GPS World

Author: Tracy Cozzens

  • Joint venture expands SBAS for business development in Africa

    Joint venture expands SBAS for business development in Africa

    A team of companies and government agencies is developing satellite services provided by ASECNA’s A-SBAS (Satellite-Based Augmentation System) for Africa and the Indian Ocean. Besides the current SBAS, the joint venture will deliver precise point positioning (PPP, through CNES and Geoflex) and danger warnings for a wide range of applications in Africa.

    Working together are the Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA), Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd. (NIGCOMSAT) and Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%). The project is backed by Geoflex, a provider of cloud services that deliver improvements to GPS/GNSS applications to achieve positioning accuracy to within 4 centimeters on land, at sea and in the air.

    The new SBAS services are expected to aid agriculture and other sectors in Africa. Here,volcanic cinder cones and farming in rich volcanic soils on the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. (Photo: iStock/Getty Images Plus)
    The new SBAS services are expected to aid agriculture and other sectors in Africa. Here,volcanic cinder cones and farming in rich volcanic soils on the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. (Photo: iStock/Getty Images Plus)

    Demonstrations

    The three partners successfully demonstrated the additional services on July 7 and 8 in Brazzaville, Congo, by calling on the SBAS signal they have broadcast over the Africa and Indian Ocean (AFI) region since September 2020 to provide the first SBAS open service in this part of the world via the NigComSat-1R satellite. This trial follows successful flight demonstrations this year in Lomé in January and Douala in June.

    The first demonstration of the special urgent situation warning service via satellite showed the system’s ability to broadcast a warning message via the A-SBAS signal to mobile phones, without requiring a terrestrial network. This service sends a message to the populations concerned, providing information on the type of danger and instructions to be followed.

    The second demonstration entailed the transmission of GNSS corrections based on CNES/Geoflex PPP technology and also using the A-SBAS signal. This approach showed the system’s ability to achieve positioning accuracy to within centimeters across the entire African continent.

    The new satellite service paves the way for applications in a broad range of sectors, including precision agriculture, land and maritime transport, rail safety, drone navigation, mapping and surveying. The ASECNA SBAS was developed as part of the ‘’SBAS for Africa & Indian Ocean’’ programme as a first step towards providing robust navigation services in the aviation sector.

    ASECNA’s 18 Member States are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Togo.

  • Trimble boosts RTX correction services for geospatial users

    Trimble boosts RTX correction services for geospatial users

    GNSS signal convergence means significant time savings for surveyors

    Photo: Trimble
    Photo: Trimble

    Trimble has announced enhancements to its Trimble RTX correction services, tailored to meet the evolving needs of geospatial professionals and part of an ongoing strategy to deliver high-accuracy correction services to users worldwide.

    Enhancements are designed to reduce convergence times, provide more reliable and robust signals, and make the workflow for surveyors easier. The enhancements further enable geospatial professionals to untether from the cost and complexities of GNSS base stations and complete fieldwork faster.

    Surveyors in many regions worldwide can now spend less time in the field with CenterPoint RTX correction service, converging in typically three minutes compared with up to 15 minutes in the past. The breakthrough convergence-time reduction is available on Trimble GNSS receivers with ProPoint technology and will benefit land surveyors working around the globe by enabling them to start surveying faster.

    In addition, CenterPoint RTX now supports the BeiDou III (BDS-III) constellation, which contributes to convergence time improvements. Support for BDS-III and convergence time improvements is available globally via IP/cellular and regionally via satellite delivery. Convergence times for the CenterPoint RTX Fast regions remain unchanged at less than one minute. CenterPoint RTX Fast coverage is available coast-to-coast in the U.S. and Western Europe.

    Geospatial professionals will be able to work more reliably in challenging GNSS environments, such as urban multipath or under tree canopy, due to the addition of BDS III and GPS III satellite signals into the Trimble RTX solution. Even as GNSS satellites are retired and new ones become operational, Trimble RTX will consistently track and deliver robust and reliable corrections.

    Using a Trimble receiver with ProPoint technology with Trimble Access field software and CenterPoint RTX correction service, surveyors will benefit from a streamlined workflow that simplifies how they work in their local coordinate systems. Surveyors can collect data using CenterPoint RTX correction service without the need for a site calibration or an offset.

    “Our teams collaborate to continually improve the Trimble RTX-based real-time correction services integration with our geospatial solutions,” said Ron Bisio, senior vice president of Trimble Geospatial. “Surveyors worldwide rely on Trimble to develop products and services that help them get their work done quicker and easier, and this Trimble RTX update is another example of how we continue to deliver surveyors the tools they need to do their jobs even more efficiently.”

    “We are celebrating 10 years of providing Trimble RTX-based correction services and each year our services outperform the year before,” said Lisa Wetherbee, general manager of Trimble Advanced Positioning. “We continue to enhance the performance and overall customer experience to help geospatial professionals increase their productivity and provide them peace of mind that our services and people will be there for them around the clock.”

    Trimble RTX subscriptions for Trimble RTX-compatible GNSS receivers are available through Trimble’s Authorized Business Partners or Trimble’s online store.

  • Swift Navigation and KDDI partner to expand precise positioning

    Swift Navigation and KDDI partner to expand precise positioning

    Swift Navigation logoSwift Navigation is partnering with Tokyo-based KDDI Corporation, an international telecommunications company, to help bring Swift’s precise positioning technology to the Japan market. KDDI will also be a key partner in the global expansion of Skylark precise positioning service, which is now available across the continental United States and Europe in partnership with Deutsche Telekom.

    Traditionally, precision GNSS corrections were provided using real-time kinematic (RTK) techniques, requiring a high density of reference stations and with limited fault tolerance. By partnering with Swift, KDDI is able to utilize Swift’s patented wide-area corrections solution, a hybrid of precise point positioning (PPP) and RTK. The solution delivers wide-area corrections with a low density of reference stations, fast convergence and centimeter-level accuracy from a reliable service delivered via the cloud.

    The accuracy of the Skylark precise positioning service enables lane-level positioning at fast convergence times to achieve the levels of safety, reliability, integrity and availability required by autonomous, mass-market and mobile applications.

    Skylark is GNSS hardware agnostic, giving customers a choice of which GNSS sensor they use and enabling users across industries to benefit from higher accuracy by subscribing to Skylark. With the service, automotive manufacturers can achieve lane-level accuracy in the sensor suite with high levels of integrity. Delivery companies can improve operational efficiencies and cost savings with route optimization. Mobile app companies can improve analytics using accurate data to create better maps and higher performing apps. Industrial applications can automate equipment and improve efficiency with reliably accurate positioning.

    “Swift Navigation is delighted to be partnering with KDDI to expand Skylark’s precise positioning in Japan and benefit customers around the globe,” said Timothy Harris, co-founder and CEO at Swift Navigation. “KDDI has always been at the forefront of bringing innovative technological solutions to its customers, and Swift is pleased to add value to their businesses through the reliable accuracy delivered from Skylark.”

    “We believe that Swift’s high-precision positioning solution further empowers our business capabilities in mobility space and contributes to the expansion of business coverage into smart vehicles,” said Hiromichi Matsuda, executive officer, Business Exploration & Development at KDDI Corp. “The accuracy afforded from precise positioning unlocks opportunities for a multitude of businesses and industries and adds value to our customers in Japan.”

  • Japan’s QZSS constellation to receive replacement satellite

    Japan’s QZSS constellation to receive replacement satellite

    The successor to the first quasi-zenith satellite, dubbed Michibiki, is expected to launch this year.

    Michibiki was launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in September 2010 and was transferred to the Cabinet Office in 2017. The replacement satellite is now undergoing prototype testing at the satellite manufacturer’s facility  (Mitsubishi Electric Co. Ltd. Kamakura Seisakusho) in Kanagawa. 

    The tests will confirm performance of the replacement satellite before it is put into service. It is undergoing acousitic, vibration and thermal vacuum tests to ensure it will remain functional after launch and in space. 

    After testing, the satellite will be transported to the Tanegashima Space Center for launch, which is expected to take place later this year.

    Replacement for Michibiki: The L-band antenna that transmits the positioning signal is mounted on the Earth-oriented left side. (Photo: JAXA)
    Replacement for Michibiki: The L-band antenna that transmits the positioning signal is mounted on the Earth-oriented left side. (Photo: JAXA)

    Though built to succeed the first QZSS satellite, the replacement is based on the second and fourth satellites

    Main specifications of the successor to the first satellite and other satellites:

    item First machine Units 2 and 4 Unit 3 Successor to the first machine
    Orbit Quasi-zenith Quasi-zenith Rest Quasi-zenith
    Positioning signal L1-C / A,
    L1C, L1S,
    L2C, L5, L6    		 L1-C / A, L1C,
    L1S, L2C,
    L5, L5S, L6    		 L1-C / A, L1C,
    L1S, L1Sb, L2C,
    L5, L5S, L6    		 L1-C / A
    (L1-C / B (* 1)),
    L1C, L1S, L2C,
    L5, L5S, L6
    L band antenna Helical method
    (* 2)    		 Helical method
    (* 2)    		 Patch method
    (* 3)    		 Patch method
    (* 3)
    Generated power 5.3kW 6.3kW 6.3kW 6.3kW
    mass About 4t About 4t About 4.7t About 4t
    Design life 10 years or more Over 15 years Over 15 years Over 15 years
    Launch year 2010 2017 2017 2021
    (planned)
    Launch
    rocket    		 H2A202 H2A202 H2A204 H2A202
    (* 1) Signal transmitted by BOC (Binary Offset Carrier) modulation of L1-C / A code
    (* 2) Antenna with spiral antenna elements arranged
    (* 3) Antenna with planar antenna elements arranged

    .

     

  • U-blox GNSS + dead-reckoning auto module operational up to 105° C

    U-blox GNSS + dead-reckoning auto module operational up to 105° C

    Continuous accurate navigation in all environments with sensor-based spoofing detection

    Photo: U-blox
    Photo: U-blox

    U-blox is introducing a series of automotive-grade positioning modules that are operational up to 105° C (221° F). The NEO-M9L modules and the M9140-KA-DR chip are built on the robust u-blox M9 GNSS platform and use dead-reckoning techniques to provide accurate position data when satellite signals are compromised or unavailable.

    The u-blox NEO-M9L-20A and NEO-M9L-01A modules, as well as the M9140-KA-DR chip, are specially designed for first-mount automotive solutions. The modules and the chip are all automotive-grade, with the NEO-M9L-01A variant offering an extended operational temperature range up to 105 °C, making it suitable for integration on the roof, behind the windscreen, or inside hot electronics control units.

    Applications include integrated navigation systems such as in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and head units, integrated telematics control units and V2X.

    The modules include new-generation 6-axis inertial measurement units (IMUs) that deliver low-latency 100-Hz RAW data output. The modules offer a low-latency 50-Hz position update rate, making it suitable for use in real-time applications. The automotive dead-reckoning (ADR) output combines the GNSS fix with IMU data to deliver accurate positioning output for various scenarios.

    Additional GNSS-only output enables seamless integration into a variety of third-party applications. The receiver also supports wake-on-motion, which enables smart features such as theft protection and power-efficient designs.

    The modules offer innovative sensor-based spoofing detection for advanced security and robustness. The chip offers protection against possible GNSS signal spoofing, which can cause navigation systems to report faulty position data or time.

    “The u-blox M9 sensor-fusion products address the latest automotive market demands for quality, reliability and robustness. Availability and trustworthiness of position output are increased by using concurrent reception of four GNSS constellations,” said Aravinthan Athmanathan, product manager, Product Center Positioning at u-blox. “In addition, the spoofing-detection feature is brought to a new level compared to the predecessor. Paired with low-latency position output, attitude, and sensor data, the u-blox NEO-M9L is ready to meet current and future challenges facing the automotive market.”

    All the module variants are compliant with AEC-Q104, the latest standard for ensuring the reliability of modules used in automotive applications. Engineering samples and evaluation kits will be available by the end of September.

  • Tallysman adds eXtended Filtering to TW3900 accutenna antennas

    Tallysman adds eXtended Filtering to TW3900 accutenna antennas

    The TW3967-XF antenna. (Photo: Tallysman)
    The TW3967-XF antenna. (Photo: Tallysman)

    Tallysman Wireless has added new eXtended Filtering (XF) features to the TW3900 series of Accuntena precision antennas. Tallysman designed the XF feature to mitigate interference from all near-band signals and ensure that the antenna provides the purest GNSS signals.

    Tallysman’s TW3972XF, TW3972EXF, TW3972LGXF, TW3967XF, and TW3967LGXF are triple-band antennas that support GPS/QZSS (L1/L2/L5), GLONASS (G1/G2/G3), Galileo (E1/E5ab), BeiDou (B1/B2/B2a), NavIC L5, and L-Band correction services.

    Worldwide, the radio frequency spectrum has become congested as many new LTE bands have been activated, and their signals or harmonic frequencies can affect GNSS antennas and receivers. In North America, the planned Ligado service, which will broadcast in the frequency range of 1526 to 1536 MHz, can affect GNSS antennas that receive space-based L-band correction service signals (1539–1559 MHz).

    The TW3972-XF antenna. (Photo: Tallysman)
    The TW3972-XF antenna. (Photo: Tallysman)

    New LTE signals in Europe [Band 32 (1452–1496 MHz)] and Japan [Bands 11 and 21 (1476–1511 MHz)] have also affected GNSS signals. Lastly, the Inmarsat satellite communication uplink (1626.5–1660.5 MHz) commonly used on maritime vessels can also affect nearby GNSS antennas.

    Tallysman’s custom XF filtering has been tested to mitigate new (Europe and Japan) and existing LTE signals, enabling the XF antennas to produce clean and pure GNSS radio frequency data. The deep XF filter technology will be applied to all of Tallysman’s product lines.

  • Rx Networks adds StarCourse extended ephemeris services

    Rx Networks adds StarCourse extended ephemeris services

    Rx Networks has added a new extended ephemeris service called StarCourse.

    According to the company, real-time ephemeris services provide GNSS chipsets in connected mobile devices a headstart in determining position accurately and quickly. For devices with limited connectivity, typical extended ephemeris solutions have provided a headstart with 7-14 days of ephemeris data.

    With the evolution of the internet of things (IoT), low power consumption and a limiting of connection time are essential for extending the usable life of a device. This creates a challenge for IoT vendors seeking an extended ephemeris offering that can minimize onboard resource usage without compromising accuracy.

    The new StarCourse service provides a 50% reduction in RAM requirements, 90% reduction in CPU cycles, and ephemeris accuracy exceeding that of previous market offerings. This empowers Rx Networks customers to extend the usable life of their products while delivering an excellent positioning experience, the company said. Full data customization is offered to StarCourse subscribers, allowing them to create optimal solutions for their needs.

    StarCourse enables autonomous positioning on a wide array of connected GNSS IoT devices, including asset tracking, wearables, in-dash navigation and mobile devices. For situations where accuracy is paramount, StarCourse Premium provides ultra-precise predicted ephemeris for the first 24 hours.

    “GNSS assistance services are essential to solving the spatial intelligence requirements of the booming IoT world,” said Chris Perriam, product owner at Rx Networks. “StarCourse endeavours to quickly enlighten all connected devices with location.”

    Rx Networks provides location information to strengthen the connection between people, devices and businesses by improving the GNSS experience and creating enhanced opportunities for next-generation products and services.

    Image: Rx Networks
    Image: Rx Networks
  • Hexagon expands AR capabilities with Immersal acquisition

    Hexagon expands AR capabilities with Immersal acquisition

    Hexagon AB has acquired Immersal Oy, an innovator of spatial mapping and visual positioning solutions for producing augmented reality (AR) applications.

    AR applications enhance real-world experiences by augmenting a user’s visual perception with the display of digital content in the physical world.

    AR’s ability to weave context-specific, 3D information into physical spaces provides endless opportunities to save time, improve performance and reduce costs across a wide range of industries and applications — from surveying, construction, public safety and manufacturing to maintenance, training and navigation applications.

    An immersive experience can help boost task efficiency, improve safety protocols, optimize workflows and increase collaboration.

    The Immersal SDK (software development kit) allows developers to merge and “anchor” digital content to real-world objects – with precise accuracy to their actual location in the physical space — by enabling a user’s mobile device to locate and orient itself in the surrounding physical world using machine-readable maps.

    The maps, which are used for visual positioning, are constructed from image data supported by various mapping devices (including mobile phones) and hosted in the Immersal Cloud Service.

    “Hexagon has long been a leader in delivering smart digital realities that combine inputs from reality capture sensors with advanced visualisation software and tools to enable remote, location-based intelligence. This acquisition puts the power of these insights into the hands of those on-site, enhancing their field of view with superimposed digital information, meaning they can literally do more with what they see,” said Hexagon President and CEO Ola Rollén. “For example, direct access to information about an asset — while working with that asset — including step-by-step instructions on how to repair it, can streamline maintenance tasks while reducing material waste and re-work.”

    Immersal has years of experience developing AI and machine learning-based spatial anchor technology, which “anchors” virtual objects or models for viewing on different devices in the same position and orientation. This unlocks a wide variety of location-based solutions and services — from consumer-oriented augmented reality applications in gaming and media and entertainment to digital twin solutions on an enterprise scale.

    Immersal’s technology can map large spaces — both indoors and outdoors — and works both offline on-device and online using the Cloud Service.

    Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Immersal will operate as part of Hexagon’s Geosystems division. The acquisition has no significant impact on Hexagon’s earnings.

    Image: Hexagon
    Image: Hexagon
  • Spire’s Earth observation contract includes GNSS-RO, GNSS-R data

    Spire’s Earth observation contract includes GNSS-RO, GNSS-R data

    New task order continues delivery of comprehensive space data and opens availability to all U.S. government-funded researchers and federal agencies

    Image: Just_Super/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
    Image: Just_Super/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

    Spire Global,  a global provider of space-based data and analytics, has announced the continuation of its participation in NASA’s Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition (CSDA) Program with a $6 million contract extension.

    The contract continuation, Task Order 6 (TO6), is a subscription data solution that includes radio occultation (RO) data, grazing angle GNSS-RO, total electron content (TEC) data, precise orbit determination (POD) data, soil moisture and ocean surface wind speed GNSS reflectometry (GNSS-R) data and magnetometer data.

    This data will be available to all federal agencies, NASA-funded researchers and, more broadly, to all U.S. government-funded researchers for scientific purposes.

    Under CSDA Program TO6, Spire will deliver a comprehensive catalog of data, associated metadata and ancillary information from its Earth-orbiting small-satellite constellation. The company operates its constellation in low Earth orbit and collects upwards of 10,000 radio occultations per day with consistent global coverage.

    For TO6, Spire will provide rolling access to 12 months of radio occultation data with a 30-day latency. This data will be archived and maintained by NASA under the CSDA Program’s SmallSat Data Explorer (SDX) database.

    “Programs like CSDA highlight the incredible potential of private-public partnerships in the federal government to drastically accelerate our ability to confront some of the greatest challenges of our time, such as climate change,” said Peter Platzer, CEO of Spire. “With the end-user license agreements, our data is now available to all federal agencies and the larger NASA scientific community to help support Earth observation research across fields.”

    The program includes end-user license agreements (EULAs) to enable broad levels of dissemination and shareability. All federal agencies and U.S. government-funded researchers will have access to Spire’s data for scientific purposes under TO6 and will be able to request access to the data via the CSDA Program’s Commercial Datasets webpage.

    “At NASA, the CSDA Program has continued to blossom as a valuable resource to our team for our Earth observation research and analysis. We are committed to growing the program as well as continuing the work we have started,” said Will McCarty, project scientist at the CSDA Program and  research meteorologist at NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office. “Spire has been a valued partner through CSDA’s development since its inception, and with this additional task order, we are excited about the new insights and results that will come not only from within NASA, but also through broader collaboration through the domestic government scientific community.”

    NASA has used Spire data in its research on water and sea-ice levels in the polar regions, the height of the planetary boundary layer (PBL), and the day-to-day variability of thermospheric density at flight level.

    NASA also noted that Spire data has shown positive benefit to its GEOS Atmospheric Data Assimilation System, which uses space-based data to analyze the Earth’s atmosphere and assimilate the data into its Earth observation systems.

    As one of the original vendors for the CSDA Program, Spire provides NASA yearly updates to the scope of work under this agreement to ensure alignment of data to the agency’s needs.

  • Skyward and FAA to test cellular-connected drones

    Skyward and FAA to test cellular-connected drones

    A Censys Technologies Sentaero equipped with a Verizon 4G/LTE link. (Photo: Skyward)
    A Censys Technologies Sentaero equipped with a Verizon 4G/LTE link. (Photo: Skyward)

    Skyward, A Verizon company, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test cellular-connected drones. Cellular-connected drones could unlock complex operations like beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), universal traffic management (UTM) and one-to-many operations.

    Titled “Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) — Cellular Technologies to Support UAS Activities,” the MOA enables Skyward and the FAA to mutually research the capabilities of cellular communication networks for command and control (C2) within the National Airspace System.

    Partially focused on safety-critical C2 data, the three-year MOA also allows the two groups to propose standards for operations, including BVLOS and over commercial wireless spectrum. Skyward and Verizon will also be using the data and information collected in the course of the MOA to inform its discussions on C2 and BVLOS operations in the FAA’s BVLOS Advisory and Rulemaking Committee.

    Today, most commercial drones use unlicensed spectrum, which is restricted in range and subject to interference, limiting its use for complex operations. Verizon’s 4G LTE nationwide coverage, provided over spectrum protected from interference, presents an enormous opportunity for drone operations.

    The MOA will inform regulations regarding spectrum used in the C2 link between the drone operator and drone. The MOA will also facilitate information sharing between the FAA and Skyward as the parties continue to explore how wireless networks can support drone operations.

    The MOA is inspired by the previous industry collaborations with the FAA, but is intended to address complex UAS operations through joint data collection and analysis.

    The agreement also follows Skyward’s announced emergency waiver to inspect critical communications infrastructure near the Big Hollow wildfire in Washington in September 2020. The industry’s first known fully remote BVLOS operation with no pilot or visual observer on site demonstrated low-risk operation as well as a need for analyzing and sharing fully remote data with standard bodies and the FAA.

    “Cellular-connected drones play a critical role in enabling tomorrow’s safe, reliable and secure drone operations,” said Matt Fanelli, Director of Strategy and Operations at Skyward. “We are thrilled to be laying this foundation with the FAA and are confident that our efforts will help inform technical standards from which industry regulations authorizing low-risk BVLOS and one-to-many operations will flow.”

  • Impact of ION ‘NAVIGATION’ journal continues to grow

    Impact of ION ‘NAVIGATION’ journal continues to grow

    This is the sixth consecutive year of growth of the journal’s impact factor

    Logo: IONThe Institute of Navigation announces that its quarterly journal, “NAVIGATION: The Journal of The Institute of Navigation,” has recorded its sixth consecutive year of growth of the publication’s Journal Impact Factor (JIF).

    The JIF, an index that calculates the yearly average number of citations to recent articles published in a journal, is considered a bellwether of the relative importance of a journal within its field. A journal with a higher impact factor generally is viewed as being more important than those with a lower impact factor due to its citation rate.

    NAVIGATION’s JIF has now increased to 2.1, representing a consecutive seven-year increase.

    NAVIGATION’s JIF growth reflects the continued focus and leadership of the Journal’s Editor, Richard B. Langley, who is also the editor of GPS World’s Innovation column. Also key to NAVIGATION’s growth is its editorial board, which includes: Penina Axelrad, Daniele Borio, Michael Braasch, Liang Chen, Pau Closas, James Curran, Naser El-Sheimy, Paul Groves, André Hauschild, Christopher Hegarty, Changdon Kee, Jiyun Lee, Sherman Lo, Gary McGraw, Michael Meurer, Thomas Pany, Boris Pervan, Jason Rife, Andrey Soloviev, Todd Walter, Zheng Yao and Zhen Zhu, and the Journal’s managing editor Lisa Beaty.

    NAVIGATION is the leading peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing articles on all areas related to the science and art of positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and is indexed and abstracted in

    • Advanced Technologies & Aerospace Database (ProQuest)
    • ArticleFirst (OCLC)
    • COMPENDEX (Elsevier)
    • Current Contents: Engineering, Computing & Technology (Clarivate Analytics)
    • Earth, Atmospheric & Aquatic Science Database (ProQuest)
    • Electrical & Electronics Abstracts (IET)
    • Google Scholar (Google)
    • INSPEC (IET)
    • Materials Science & Engineering Database (ProQuest)
    • Natural Science Collection (ProQuest)
    • Science Citation Index Expanded (Clarivate Analytics)
    • SciTech Premium Collection (ProQuest)
    • SCOPUS (Elsevier)
    • Technology Collection (ProQuest)
    • Web of Science (Clarivate Analytics)
    • NAVIGATION is published by ION, in partnership with Wiley.
  • Orolia unveils EdgeSync network timing platform

    Orolia unveils EdgeSync network timing platform

    The new cost-effective small form factor is designed for NTP and PTP functionality

    Photo: EdgeSync
    Photo: EdgeSync

    Orolia has introduced EdgeSync, a new cost-effective network timing platform that provides Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) Grandmaster and Boundary Clock functionality for real-time edge applications.

    High performance, scalability, ease of use and manageability make EdgeSync particularly suitable for a wide range of applications, including data centers, finance, mobile edge computing, enterprise, smart grid, industrial internet of things (IoT), process control or telecommunications.

    “EdgeSync is a great addition to Orolia’s timing product line because it’s ideally suited to meet the demanding requirements of today’s modern networks, including 5G infrastructure,” said Jeremy Onyan, director of Time Sensitive Networks at Orolia. “It delivers NTP and PTP capability to industries like process control, broadcast and telecom in a cost-efficient form factor that doesn’t sacrifice performance while taking advantage of the growing demand for edge applications.”

    EdgeSync uses a multi-GNSS receiver (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou and QZSS), PTP and Synchronous Ethernet (SyncE) as input references and generates PTP, SyncE, NTP and timing signals (10 MHz, 1 PPS and Time of Day message) as outputs. It features dual 1 GbE ports for both copper RJ45 and optical network timing connections.

    EdgeSync also can provide IEEE 1588-2008 (PTP) Grandmaster and Boundary Clock functionality. The device leverages unique PTP algorithms to deliver stringent timing for demanding, precise applications and supports multiple industry PTP profiles for interoperability. An enhanced oscillator and PTP slave capacity option allow users to choose the EdgeSync performance level to meet their specific needs.

    EdgeSync is available both in the Orolia Online Store (shipping to U.S. addresses only) and directly from Orolia technical sales representatives.