GPS World

Author: Tracy Cozzens

  • DOT plans 3-year, 5+ participants for drone pilot program

    U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao provided further details of the department’s new Drone Integration Pilot Program at a public event held Nov. 2 at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) headquarters in Washington, D.C.

    Chao was joined by hundreds of drone operators, industry leaders, members of the public, law enforcement and first responders, and local, state, tribal and federal officials.

    The pilot program is designed to safely test and validate advanced operations through various partnerships across the country with oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

    A Federal Register notice lays out the timeframe, requirements, and goals of the new program, which will pair local, state, and tribal entities with private sector players in the drone industry to develop and deploy new operational concepts that are not currently in widespread use.

    The first step is for government officials to complete a Notice of Intent, signifying their intention to complete a full program application. Applicants will have 20 days to complete a Notice of Intent, followed by the requirement that they complete an application through the FAA/UAS Portal within 57 days. Within 180 days, initial program applicants who receive approval could begin deploying drones under the limitations coordinated and agreed to with the FAA. The program will last for three years.

    After evaluating all the applications, DOT will select a minimum of five partnerships. Full details of the Federal Register Notice and Application process can be found here.

    Webinars Scheduled. The FAA is hosting three webinars providing an overview of the program, application process and specific criteria and deadlines that must be met. The webinars will be held on the following times.

    • Friday, November 3 at 9:00 a.m. ET
    • Friday, November 3 at 3:00 p.m. ET
    • Monday, November 6 at 3:00 p.m. ET

    Registration is required to attend.

    The pilot program will evaluate a variety of operational concepts, including night operations, flights over people, flights beyond the pilot’s line of sight, package delivery, detect-and-avoid technologies, counter-UAS security operations, reliability and security of data links between pilot and aircraft, as well as local management of UAS operations subject to FAA oversight.

    Industries that could see immediate opportunities from the program include commerce, photography, emergency management, precision agriculture, and infrastructure inspections and monitoring.

    The program will help tackle the most significant challenges in integrating drones into the national airspace while reducing risks to public safety and security. The program is designed to provide greater regulatory certainty and stability to local governments and communities, UAS owners and operators who are accepted into the program.

    In less than a decade, the potential economic benefit of integrated unmanned aerial systems into the nation’s airspace is estimated to equal up to $82 billion and create up to 100,000 jobs,, according to AUVSI’s The Economic Impact of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

    Chao told attendees the program application and deployment process will move quickly because a priority for DOT is encouraging innovation in the drone industry while maintaining safety for communities involved.

    “The drone pilot program will accelerate the safe integration of drones into our airspace by creating new partnerships between local governments, the FAA, and private drone operators,” Chao said. “These partnerships will allow local communities to experiment with new technologies like package delivery, emergency drone inspections, and more, on terms that work for them and in ways that support a unified and safe airspace.”

    “This program will put community and industry partnerships at the leading edge of aviation technology,” said FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta. “What we learn through testing operational concepts in these communities will be invaluable and give us clarity on rules that ensure safety and continued innovation.”

    “More and more businesses and public safety providers are embracing UAS to expand and enhance their service offerings,” said Brian Wynne, president and CEO, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. “This growing demand illustrates a new renaissance in aviation and technology, which requires sustained collaboration and support by government at all levels.”

  • Microsemi’s TimeProvider 4100 provides for 4G and 5G base stations

    Microsemi Corporation has launched the TimeProvider 4100, a flexible IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) grandmaster clock designed to scale from the edge to the aggregation layers of both mobile infrastructure and access networks.

    The TimeProvider 4100 is a gateway clock, a new class of synchronization product which accepts multiple inputs from GNSS, Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE), 1588 PTP and E1/T1 digital transmission links, and distributes timing flows to multiple endpoints such as base stations.

    It supports the GNSS constellations GPS, Beidou, GLONASS and Galileo.

    Mobile and future markets

    Primarily targeting the mobile market, operators and data centers for mobile operator environments, over time the TimeProvider 4100’s platform will also serve mobile network needs associated with machine-to-machine (M2M), internet of things (IoT) and autonomous vehicle applications.

    A gateway clock benefits from multiple layers of protection leveraging other assets in the core of the network. TimeProvider 4100 is a best-in-class 1588 grandmaster complemented by extensive port fan-out for PTP, Network Time Protocol (NTP), SyncE and legacy building integrated timing supplies (BITS), the company said.

    With multiple ports for current, legacy and future networks which can be connected to multiple base stations for 4G and 5G deployments, the device offers customers a cost-effective solution that can be adapted for a wide variety of use cases.

    Mobile operators face tough requirements to drastically increase mobile bandwidth while efficiently leveraging the available spectrum. Cellular networks using only frequency synchronization waste significant spectrum, whereas newer deployments require phase synchronization for efficient spectrum usage and interference mitigation in increasingly densified networks.

    Phase synchronization

    Phase synchronization is imperative for next-generation service deployment. To that end, operators need timing solutions capable of supporting legacy infrastructure and evolving network needs. Microsemi’s TimeProvider 4100 is engineered to provide phase to today’s 4G, LTE and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) deployments, as well as tomorrow’s cRAN evolutions and 5G networks.

    The device’s platform can be expanded through an internal module, providing customer savings such as power and rack space, and enables great scalability through sub-tenancy mechanisms. TimeProvider 4100 also features port fan-out which can be flexibly used for PTP, NTP, E1/T1, 1 pulse per second (PPS), time of day (ToD) and 10 megahertz (MHz) at the aggregation layer.

    “With our ongoing commitment to delivering system products, Microsemi has demonstrated our leadership in the IEEE 1588 grandmaster market with more than 400 operator deployments worldwide,” said Eric Colard, director of product line management for Microsemi. “We are pleased to leverage this expertise to deliver the TimeProvider 4100. With eight Ethernet ports and four BITS E1/T1 ports in the base unit, TimeProvider 4100 provides a very feature-rich gateway clock device.”

    Microsemi’s TimeProvider family serves the mobile infrastructure market, which is expected by market research firm IHS Markit to be approximately $48 billion in 2018, with hardware expected to account for approximately 62 percent of the market.

    The TimeProvider family is designed to capitalize on growth opportunities related to 5G installations, beginning with trial installations in 2018, growing to a market size of $2.8 billion by 2021 according to the firm’s “Mobile Infrastructure Intelligence Service – 3Q17 Market Tracker.”

    The new device’s flexibility does not compromise its performance and feature set, and meets stringent precise timing requirements, including complying with primary reference time clock (PRTC) and the latest time and phase ITU-T and IEEE industry standards.

    Available upgrades include oscillator options for enhanced holdover performance and an internal expansion module which adds 16 E1/T1 BITS ports to the device. The TimeProvider 4100 also accepts PTP input with assisted partial timing support (APTS) to back up the GNSS signal in case of signal loss for high resiliency of the solution by leveraging 1588v2 grandmasters already deployed at the core of the network.

    Timing and synchronization platform

    TimeProvider 4100 can be managed through Microsemi’s timing and synchronization management platform, TimePictra. In addition, for phase, service providers require more visibility about performance and health of the various network elements participating in the synchronization chain. TimeProvider provides advanced monitoring capabilities, especially for IEEE 1588v2 PTP for phase, and leverages a WebGUI to present results and calculations for easier interpretation.

    In addition to its TimeProvider family, Microsemi also offers highly comprehensive and cost-effective IEEE 1588 and SyncE network synchronization silicon solutions providing time stamping, ultralow jitter (for up to 100G PHYs), IEEE 1588 protocol support (including the ITU-T telecom profile for frequency and phase) and one of the industry’s most established client servos used by numerous carriers worldwide.

    The solutions offered are used by all major equipment vendors across the globe in a variety of wireless and wireline applications and work seamlessly with Microsemi’s full range of TimeProvider equipment.

  • CAST releases GPS wavefront generator

    CAST releases GPS wavefront generator

    CRPA and Attitude Determination Receiver Testing

    The CAST-5000 by CAST Navigation produces a single coherent wavefront of GPS RF signals to provide repeatable testing in the laboratory environment or anechoic chamber. The system generates up to seven independent, coherent simulations that reference a single point. With an intercard carrier-phase error of less than one centimeter, the CAST-5000 is extremely accurate, the company said.

    The system generates a wavefront of GPS when its GPS RF generator cards are operated in a ganged configuration. Each generator card provides a set of GPS satellites coherent with the overall configuration. Several RF generator cards may be utilized together, ensuring phase coherence among the bank of signal generator cards.

    The CAST-5000 is the only Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) tester that allows a full end-to-end test of the antenna system. The CRPA antenna, antenna electronics and the GPS receiver can be tested as a unit with or without radiating signals.

    CAST-5000 Features

    • Generates single coherent wavefront of GPS
    • 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) motion generation capability
    • Complete SV constellation editing
    • Post-mission processing via ICD-GPS-150/153
    • Differential/relative navigation
    • Antenna pattern modeling
    • Waypoint navigation
    • RAIM events
    • Multipath modeling
    • Spoofer simulation
    • Satellite clock errors
    • External trajectory input
    • External ephemeris and almanac
    • Several iono and tropo models
    • Modifiable navigation messag
    • Modeled selective availability
    • Time-tagged satellite events
    • Selectable host vehicle parameters

  • Launchpad: The latest in GNSS, survey and UAV products

    OEM

    GPS Firewall

    Protects critical infrastructure from spoofing and jamming

    The BlueSky GPS Firewall is designed to provide security protection for GPS-delivered position, navigation and timing (PNT) data. It can be deployed in-line between any standard GPS antenna and stationary GPS receiver to provide protection against GPS signal incidents, both intentional or accidental, before they enter a GPS receiver system. BlueSky GPS Firewall filters the GPS signal in real time, removing anomalies before the signal is consumed by the downstream GPS receiver. This creates an intelligent and secure barrier against jamming and spoofing, and prevents the GPS receiver from being impacted by such incidents. It incorporates an Ethernet interface for remote management and monitoring and includes a secure web interface for configuration and set-up. Evaluation kits are available in advance of full production release, both in response to the growing number of GPS incidents and their potential threat to critical infrastructure.

    Microsemi, www.microsemi.com

    Low-noise amplifiers

    LNA upgrades enable expanded GNSS reception

    Four new models of high-performing wideband low noise amplifiers (LNAs) are now available for choke-ring antennas, with options of 35-dB and 50-dB gain. The LNAs are designed for upgrading existing choke-ring antennas with Dorne Margolin/EDO elements to receive new and expanding GNSS signals. The LNAs provide consistent gain across the full bandwidth and include filters for suppression of out-of-band interfering signals, such as cellular LTE and Iridium signals, while maintaining a low noise figure, high third-order intercept point, small group delay and low power consumption. The enclosure is designed to fit a wide variety of currently deployed choke-ring antennas.

    Tallysman, www.tallysman.com

    GNSS-inertial boards

    OEM boards for high-precision guidance and control

    The BD GNSS family of boards includes the BD940 GNSS and GNSS-inertial boards and new BD990 GNSS, GNSS-heading and GNSS-inertial boards. The BX940 and BX992 models are available in a rugged enclosure (pictured) for applications in harsh environments. The BD GNSS boards offer simple connectivity and configuration, allowing system integrators and OEMs to easily add GNSS positioning and orientation — with the ability to upgrade its capabilities — using the same board footprint, connectors and software interface for specialized and custom hardware solutions. The compact boards include a broad range of receiver capabilities, from high-accuracy GNSS-only to full GNSS-inertial features for positioning and 3D orientation. Firmware options are upgradeable, allowing functionality to be added as requirements change. The boards are designed for UAVs, autonomous vehicles, fleet management and aviation.

    Trimble, www.trimble.com

    GNSS RTK board

    Upgraded with improved functionality

    The Precis-BX306 RTK board (pictured: Precis-BX306 board easy kit) has been upgraded with new and improved GPS and GLONASS functionality. The new version supports up to 20-Hz real-time kinematic (RTK) solution and raw measurement output, which can be integrated with autopilots and inertial navigation units. With improved algorithms, the new Precis-BX306 demonstrates an ability to quickly fix a 30-km baseline. Stable fix rate is achieved when under tree canopy, in urban canyons and other challenging environments. This latest version of Precis-BX306 is pin-to-pin compatible with major GNSS boards in the market, offering a flexible interface. Event mark and PPS are supported as always.

    Tersus GNSS, www.tersus-gnss.com

    SURVEY & MAPPING

    Radio modem

    Offers advanced radio connectivity with GNSS receivers

    The R4S-BT UHF radio provides an external option for use with the Sokkia GCX receiver line. The UHF multichannel radio modem has a tuning range of up to 70 MHz. It features an IP67 certified housing with internal batteries designed to be easy to carry with versatile mounting options. The radio modem makes the GCX GNSS receiver a more scalable and modular solution for situations without a network connection or when long-range Bluetooth technology is not enough on its own. Survey and mapping professionals can add the radio modem to extend the range between the base and rover. Connectivity options include wireless data transfer and USB connections.

    Sokkia, sokkia.com

    Survey UAV

    Programmable via computer

    The Triumph-F1 Survey UAV and Receiver is based around a geodetic GNSS receiver with 864 channels. When used on the ground, the receiver can function as base or rover. It includes eight propeller motors, a sim card slot, two micro SD card slots, USB connector, satellite tracking and communications indicators, flight and gyro status indicators, storage and selector for saved flight patterns, up to four antennas including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, four angled cameras and a downward-facing high-precision camera for photogrammetry.

    JAVAD GNSS, www.javad.com

    GNSS smart antennas

    Next-generation multi-frequency

    The S321+ and C321+ smart antennas are upgrades to the previous versions S321 and C321 and offer added benefits. Powered by the Eclipse P326 OEM board, the smart antennas support 394 channels and can simultaneously track all satellite signals including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS. The boards come with two hot-swappable lithium batteries providing up to 12 hours of operation. The S321+ and C321+ combine Hemisphere’s Athena GNSS engine and Atlas L-band correction technologies with a new customer-friendly web user interface. Both antennas meet IP67-standard requirements. The S321+ and C321+ come in two versions, with 4G LTE optimized for either North American or international locations. The S321+ is designed for use in land or marine survey, GIS, mapping and construction. With the SureFix advanced processor, the S321+ delivers high-fidelity RTK-quality information. The C321+ is designed for construction environments, and can be paired with Hemisphere’s SiteMetrix software that helps manage construction jobsite activities.

    Hemisphere GNSS, hemispheregnss.com

    Topography software

    Integrates data from a variety of sensors in one platform

    X-PAD Office Fusion is an all-in-one office software combining data from multiple sensors into a single interface. It manages, combines and processes data from GNSS receivers, total stations, laser scanners and other sensors, whether from GeoMax or another provider. There is no need to export the data from one program to another, and X-PAD also offers all CAD features. The program handles a multitude of different types of data: measurements, coordinates, drawings and point clouds. Large quantities of data can be managed in the fastest way with maximum accuracy. The software automatically detects the common points between the point clouds and performs a first rough alignment. The Bundle Adjustment feature performs the final and accurate alignment in order to reduce errors. Personalized reports are then created with little effort.

    GeoMax Positioning, www.geomax-positioning.com

    TRANSPORTATION

    Public transportation

    Insight for agencies and passengers

    The TSO Public Tracker provides public transportation riders with a variety of GPS-based monitoring capabilities. Riders can view exact locations and information on a variety of public vehicles. Passengers can view on a single screen the whereabouts of connected-fleet vehicles in real time. The tracker can be used by agencies of all sizes and in different geographical locations. The related TSO Mobile App provides route information, current and historical location updates in different map views through Google Maps, and more. TSO Mobile’s transportation solutions also provide agencies with driver reports based on customized behavior metrics to improve driver behavior.

    TSO Mobile, www.tsomobile.com

    Freight tracking

    Location of cargo in transit

    Omnitracs Virtual Load View (VLV) provides brokers, shippers and carriers with direct access to the position data of assets carrying their freight, allowing them to easily track loads. Position data about the load is either shared from the Omnitracs Intelligent Vehicle Gateway (IVG) or Mobile Computing Platform (MCP) unit, or if no Omnitracs unit is available, through the VLV Mobile smartphone application, which the driver can download from the iOS and Android app stores. VLV can also be directly integrated into a company’s back office system, so employees are not required to learn and access a new platform. Brokers and shippers can identify loads that are behind schedule so they can make the proper adjustments in a timely manner.

    Omnitracs, www.omnitracs.com

    UAV

    Mapping drone

    For survey-grade photogrammetry

    The lightweight fixed-wing UX11 UAV combines a powerful integrated onboard system, industry-grade sensors, limitless communication range and PPK centimeter-level positioning. It carries enough onboard computing power to access and process pictures, then send them to the operator in real-time. It will run automated quality checks on the images (such as blur detection or overlap checks) to help ensure the operator is acquiring quality data. Its redundant communications system includes a proprietary line-of-sight radio and 3G/4G connectivity between the ground-control station and the UAV using a worldwide machine-to-machine pre-paid plan. The UX11 is ready for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights with unlimited range and adds a new level of safety with this communication link.

    DelAir, delair.aero

    Super digital camera

    Super 35 Camera for Professional Aerial Cinematography

    The Zenmuse X7 UAV camera features superior image quality, interchangeable lenses and a new post-production color system. The Super 35 digital film camera is designed to work with the DJI Inspire 2 drone. The Zenmuse X7 features 14 stops of dynamic range for more detail in low-light conditions. Its low-noise image capture enhances grading flexibility by preserving details in both highlight and dark areas while enabling a shallow cinematic depth of field. It is capable of shooting 6K CinemaDNG RAW or 5.2K Apple ProRes at up to 30 frames per second (FPS), as well as 3.9K CinemaDNG RAW or 2.7K ProRes at up to 59.94 FPS to integrate into industry-standard post-production workflows.

    DJI, dji.com

    Charging Station

    For remote BVLOS missions

    The Atlas NEST smart protective charging station is designed for autonomous beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operation of the Atlas Pro drone platform. The Atlas NEST is a landing, protective charging station that extends flight range and provides constant drone readiness in remote locations. When the Atlas Pro UAV requires new batteries, it can autonomously land in a NEST charging station where a robotic arm changes the drone’s batteries, allowing the Atlas Pro to continue flying to mission completion. The Atlas NEST can be stationary or motorized.

    Atlas Dynamics, www.atlasdynamics.eu

    UAV for heavy payloads

    VTOL lift-off followed by tilt to fixed wing in flight

    The WingtraOne vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV bridges the gap between traditional multi-rotors and fixed-wing drones. It takes off and lands vertically like conventional multirotors, but once in flight, the drone tilts forward to fly like a fixed-wing aircraft. Being able to carry a heavy payload such as the Sony RX1RII, the drone offers high mapping accuracy, while covering an area of 980 acres (400 Ha) at 3 cm/px (1.2 in/px) GSD or the equivalent of 570 football fields. The WingtraOne is available in use in Europe, China, the United States and Australia for applications ranging from surveying and precision agriculture to glacier monitoring.

    Wingtra, wingtra.com

  • Target your in-store shopping list

    Target is installing app-based indoor mapping in its stores, making it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.

    Following a 2015 test, the U.S. retail chain is integrating beacon and Bluetooth technology with its mobile app. The app will show the shopper’s location in real time as they move about the store (with a familiar blue dot), and display nearby sales and deals.

    Shoppers will also be able to find an item on the map through their digital shopping list.

    Target describes the new technology as “a GPS for your shopping cart.”

    “Just click on an item from your list and the app will indicate on a store map the precise aisle where you can find your item,” said Target chief information and digital officer Mike McNamara.

    The beacons are a function of new, energy-efficient LED lighting that Target is installing in its stores.

    Another mobile enhancement is Target’s integration of its savings app Cartwheel within its main store app. (Cartwheel is more popular than the primary Target app.) Target will use the beacon technology to highlight which of its Cartwheel deals are near a shopper’s current location. In the months to come, the app will support mobile payments at checkout.

    The new indoor location technology will be live in across half of the chain of 1,800 stores in time for the 2017 holiday season.

  • GeoSLAM launches ZEB-REVO RT at fall exhibits

    The ZEB-REVO RT is the next generation of the ZEB-REVO, GeoSLAM’s lightweight handheld laser scanner that allows the rapid and simple mapping of complex, indoor and multi-level spaces.

    The ZEB-REVO RT uses technology to seamlessly connect the scanner to a mobile phone or tablet, allowing for real-time data visualization as you walk and scan, the company said.

    GeoSLAM launched its new offering in Europe at Intergeo in Berlin, Germany. This month, GeoSLAM will be premiering its new products to American audiences at the Fall BIM Forum, held Nov. 6-8 in Dallas. BIM stands for building information modeling.

    The simultaneous scanning and processing of 3D data removes any need for post-processing, effectively slashing project survey times in half. The technology is so rapid, users can scan and process a three-story building in just 30 minutes, the company added.

    The successor to GeoSLAM Desktop, GeoSLAM Hub is the latest version of the award-winning SLAM registration software. Enabling end-to-end data capture, the tool allows users to process, view, merge, edit and output 2D and 3D deliverables all from within the one software package.

    The mission statement of the BIM Forum is to explore technological and delivery innovation and performance improvement through BIM and new means of collaboration. This mission dovetails with GeoSLAM’s technologies.

    To find out more about GeoSLAM’s activities at Fall BIM Forum 2017, visit the events page or visit GeoSLAM in person at Booth 627.

  • Examining silver linings in GPS amidst natural disasters

    Examining silver linings in GPS amidst natural disasters

    Illustration courtesy of USA Today.

    Here in the U.S., this past summer saw an unprecedented number of emergency situations. Hurricanes blasted Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, leaving people stranded and without power, while wildfires ravaged the west.

    So far this year, 15 separate weather and climate disasters have each caused at least $1 billion in damages in the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), meaning, 2017 could tie 2011 for the most billion-dollar disasters. The USA Today chart shows those events.

    In Oregon where I live, we experienced unprecendented smoky skies from wildfires — the hazardous air quality affected the health of many.

    The silver lining? Growing expertise in the fields of disaster response, mapping, location awareness, UAVs and imagery. We continue to improve our ability to respond to disasters, such as with Waze traffic alerts for wildfire evacuations and UAVs that bring a virtual doctor to a crisis scene along with medicine. We use state-of-the-art technology to learn more about how, why and when disasters happen with tools such as UAVs that penetrate the mysteries of active hurricanes.

  • Velodyne partners with YellowScan for UAV lidar system

    Velodyne partners with YellowScan for UAV lidar system

    Velodyne Lidar Inc., maker of 3D vision systems for autonomous vehicles, is partnering with YellowScan to integrate its VLP-16 Puck and VLP-16 Puck LITE lidar sensors into YellowScan’s Surveyor.

    The result is a turn-key and reliable lidar system for demanding UAV applications, the companies said.

    Real-time lidar systems for UAVs are used around the world for industrial and scientific applications, including surveying, civil engineering, archeology and environmental science.

    By combining its LiveStation app with the real-time 3D data capture capabilities of Velodyne’s VLP-16 Puck and VLP-16 Puck LITE sensors — both of which feature a 360-degree horizontal field-of-view, 100-meter range, and weigh 830 grams and 590 grams, respectively — YellowScan delivers a turn-key surveyor system that can be mounted to any drone for short-time data processing needs.

    The result is a real-time in-flight lidar monitoring platform, with users able to see how the final map is being generated in real-time during the drone mission, and the basic map datasets available immediately after the mission.

    “YellowScan is known for its commitment to providing reliable and easy to use sensing solutions for the UAV industry, which make the VLP-16 Puck sensors an easy choice for the Surveyor system,” said Erich Smidt, executive director, Europe, Velodyne Lidar. “The VLP-16 Pucks are some of our newest offerings, with significant effort put into reducing weight while maintaining the resolution and reliability expected of Velodyne’s industry-leading lidar sensors.”

    “YellowScan Surveyor, the turn-key lidar solution integrating Velodyne’s advanced VLP-16 sensor, enables mapping professionals to do more in less time thanks to tremendously high density and accurate measurements acquired from UAVs,” said Tristan Allouis, CTO of YellowScan.

  • Carlson Survey 2018 has AutoCAD engine built in

    The recently released Carlson Survey 2018 OEM comes with the AutoCAD 2018 OEM engine built in. In this latest OEM version, Carlson Survey users gain the ability to directly read and write the AutoCAD DWG-drawing file format.

    Carlson Survey 2018 OEM contains most all of the same improvements found in Carlson Survey for AutoCAD and IntelliCAD.

    “We listen to our customers and work all year to develop their requested tools,” said Doug Aaberg, survey product manager for Carlson Software.

    Field to finish plan generation with Carlson Survey 2018 OEM.

    In the LotNetwork routines of Carlson Survey 2018, users now have the ability to setup multiple building footprints with their individual dimensions and setback requirements and designate the order of placement priority. Each lot is then automatically drawn with the building footprint as designated. There are also new options to leave empty lots and to draw driveways.

    Legacy users will see some traditional AutoCAD commands included in 2018, such as AutoCAD line and Polyline.

    Improvements to Carlson Survey 2018 OEM include:

    • COGO distance input – Added method to input distances by point numbers using # as the delimiter.
    • Edit process raw file – Added support for processing offset records (OF) for in/out, left/right and depth. Added display option to only show the traverse point records. Added search and replace function by point number.
    • Geoid utilities – New command to report geoid values, apply geoid values or switch the geoid for points.
    • Field to finish – several new special codes for controlling labels, non-surface points, GIS attributes, 3D entities and labeling offset line elevations.
    • Points – Added options to mask point labels, compare points in drawing on startup, more control over merge, export and the Point Group Manager and a new command to store points to an on-line database publicly or privately

    All versions of Carlson Survey, which benefit from more than 30 years of continued improvement, are designed for use for land surveying, providing a full toolkit for surveyors with everything from network least squares to surface modeling.

    Users get the ability to work seamlessly between the office and the field and they can establish company-wide design styles to ease and speed their work.

    A full list of the Carlson Survey 2018 OEM new features can be found on the Carlson Software webpage.For more information about the 2018 versions of Carlson Survey or Carlson Survey OEM, visit your local dealer or www.carlsonsw.com or call Carlson at 800-989- 5028 or 606-564-5028.

  • SimActive automates direct georeferencing

    SimActive-drone-image-O

    SimActive Inc., a developer of photogrammetry software, has launched an automated solution for direct georeferencing from real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning.

    Within the new workflow feature, users can achieve get high accuracy in projects without the use of ground control points (GCP), saving time in collecting and processing data.

    Martin Instrument, a reseller of SimActive and surveying equipment, is benefitting from the automation. “Direct georeferencing greatly helps reducing cost for applications like corridor mapping,” said Mike Minick, vice president of sales at Martin Instrument. “The new automated option within SimActive software for direct georeferencing greatly facilitates the user workflow.”

    “With RTK GPS available on drones, the use of direct georeferencing is growing within the industry,” said Louis Simard, CTO of SimActive. “Correlator3D allows users to maximize their hardware and software investment.”

    For a live demonstration at the Commercial UAV Show (Nov. 15-16, London, United Kingdom), visit SimActive’s booth or send an email to [email protected].

  • Medical drone integrates augmented reality

    Medical drone integrates augmented reality

    A telemedical drone system with holographic technology can quickly put emergency physicians and lifesaving medical supplies in the hands of disaster survivors. The Telemedical Drone Project, known as HiRO (Health Integrated Rescue Operations), is being tested to support the Mississippi Department of Emergency Management, Homeland Security, the National Guard and NATO.

    Screenshot from HiRO video. (Courtesy of Paul Cooper)

    It is expected to be production-ready in early 2018.

    HiRO provides immediate access to a physician through a wireless video connection. When the portable critical care kit arrives, the doctor appears on a touchscreen display to direct treatment.

    Smart glasses allow a person on scene to move away from the kit while maintaining audio and visual contact with the physician. Holographic technology lets the physician to see the disaster scene and direct care through a hands-free, motion-enabled augmented reality headset.

    Osteopathic physicians Italo Subbarao and Paul Cooper partnered with Dennis Lott, director of the UAV program at Hinds Community College in Mississippi, to design and build a next-generation disaster drone.

    “These drones have impressive lift and distance capability, and can be outfitted with a variety of sensors, such as infrared, to help locate victims,” Lott said.

    HiRO drone and telemedical kit

    • Augmented reality (AR) operating on a Microsoft HoloLens headset enables a remote physician to treat multiple victims.
    • Automated medication bin allows remote physician to unlock specific compartments, giving bystanders safe access to medications and equipment supported by video guidance from the doctor.
    • Integrated holographic electronic health record system display helps remote physician monitor multiple patients in the field.
  • GM autonomous fleet heads to New York

    GM autonomous fleet heads to New York

    GM’s Cruise Autonomous car.

    General Motors’ self-driving unit Cruise Automation is applying to begin the first sustained testing of vehicles in fully autonomous mode in New York state — specifically in Manhattan ­— in early 2018.

    “Autonomous vehicles have the potential to save time and save lives, and we are proud to be working with GM and Cruise on the future of this exciting new technology,” said New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo.

    Testing in New York will accelerate the timeline to deploying self-driving cars at scale, according to Kyle Vogt, CEO of Cruise Automation. “New York City is one of the most densely populated places in the world and provides new opportunities to expose our software to unusual situations, which means we can improve our software at a much faster rate.”

    GM is also doubling the size of its test fleet in San Francisco, California, from 30 to 100 as part of its effort to develop software capable of navigating congested and chaotic urban environments. GM has reported more run-ins between its self-driving cars and human-operated vehicles and bicycles. Its vehicles were involved in six minor crashes in September, all of which were caused by the other vehicle.

    Lidar Acquisition. GM announced Oct. 9 that it has acquired lidar company Strobe. Strobe’s engineering staff joins GM’s Cruise Automation team to define and develop next-generation lidar solutions for self-driving vehicles. Lidar images provide a more accurate view of the world than cameras or radar alone, information needed by autonomous cars.