where are they, for example.”
Descartes is inviting geospatial developers to take part in the search engine’s development. “If you have ideas about what you’d like to do with GeoVisual Search today and have a team of developers who are experts at machine learning and/or geospatial data, drop us a line for early access to our underlying platform.”
Descartes is evolving the demo, so a release date hasn’t yet been set. Read about the tech behind the demo.
Hemisphere GNSS has debuted the scalable A222 GNSS Smart Antenna. Purpose-built for harsh outdoor applications, the A222 is designed for both agriculture and basic indicate systems markets, as well as other markets requiring flexible positioning.
The smart antenna has the flexibility to scale and grow as business expands and can be configured from L1-only to multi-GNSS, multi-frequency and real-time kinematic (RTK) capable. The A222 adds a system component so that tractor and farm equipment manufacturers can deliver their own guidance and control solutions to their customers.
Designed to excel in challenging environments, the A222 uses Hemisphere’s Athena RTK engine and is Atlas L-band capable. It is easy to mount and customizable. Its dual-serial, CAN and pulse output options are compatible with almost any industry-standard interface.
As the A222 is Atlas-capable, it has the ability to use the new Atlas AutoSeed technology. Atlas AutoSeed allows users to suspend Atlas use for any period, and upon returning to their last location, AutoSeed rapidly re-converges to a high-accuracy converged position.
A222 comes pre-configured with Atlas Basic activated.
Hemisphere GNSS debuted the A222 at Agritechnica 2017, held Nov. 12-18 in Hannover, Germany. Hemisphere is exhibiting at Hall 15, Booth E10.
Virtually everyone in the industry agrees that threats to military positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) are real; the threats continue to be newly emerging, and they are growing in complexity.
“We value the idea of open architecture and universal communications buses to make it easier to incorporate the latest in technologies in a timely manner without system redesign,” said one webinar speaker, and the other three speakers agreed.
Though designed with military applications in mind, the webinar will provide multiple points of relevant reference for non-military users and applications as well.
Here’s an advance peek at the topics that participants will hear in detail at 1 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m. Pacific) in Thursday’s webinar.
Mikel Miller
Vice President for PNT Technologies at Integrated Solutions for Systems (IS4S); Former U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
Introduction to the problem
Situation today
Situation in the future (where we want to be in ~5 years?)
Open architecture
Communications problem/solutions overview
Cybersecurity problem/solutions overview
PNT problem/solutions overview
NetAssure introduction and details
Excerpt from Miller’s presentation. (Credit: Mikel Miller)
Lisa Perdue
Product Manager and Applications Engineer, Spectracom
Introduce the categories of solutions – Protect, Detect, Mitigate, Test
Discuss several technologies in each category brief overviews
Protect – Antennas – AJAS and Horizon Blocking
Detect – receiver algorithms, multiple receiver integration, system level monitoring and alerting
Mitigate – Augmentations – STL and eLoran, system level mitigation
Test – just a reiteration that new threats are always emerging and we need to be able to test vulnerabilities to the latest emerging threats – in a timely matter
Discuss Layered approach that include not only the technologies, but also proper integration
System design to support easy addition of new technologies and advancements
Supporting the open architecture point that Mike made earlier
Victory bus
Mike Jones
Capability Lead for Array Processing, Roke Manor Research
Protect, Toughen, Augment strategy – related to the Protect, Detect, Mitigate, Test strategy introduced Lisa Perdue
Deeper dive and introduction into specific technologies
Augmented-Reality Jammer geolocation
Latest anti-jam antennas (I am only going to mention the fact that AJ antennas exist and their main purpose – feel free to provide more details in general or about specific antennas)
Anti-spoof (is this about M-Code, receiver algorithms, system algorithms, or all of these?)
Visual sensors
Inertial Sensors
Randy Villahermosa
Executive Director, iLAB, The Aerospace Corporation
Project SEXTANT: New Thinking on Alternative PNT
To Cope with increasing disruptiveness: Modify, Augment, Substitute, Reach a New Paradigm
Major Findings: GPS is vertically integrated, with no obvious ‘Drop-In’ replacement; Novel combinations of multiple approaches is fertile ground for PNT innovation. However, many experts have been working on GPS alternatives for some time with no clear consensus crystallizing on a path forward.
An independent body is needed to evaluate and coordinate Alternative PNT concepts for critical functions
Jackson Labs Technologies Inc. (JLT) is offering the CLAW GPS/GNSS simulator. Designed with small size, weight and power (SWAP), the CLAW is only slightly larger than a standard deck of cards.
CLAW targets applications that require small, low-power and low-cost GNSS synthesis with repeatable and highly accurate GNSS RF signals such as production testing of GNSS receivers, simulating GNSS anomalies such as leap-second events, 1023 GPS Week roll-overs, simulated operation in inaccessible locations around the world, real-time transcoding of different GNSS systems, and testing using dynamically user-configured RF signal levels.
With nanosecond-accurate encoding, CLAW is particularly suited to allow easy stress-testing of GPSDO frequency and timing reference products such as JLT’s GNSDOs under various different mission scenarios, the company said.
The CLAW GNSS simulator is a no-frills solution that contains real-time processing hardware to simulate GPS constellations without the need to connect any external equipment other than a USB power source or power supply.
Providing a real-time computed RF output signal rather than an offline file-playback differentiates CLAW from competitive solutions that are only capable of recording and playback operation in non-real-time, or require offline computation of data files using external computers that are played back on the simulation device.
CLAW is a completely self-contained, ruggedized, miniature, real-time hardware GPS simulator.
Navigation coordinates and 1PPS timing pulses can be provided in real-time through the NMEA and SCPI compatible USB interface or via the built-in RS-232 interface, and are encoded in the CLAW into RF GPS signals in real-time with nanosecond-level accuracy and minimal delay.
Position, velocity and timing (PVT) information may be provided as a simple NMEA stream from an external source such as an inertial navigation system (INS), Galileo/GLONASS/BeiDou/SAASM GNSS receiver, and CLAW will encode this PVT data into standard L1 C/A GPS RF signals in real-time with minimal phase/position shifts. This allows real-time GNSS transcoding of any other GNSS standard simply by connecting an external GNSS receiver, INS system or PVT source to the RS-232 inputs of the CLAW, allowing retrofit of existing legacy equipment with the latest GNSS systems.
CLAW includes glueless drivers for Rockwell Collins Remote Secure Receiver (RSR Puck) among others, allowing transcoding of assured, secure L2 P(Y) code into legacy L1 C/A code in real time to retrofit commercial receivers with military P(Y) capability. CLAW also allows user-entry of ephemeris and almanac information, providing a means to simulate any past or future GPS constellation and time/date event, the company added.
CLAW was designed with a particular emphasis to encoding the optional externally-provided 1PPS GPS system time with nanosecond-level accuracy targets, allowing accuracy testing of GPS timing and frequency devices on top of simply providing a positioning/velocity reference. CLAW initially will support GPS L1 C/A code encoding with up to 12 satellites, and later versions will support additional GNSS systems such as L2 GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo.
A comprehensive cost-free optional user application for Windows will be offered that allows control and monitoring of the unit, creation of simulation scenarios using Google Earth and manual waypoint entry, among other options. The unit also can be controlled via simple serial terminal commands, or various other available public-domain freeware programs.
Once position information is stored in the units’ NVRAM, the unit will generate GPS RF constellations within seconds upon power-up and thus does not require any user interaction other than plugging in the power supply.
CLAW contains a highly accurate and stable internal 10-MHz reference oscillator that may optionally be synchronized by an external 1PPS reference, 10-MHz reference, or both. CLAW supports a user-selectable RF signal attenuation range of 63 dB in 0.5-dB steps, allowing a wide range of RF signal levels to be generated with high accuracy and power-level resolution. Antenna DC power consumption also can be controlled via software command.
CLAW can be powered by its USB interface, or by a 6.5V to 28V DC power feed, and consumes less than 1.7W allowing extended operation of 24 hours or more from low-cost ubiquitous USB consumer battery packs.
Hemisphere GNSS released a series of major enhancements to its Atlas GNSS Global Correction Service, including Atlas Basic, Atlas AutoSeed and the addition of global ionospheric modeling to the system.
The company made the announcement at Agritechnica 2017, Nov. 12-18 in Hanover, Germany, where it exhibited in hall 15, booth E10.
Atlas is a flexible and scalable GNSS-based global L-band correction service, providing robust performance and correction data for GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou, the company said. Delivering its correction signals via L-band satellites at accuracies ranging from meter to sub-decimeter levels, Atlas also leverages 200 reference stations worldwide, providing coverage to virtually the entire globe.
Atlas Basic. Hemisphere is now offering Atlas Basic. Atlas Basic provides users of both single- and multi-frequency Atlas-capable hardware the ability to achieve SBAS-equivalent performance anywhere in the world where the Atlas correction service is available.
Atlas Basic offers accuracy of 30 to 50 centimeters (cm): 30 cm is pass-to-pass 95 percent based on 15-minutes convergence time, and 50 cm is absolute 95 percent. Atlas Basic also offers instantaneous sub-meter accuracy, allowing for Differential GPS (DGPS) level accuracy.
Hemisphere is offering Atlas Basic as an activation on all Atlas-capable single- and multi-frequency Hemisphere products purchased before Feb. 1, 2018. Correction service users will no longer need subscriptions for Atlas Basic service levels at 50-cm (95 percent) accuracies.
“Having the ability to easily scale your correction service levels based on specific use cases is essential to our customers and OEM partners,” said Miles Ware, director of marketing at Hemisphere GNSS. “With the addition of Atlas Basic, we are making it easier for anyone with an Atlas-capable single- or multi-frequency, multi-GNSS receiver to achieve sub-meter, SBAS-equivalent positioning accuracy virtually anywhere on earth.”
Global ionospheric modeling. Also included in the enhanced Atlas system is the addition of global ionospheric modeling. Using real-time ionospheric data, Atlas adjusts its corrections accordingly, providing instantaneous convergence for sub-meter accuracy.
AutoSeed. Atlas’ new AutoSeed technology allows users to suspend Atlas use for any period, and upon returning to their last location, AutoSeed rapidly re-converges to a high-accuracy converged position.
* Based on 15-minutes convergence time. Also depends on multipath environment, number of satellites in view, satellite geometry and ionospheric activity.
Atlas is available on all Hemisphere Atlas-capable single- and multi-frequency, multi-GNSS hardware and complements third-party GNSS receivers by allowing them to use Atlas corrections with Hemisphere’s SmartLink and BaseLink capabilities.
When using multi-frequency hardware, Atlas corrects more satellites than ever before, to create faster convergence times, and is robust and reliable in canopy or foliage covered areas.
With both single- and multi-frequency hardware, Atlas achieves instant global sub-meter positioning accuracy, comparable to and typically more robust than SBAS, since Atlas corrections contain data from multiple available constellations, the company said.
