GPS World

Category: Applications

  • NGS will soon compute third multi-year CORS solution

    NGS will soon compute third multi-year CORS solution

    On Aug. 5, the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) stated it will be updating the NOAA CORS to be aligned with the latest International Terrestrial Reference frame, ITRF2020 (see below). As stated in the announcement, NGS will soon compute a third multi-year continuously operating reference station (CORS) solution, MYCS3.

    The last multi-year CORS solution, MYCS2, was performed by NGS in 2019. I discussed the MYCS2 in my February 2019 and April 2019 columns. This new multi-year CORS solution will be important to the 2022 modernized National Spatial Reference System (NSRS), because NGS will establish a strict mathematical relationship between the 2022 NSRS frames and the ITRF2020 frame. This will allow direct access to the NSRS (NOAA Technical Report NOS NGS 67).

    NGS Aligns National System to Global Reference Frame

    August 5, 2022

    The International Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Service, which provides GNSS data products globally, recently released a new GNSS-only version of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame. This provides GNSS users access to the reference frame through coordinate functions for a global set of reference stations. In response, NGS will soon compute the multi-year Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) Solution 3, which will modernize the National Spatial Reference System. Aligning the National Spatial Reference System with the updated global reference frame will allow greater access for the global community of scientists, educators, and commercial users of location science.

    For more information, contact: Phillip McFarland

    As in the past, the multi-year CORS solution will mean that the NOAA CORS coordinates will be updated to be consistent with the latest International Terrestrial Reference Frame of 2020 (ITRF2020). The International GNSS Service provides information about its GNSS products and services. Readers can find information on the latest International Terrestrial Reference Frame 2020 here. This column will provide basic information on the ITRF2020. Please note: NGS stated that it will soon start computing the third multi-year CORS solution, but — as of October — all NOAA CORS coordinates are still based on MYCS2 and provide coordinates in ITRF2014 epoch 2010.00 and NAD 83 (2011, MA11, PA11) epoch 2010.00. As in the past, NGS will provide advance notice before publishing the results of its third multi-year CORS solution.

    A document on the ITRF website stated the ITRF2020 is expected to be an improved solution compared to the previous solution, ITRF2014. It listed several innovations introduced in the ITRF2020 processing.

    Description from ITRF2020 Document

    ITRF2020 is the new realization of the International Terrestrial Reference System. Following the procedure already used for previous ITRF solutions, the ITRF2020 uses as input data time series of station positions and Earth Orientation Parameters (EOPs) provided by the Technique Centers of the four space geodetic techniques (VLBI, SLR, GNSS and DORIS), as well as local ties at colocation sites. Based on completely reprocessed solutions of the four techniques, the ITRF2020 is expected to be an improved solution compared to ITF2014. A number of innovations were introduced in the ITRF2020 processing, including:

    • The time series of the four techniques were stacked all together, adding local ties and equating station velocities and seasonal signals at colocation sites;
    • Annual and semi-annual terms were estimated for stations of the 4 techniques with sufficient time spans;
    • Post-Seismic Deformation (PSD) models for stations subject to major earthquakes were determined by fitting GNSS/IGS data. The PSD models were then applied to the 3 other technique time series at earthquake colocation sites.

    The box below provides a good summary of the International Reference Frame and why it’s important to the scientific community as well as the surveying and mapping community. Readers can download the article from the June 2022 International GNSS Service Issue 4 newsletter. Users also can sign up to receive notices and newsletters from the International GNSS Service.

    ITRF2020: A new release of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame By Zuheir Altamimi

    What is the current rate of sea level rise in different regions of the globe? How does our Earth deform under the effect of plate tectonics, seismic phenomena, or the melting of ice caps? How the Earth’s center of mass is varying? How to determine the position of a point on the surface of a constantly deforming Earth and compare it to positions estimated decades apart? The answers to these fundamental questions for understanding the dynamics of our planet require the availability of a global, long-term stable terrestrial reference frame, but preferably a standard reference so to ensure interoperability and consistency of various measurements collected by sensors on the ground, or via artificial satellites. The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) is the standard reference recommended by a number of international scientific organizations, including the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) and the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) for earth science, satellite navigation and operational geodesy applications. The ITRF is an international effort that is built on the investments of space and mapping agencies, universities and research groups in operating geodetic observatories, archiving and analyzing the collected geodetic observations to derive not only the ITRF, but also critical geodetic products for science and society.

    The ITRF integrates and unifies technique-specific reference frames provided by the four IAG’s international services of space geodetic technique (DORIS/IDS, GNSS/IGS, SLR/ILRS, VLBI/ IVS). It is supplied to the users in the form of temporal coordinates of more than 1500 stations, Earth Orientation Parameters, as well as parametric functions describing nonlinear station motions: seasonal signals due to mainly loading effects and post-seismic deformations for sites subject to major earthquakes. It is necessary to regularly update the ITRF (approximately every 5 years) in order to benefit from continuous observations so to improve its accuracy, considering station position temporal variations due to geophysical phenomena.

    The ITRF is maintained by a research group at IGN-France and IPGP (Institut de Physique de Globe de Paris), and whose new release called ITRF2020 was published on April 15 and accessible here: https://itrf.ign.fr/en/solutions/ITRF2020. The ITRF2020 brings significant improvements compared to previous achievements: it confirms the estimate of the position of the center of mass of the Earth as it was determined in 2016, but also provides its seasonal variations; it improves the accuracy of the scale of the frame at the millimeter level, which represents a gain in precision of a factor of 8 on the measurement of the size of the Earth (compared to that determined in 2016); it provides a precise quantification of co- and post-seismic displacements caused by devastating earthquakes, such as that of Sumatra in 2004, Chile in 2010 and Japan in 2011. The IAG Services rely on the ITRF to align their geodetic products to it, and therefore disseminate it widely among the various users. In particular, using the IGS products, such as the orbits, allows a universal access in space and time to the ITRF.

    As stated in the article by Zuheir Altamimi, ITRF2020 involves IAG’s international services of four space geodetic techniques: DORIS/IDS, GNSS/IGS, SLR/ILRS, VLBI/ IVS. Computing an International Terrestrial Frame is very complex and requires analyses of difference types of geodetic and geophysical data. It is beyond the scope of this column, but online is more detailed technical information.

    For this column, I downloaded the station lists from the four space geodetic techniques and provided a few plots that depict the location and velocities of these sites. The box below depicts the location of the space geodetic techniques around the world. As indicated in the plot, some locations have more than one technique collocated at the same site.

    Plot of the Four Different Space Geodetic Techniques

    Image: David Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    The following plots depict the locations using each space geodetic techniques: GNSS sites, DORIS sites, SLR sites and VLBI sites.

    Plot of GNSS Sites

    Image: David Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

     

    Plot of DORIS Sites

    Image: David Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    Plot of SLR Sites

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    Plot of VLBI Sites

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    The box below shows the location of the techniques in the conterminous United States.

    Plot of the Four Different Space Geodetic Techniques in the CONUS

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    The plot below depicts the sites in the state of Alaska.

    Plot of the Four Different Space Geodetic Techniques in the Alaska

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    The images below depict each of the four space geodetic techniques in the conterminous United States.

    Plots of the Space Geodetic Techniques by Technique in the CONUS

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Plot of GNSS Sites in CONUS Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Plot of DORIS Sites in CONUS (Image: Dave Zilkoski)
    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Plot of SLR Sites in CONUS (Image: Dave Zilkoski)
    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Plot of VLBI Sites in CONUS (Image: Dave Zilkoski)

    Altamimi’s article on the ITRF2020 stated it is “necessary to regularly update the ITRF (approximately every 5 years) to account for station position temporal variations due to geophysical phenomena.” My February 2022 column discussed the tectonic plates and why is it necessary to account for movement in a geodetic reference frame. As I stated then, coordinates basically change because the Earth’s surface is moving due to the movement of major tectonic plates. See the box titled “What is Tectonic Shift?” for information about why it is called plate movement or tectonic shift. The world’s geodesists understand this and are attempting to manage the changing coordinates by providing a time-dependent component of the international terrestrial reference frame.

    Image: National Ocean Service Website
    Image: National Ocean Service website
    Image: National Ocean Service Website
    Image: National Ocean Service website

    The box below depicts the horizontal velocity based on the ITRF2020 velocities (downloaded on 08/12/2022).

    Plot of the Horizontal Velocity Vectors based on the ITRF2020 Velocities

    (Image: Dave Zilkoski)
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    The box below depicts the horizontal velocities in the North America. These vectors look very similar to the velocities reported in my February 2022 column.

    Plot of the Horizontal Velocity Vectors in North America based on the ITRF2020 Velocities

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    For a comparison to North America vectors, the box below depicts the velocity vectors in Europe.

    Plot of the Horizontal Velocity Vectors in Europe based on the ITRF2020 Velocities

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    They are similar in magnitude, but not in direction. Once again, looking at the map of tectonic plates, North America is located mostly on the North American plate and Europe is on the Eurasian plate.

    Australia is on the Indo-Australian plate and has some fairly large horizontal velocities vectors. See the box below.

    Plot of the Horizontal Velocity Vectors in Australia based on the ITRF2020 Velocities

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    So, what’s the difference between ITRF2014 and the new ITRF2020? The box below provides the 14 transformation parameters from ITRF2020 to ITRF2014. These transformation parameters have been estimated using 131 stations located at 105 sites. See the box “Plot of the Stations used in the Transformation Parameters from ITRF2020 to ITRF2014” for the location of these stations. Notice that the translation values in X,Y,Z are very small (<1.5 mm) between the two reference frames.

    Transformation Parameters from ITRF2020 to ITRF2014

    (https://itrf.ign.fr/en/solutions/ITRF2020)
    (https://itrf.ign.fr/en/solutions/ITRF2020)

    Transformation parameters at epoch 2015.0 and their rates from ITRF2020 to ITRF2014 (ITRF2014 minus ITRF2020)

    (https://itrf.ign.fr/en/solutions/ITRF2020)
    (https://itrf.ign.fr/docs/solutions/itrf2020/Transfo-ITRF2020_TRFs.txt)

    X,Y,Z are the coordinates in ITRF2020, and XS,YS,ZS are the coordinates in ITRF2014.

    Plot of the Stations used in the Transformation Parameters from ITRF2020 to ITRF2014

    Image: Dave Zilkoski
    Image: Dave Zilkoski

    The transformation parameters from ITRF2020 and past ITRFs are provided in the table below. As indicated in the table, most of the changes in X,Y and Z are very small since ITRF2005.

    Transformation Parameters from ITRF2020 to Past ITRFs

    (https://itrf.ign.fr/docs/solutions/itrf2020/Transfo-ITRF2020_TRFs.txt )
    (https://itrf.ign.fr/docs/solutions/itrf2020/Transfo-ITRF2020_TRFs.txt)

    As previously stated, the third multi-year CORS solution will be important to the new 2022 modernized National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) because NGS will establish a strict mathematical relationship between the 2022 NSRS frames and the ITRF2020 frame. This will allow direct access to the NSRS, according to NOAA Technical Report NOS NGS 67. Again, there will not be any changes to NGS’s NOAA CORS coordinates due to ITRF2020 until NGS completes its third multi-year CORS solution.

    Users can receive emails about the latest NGS News by signing up for NGS’s newsletters. These notices will highlight the release of new products, updates to existing services, progress reports for major projects, information about upcoming NGS-sponsored events, and job opportunities at NGS.

  • John Deere opens RFP for satellite communications solution

    John Deere opens RFP for satellite communications solution

    John Deere logo

    Deere & Company has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to secure a satellite communications solution that will further connect its fleet of intelligent machines. The solution will enhance the satellite connectivity that Deere is delivering to its customers.

    “We believe satcon will unlock significant opportunities in agriculture by enabling farmers to take advantage of innovative technologies that rely on real-time information and communication,” said Lane Arthur, vice president of Data, Applications and Analytics at John Deere. “For example, autonomous tractors benefit from real-time communication through the John Deere Operations Center, as farmers use the app to start and stop the machine, monitor the job it’s executing, and determine what it should do when it encounters an obstacle.”

    During the initial phase, Deere is seeking a strategic partnership with a vendor or set of vendors to connect both new machines and retrofitted machines through satellite service and ruggedized satellite terminals. This is expected to enable Deere’s customers to be more productive and efficient, and increase food and fuel production.

    For more information on the request for proposals, contact [email protected].

  • ESA seeks companies to help guide Moon missions

    ESA seeks companies to help guide Moon missions

    The European Space Agency (ESA) is looking for companies interested in helping create a constellation of lunar satellites to connect and guide missions to the Moon. Creating lasting telecommunications and navigation links with the Moon will enable sustainable space exploration for the hundreds of lunar missions that are due to launch within the next few decades, ESA stated.

    The companies would provide telecommunications and navigation services to these lunar missions, under its Moonlight initiative.

    ESA is completing two studies with two consortia of space companies based in Europe that assess the business case and the technical solutions for building and operating a constellation of lunar satellites. ESA is asking any space firms to indicate whether they would like to become involved in the ambitious project — or simply to develop lunar telecommunication and navigation technologies and products. The deadline is Oct. 28.

    Artist’s rendering: NASA
    Artist’s rendering: NASA

    On Sept. 19, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson signed a joint statement on lunar exploration cooperation at the International Astronautical Congress in Paris.

    The lunar Gateway  will be an outpost in orbit around the Moon. It will serve as the staging point for both robotic and crewed exploration of the lunar south pole.

    ESA’s European Service Modules will power all Artemis Orion spacecraft to the Moon and back. ESA will also provide refueling elements for Gateway and a communications module that will pave the way for Moonlight.

    ESA has already initiated the Lunar Pathfinder project to provide initial communications services to early lunar missions, which will also help to prepare for the next stage with Moonlight. The Lunar Pathfinder will also include a navigation payload demonstrator, which will allow positioning in lunar orbit using GPS and Galileo systems for the first time, and is due to launch in 2025.

    Space companies in Europe and Canada will be invited to tender for the initial Moonlight work in December.

  • Trimble’s new ag displays provide connectivity for in-field operations

    Trimble’s new ag displays provide connectivity for in-field operations

    The GFX-1260 display for precision agriculture. (Photo: Trimble)
    The GFX-1260 display for precision agriculture. (Photo: Trimble)

    Trimble has introduced next-generation displays for precision agriculture applications — the Trimble GFX-1060 and GFX-1260.

    The displays enable farmers to complete in-field operations quickly and efficiently while also mapping and monitoring field information in real time with precision, Trimble said. Both displays feature an Android-based operating system and enhanced processing power for controlling and executing in-field work.

    The new flagship GFX-1260 is a 12-inch (30.5 cm) display, while the GFX-1060 is a 10-inch (25.6 cm) display, and both are compatible with the Trimble NAV-500 and NAV-900 GNSS guidance controllers.

    When paired with the NAV-900, farmers can achieve increased accuracy out of the box by leveraging Trimble’s leading CenterPoint RTX correction service, which is included for the first year.

    The high-resolution touchscreen displays are compatible with more than 10,000 vehicle models across more than 40 equipment brands. The displays are ISOBUS-compatible, which allows one display or terminal to control ISOBUS implements, regardless of manufacturer. It standardizes control settings, reduces downtime and minimizes installation and interface challenges, simplifying data exchange and machine control.

    The new displays enable farmers to set up and configure their equipment through Trimble’s Precision-IQ field software, including manual guidance, assisted and automated steering, application controls, mapping and data logging, equipment profiles and camera feeds from attached inputs and other internet-based apps.

    Running the powerful Precision-IQ software, the Trimble GFX-1060 and GFX-1260 displays feature:

    • flexible connectivity across the farm through integrated wireless options including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and BroadR-Reach high-speed communications
    • seamless communication from tractor to farm equipment through ISOBUS compatibility, the Field-IQ crop input control system, and Trimble Universal Variable Rate (TUVR) or serial rate control
    • ability to connect to GNSS correction services including Trimble RTX technology, CenterPoint RTK and CenterPoint VRS through the NAV-900 controller
    • compatibility with all Trimble guidance systems as well as CAN bus support for both assisted and automated steering
    • interoperability with Trimble Ag Software to support data management needs across the farming ecosystem
    • data sharing across the farm with the optional AutoSync feature, allowing farm managers to remotely send work orders and ensure vehicles, implements and fieldwork are aligned and working properly.
  • M3 Systems, Pipistrel and Volocopter complete air traffic tests in France

    M3 Systems, Pipistrel and Volocopter complete air traffic tests in France

    The flight test is the third of several to simulate a variety of real-world scenarios that demonstrate how UTM and ATM intersect with multiple aircraft types.

    M3 Systems, Pipistrel and Volocopter have completed their first joint flight test campaign in France at Pontoise airfield.

    The week-long flight tests simulated three different avoidance maneuvers in real-world situations where unforeseen circumstances occur, such as a complete airport or vertiport closure, an unavailable final approach and takeoff area, and traffic deconfliction.

    M3 Systems was created from engineering activities in GNSS and consulting activities in air traffic management (ATM), including for uncrewed aircraft. M3 played a role in Galileo signal definition, among other projects for Europe’s various space agencies. Pipstrel is a light aircraft manufacturer specializing in electric propulsion, and Volocopter specializes in urban air mobility (UAM) systems.

    The joint campaign among the three companies — with French partners Groupe ADP and its subsidiary Hologarde — aimed to achieve smooth interaction within and between the new lower airspace’s unmanned traffic management (UTM) and standard civil aviation ATM systems.

    The Boreal system is a fixed-wing UAV with high-endurance and heavy payload capacity. (Photo: M3 Systems)
    The Boreal system is a fixed-wing UAV with high-endurance and heavy payload capacity. (Photo: M3 Systems)

    The aviation industry is experiencing an innovation upsurge driven by technology and societal pressure for new forms of aviation focused on sustainable, digital and autonomous air mobility. The resulting solutions will generate a significant increase in traffic density in the lower airspace.

    Because existing ATM systems are not designed to handle such volumes or digitalization, coordinating existing and new traffic management systems for brand-new aircraft integration will ensure efficient large-scale operations. This includes commercial, general and drone aircraft for cargo and passenger flights, both crewed and uncrewed.

    The CORUS-XUAM project, funded by the European Union’s initiative Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking, focuses on solving the challenge of conventional and new traffic management system integration and consists of 19 partners and 11 third parties. M3 Systems, Pipistrel and Volocopter all completed individual flight-test campaigns before this event to bring their aircraft in line with the U-space services.

    A week of flight tests ended with an Open Day air show and presentations. (Photo: M3 Mobility)
    A week of flight tests ended with an Open Day air show and presentations. (Photo: M3 Mobility)

    The CORUS-XUAM flight test conducted at Pontoise airfield near Paris is the third of several flight tests to simulate a variety of real-world scenarios that demonstrate how UTM and ATM intersect with multiple aircraft types.

    Moreover, the CORUS-XUAM project will continue to proactively test and create a safe and controlled lower airspace under the European Union’s ambitious Single European Sky (SES) initiative throughout 2022.

    The successful flight tests at Pontoise airfield were conducted with M3 System’s Boreal remotely piloted aircraft system, Pipistrel’s crewed Velis Electro, the only type-certified electric aircraft in commercial service in the world, and Volocopter’s fullscale, remotely piloted 2X prototype. Pipistrel uses the conventional ATM tower and system while Volocopter and M3 Systems use the UTM system. The following three flight scenarios were tested:

    • The unexpected occupancy of a final-approach-and-takeoff plan and aircraft diversion because of priority landing of another aircraft (Pipistrel and Volocopter aircraft).
    • The diversion of a flight path because of the closure of an airport or vertiport (M3 Systems).
    • The diversion of a flight path with two aircraft flying the same path (M3 Systems and Volocopter aircraft).

    “These successful tests confirm that our Boreal UAS will be an enabler for future XUAM operations in situations where aircraft need to safely divert paths to another vertiport due to an unforeseen closure or another aircraft in the air,” explained Marc Pollina, M3 Systems CEO. “By providing rerouting demonstrations and tactical communications with U-Space service providers, M3 Systems can support future coordination between AAM and airport operators.”

    Pipistrel is “As the manufacturer of the only type-certified electric aircraft in commercial service in the world, proud to take part in technical projects that shape the vision of air mobility and make progress in a meaningful way,” said Gabriel Massey, Pipistrel president. “The CORUS project and Paris demonstrations clearly show how UAM vehicles will be able to fly safely in regular airspace post-2030 and will help to unlock new lower-noise and lower-emission air passenger and air cargo services.”

    In 2019, Volocopter tested its 2X ATM integration at Helsinki airport and was actively involved in the development of the European U-Space Concept of Operations, according to Oliver Reinhardt, Volocopter’s chief risk and certification officer. “Building an efficient ecosystem around UAM is Volocopter’s mission, and connecting ATM/UTM integration with our digital platform, VoloIQ, is poised to be an integral part of bringing UAM to megacities worldwide,” Reinhardt said. “I am looking forward to the next CORUS-XUAM test flights later this year in Germany and what we can achieve there.”

    The project has received funding from the SESAR Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101017682.

  • AUVSI works with Defense on cybersecurity certification for commercial drones

    AUVSI works with Defense on cybersecurity certification for commercial drones

    AUVSI’s Trusted Cyber Program will offer commercial drone certification based on DIU Blue UAS methodology

    Blue UAS logoThe Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) is collaborating with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to further commercial cyber methodologies to build a shared standard. The standard would be similar to one used to develop DIU’s Blue UAS Cleared List.

    AUVSI’s effort is designed to expand the number of vetted uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) that meet congressional and federal agency drone security requirements.

    DIU accelerates commercial technology for national security. Its Blue UAS program launched in 2021 is aimed at prototyping and scaling capable and secure commercial UAS technology for the Department of Defense (DOD).

    “The goal of this new pilot initiative is to extend relevant cyber credentialing across the U.S. industrial base, proactively, streamlining and accelerating capabilities available to the DOD and the rest of the U.S. government,” said Brian Wynne, AUVSI president and CEO. “We are grateful for DIU’s partnership and look forward to working with them to make the U.S. drone industry more resilient and secure.”

    AUVSI efforts will streamline the vetting process and expand potential small UAS entrants to the government through its Trusted Cyber Program. The industry-led cyber compliance effort will work with a suite of cybersecurity firms to provide technical cyber assessments. DIU, DOD and other government organizations can then conduct additional vetting if needed.

    The Blue UAS program has helped establish a cybersecurity baseline and coordinate government efforts to streamline the approval process for commercially available NDAA-compliant drones. Thirteen drones are scheduled to be added to the Blue UAS Cleared List, but demand for additional cleared drones with new capabilities has outpaced DIU’s ability to scale this critical program, because of limited funding and manpower. Because of its unique position in the market, AUVSI and its Trusted Cyber Program will provide this cybersecurity certification pathway to the commercial industry in close coordination with DIU.

    “Commercial-off-the-shelf UAS are increasingly relied upon by federal agencies as critical tools to conduct diverse operations,” said David Michelson, DIU program manager for Blue UAS. “Partnerships with industry that make it easier for federal users to access commercial technology will help achieve the program’s goals.”

  • u-blox: Disruption leads to wide adoption

    u-blox: Disruption leads to wide adoption

    An interview with Markus Uster, head of product center positioning at u-blox about recent GNSS receiver innovations.

    Uster
    Uster

    What was the most significant technical innovation in your GNSS receivers in the past five years?

    The u-blox F9, launched in 2018, is our robust and versatile high-precision positioning technology platform. It was the first receiver to enable multi-band high-precision positioning solutions for mass-market industrial and automotive applications — and remains the benchmark for the industry today.

    The platform combines multi-constellation (continuous reception of four satellite constellations) GNSS technology with dead reckoning and high-precision algorithms. It is also compatible with a variety of GNSS correction data services to achieve positioning accuracy down to the centimeter level.

    The u-blox F9 platform is leading the next generation of high-precision navigation with its augmented reality, unmanned vehicles and various machine automation applications. It has since been integrated into a selection of modules catering to a wide range of applications.

    What has it enabled users to do that they could not do before?

    The u-blox F9 is a widely adopted multi-band GNSS platform for automotive and industrial applications. (Photo: u-blox)
    The u-blox F9 is a widely adopted multi-band GNSS platform for automotive and industrial applications. (Photo: u-blox)

    In a nutshell, the u-blox F9 brought high-precision positioning to the mass market. The demand for scalable high-precision technology is growing rapidly, as evident in the automotive world with next-generation advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and in robotics with applications such as UAVs and robotic lawnmowers. However, due to the complexity, size, power and cost restrictions of existing high-precision solutions, until now it has been difficult to meet the demands of these markets.

    u-blox developed the u-blox F9 platform by building on the success of our NEO-M8P high-precision GNSS module series and drawing on our extensive experience in GNSS positioning technologies, including dead reckoning, multi-band, real-time kinematic (RTK) and GNSS correction services. The platform delivers the next level of scalable GNSS high-precision technology and shows how u-blox is consistently addressing challenges and driving the GNSS technology evolution.

    What is a good example of this?

    Integration of the u-blox F9 platform into various applications has proven quite successful in a diverse range of use cases. In the industrial realm, u-blox F9 technology enables mass adoption of commercial unmanned vehicle applications. One example is precision agriculture, where high-precision positioning cost-effectively enables vehicle guidance solutions to improve pass-to-pass accuracy resulting in improved crop yield and reduced consumption of pesticides, fertilizer and seeds. The u-blox F9 modules also paved the way for autonomous driving, including lane-level navigation for heads-up displays and vehicular infotainment systems, a prerequisite for highly automated and fully autonomous vehicles.

  • Celestia UK wins ESA contract to improve GNSS signals

    Celestia UK wins ESA contract to improve GNSS signals

    Celestia UK has won a €800,000 European Space Agency (ESA) contract to develop an innovative positioning, navigation and timing(PNT) solution based on LEO satellite constellations for 5G networks and applications.

    The contract was granted under ESA’s Navigation, Innovation and Support Programme (NAVISP).

    Malachy Devlin, CEO, Celestia UK
    Malachy Devlin, CEO, Celestia UK

    Celestia’s LEO-SYN+ project is intended to boost the reliability and performance of GNSS. It will use low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite signals of opportunity to provide a resilient position and time reference for 5G networks and improve the robustness of GNSS signals.

    It includes development of a PNT receiver compatible with multi-GNSS constellations and LEO signals of opportunity, as well as testing of the solution in 5G networks. A prototype receiver will validate the product design and the technology development, paving the way for additional applications of the technology to other critical infrastructures after the initial ESA NAVSIP roll-out.

    To deliver the ambitious project, Celestia UK is partnering with Heriot-Watt University, which brings extensive knowledge in satellite communications and digital signal processing, and The Scotland 5G Centre, the national center for accelerating deployment and adoption of 5G and realizing its economic and societal potential for Scotland.

    “It is a great benefit for the business to have won an ESA NAVSIP contract,” said Malachy Devlin, CEO of Celestia UK. “We are looking forward to collaborating with ESA and our partners to unlock the potential to improve the resilience of 5G networks with our PNT solution.”

    Ian Sharp, head of Business Development, The Scotland 5G Centre, added,“The Scotland 5G Centre is providing businesses access to 5G services through a national network of innovation hubs, under its 5GConnect Programme. It is well known that 5G will support higher data throughput and interactive services through reduced latency. However, 5G will also provide new possibilities for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT).  Use of advanced antennas and positioning over satellite will be critical for outdoor applications where precise navigation is essential to meet safety requirements for the likes of drone navigation and autonomous vehicles.  We are delighted to be working alongside Celestia UK, supporting the innovative LEO-SYN+ project, which will utilise our cutting edge 5G network.”

  • APNT/Space team aims to advance navigation capabilities

    APNT/Space team aims to advance navigation capabilities

    APNT/Space modernization gives U.S. Army a clearer view of multi-domain battlefield

    U.S. Army soldiers experiment with new assured PNTT/space equipment during the 2021 PNT Assessment Exercise at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. (Photo: U.S. Army/Austin Thomas, Army Futures Command)
    U.S. Army soldiers experiment with new assured PNTT/space equipment during the 2021 PNT Assessment Exercise at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. (Photo: U.S. Army/Austin Thomas, Army Futures Command)

    News from U.S. Army Futures Command

    The Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing/Space Cross-Functional Team — APNT/Space CFT — takes a multi-dimensional approach to understanding and preparing for future warfare.

    The team — based at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama — is dedicated to advancing the Army’s tactical and navigational capabilities and ensuring tomorrow’s soldiers  have the modern situational tools they need to maneuver with the utmost accuracy, safety and skill.

    The CFT is making significant progress toward this goal by leveraging iterative developments, remaining open to new technologies and committing to continuously evolving PNT equipment and systems to meet changing threats and needs.

    “Our cross-functional team will continue to assess and strengthen the future of our operational environments, emerging threats and technologies to ensure our Army is prepared for 2030 and beyond. We will continue to support the requirement development and delivery of trusted solutions to the soldier,” said Michael C. Monteleone III, director of the APNT/Space CFT, reiterating the team’s focus on nimbly and steadfastly enabling the success of future warfighters.

    According to Army planners, the likelihood of future operations spanning diverse domains — air, land, sea, space, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum — means soldiers will need more flexible and far-ranging resources to inform their movements and operations.

    To facilitate this, the APNT/Space CFT conducts rigorous field experimentation and prototype assessment and drafts detailed requirements for state-of-the-art materiel solutions, which the Army can then further develop and employ to improve information gathering and data precision without disrupting or adding extra burden to soldier operations.

    Experimentation for APNT/Space happens on the ground and in the air, including along the electromagnetic spectrum — sometimes referred to as the “invisible battlefield” — and in the low Earth orbit of space.

    Within these frequently interwoven domains, the APNT/Space CFT investigates alternative GPS capabilities and other navigation resources already in use, while also evaluating how to best integrate new anti-jamming functions, electronic support, inertial navigation systems and vision-based navigation platforms.

    The CFT coordinates regularly with industry, joint partners and other government agencies to identify and explore solutions that are modular, scalable and an excellent fit for multiple platforms, as well as the upgrades and adjustments that occur to equipment and systems over time.

    Modern PNT tools being developed and fielded include mounted, dismounted and alternative navigation systems, situational awareness devices, and next-generation sensors that allow for optimum flexibility and performance against threats.

    Within the realm of space, the CFT is shaping a strategy to provide survivable, responsive and resilient intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and communications capabilities in low Earth orbit, complete with the ability to share information rapidly and securely with tactical commanders on the ground.

    The team’s experts are also focused on understanding and preparing for the future of navigation warfare, or NAVWAR, which will require sophisticated offensive and defensive systems to produce tactical advantages and enable overmatch. To encourage synchronization of efforts on this front, the CFT is working closely with Army partners to draft an overarching NAVWAR strategy that aligns with U.S. Department of Defense NAVWAR plans but is also tailored to unique Army needs.

    By studying and preparing for multi-domain operations and experimenting with the newest technologies available, the APNT/Space CFT is playing an integral role in helping the Army to equip soldiers with more mobile, scalable and interoperable navigation devices, in turn strengthening the agility of the future force.

  • Carlson joins with Autel on professional UAS package

    Carlson joins with Autel on professional UAS package

    The Autel EVO II Pro RTK UAS. (Photo: Autel Robotics)
    The Autel EVO II Pro RTK UAS. (Photo: Autel Robotics)

    Carlson Software and Autel Robotics are partnering on the Autel EVO II Pro Series drone to provide drone operators with the opportunity to use the full suite of Carlson’s software and hardware solutions.

    “We can take you through the entire project lifecycle, from setting your ground control points with a BRx7 GNSS receiver and RT4 data collector with SurvPC field software to the actual drone flight to the photo processing on your computer or in the cloud, all the way through to processing that data, creating linework, surfaces, and finished plans in CAD with our powerful, industry-standard office software,” said Derek Roché, Carlson regional manager.

    Carlson’s tools for UAS professionals include:

    • Carlson PhotoCapture, a standalone or cloud-based photogrammetry software to create point clouds, orthoimages, surfaces and more from drone photo data
    • Carlson Point Cloud office software, which provides powerful tools such as bare-earth and automated feature extraction for point clouds
    • Carlson’s suite of CAD office software, including the Carlson Survey program to create finished CAD files and plans
    • Carlson BRx7 GNSS receiver, which can be used both to accurately place ground-control points and as a base to provide corrections to an Autel EVO II Pro RTK drone through Carlson’s Listen-Listen network.

    “The workflow capabilities Carlson already has in place present an excellent choice for land development professionals, and now with the addition of the Autel EVO II series to handle the aerial data collection, we’re proud to offer the most comprehensive option in the industry today.”

    In 2015, Autel Robotics released its first-generation UAS product: the X-STAR. The success of the X-STAR and the subsequent EVO II series allowed Autel Robotics to quickly build a reputation in U.S. markets. With the introduction of the EVO II series and platform in 2020, Autel Robotics will push its folding UAS to new heights in performance and application.

    Carlson specializes in land surveying, construction, engineering, mining, machine control, and CSI solutions for professionals worldwide. In business since 1983, Carlson’s approach has always been to provide its customers with the most efficient, specialized, and powerful tools possible, backed by the best free, unlimited support in the industry.

    Visit Carlson’s Autel EVO II RTK product page here, or find your Carlson sales representative or authorized dealer here.

  • Aerovironment’s visual-based navigation system takes over for GPS

    Aerovironment’s visual-based navigation system takes over for GPS

    AeroVironment's Puma is hand-launched. (Photo: Lance Cpl. Frank Cordoba/U.S. Marine Corps)
    AeroVironment’s Puma is hand-launched. (Photo: Lance Cpl. Frank Cordoba/U.S. Marine Corps)

    AeroVironment Inc. has introduced Puma VNS, a visual-based navigation system for its Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS). The system enables navigation across GPS-denied environments.

    Puma VNS will receive frequent software and hardware updates, providing operators with advanced navigation capabilities, features and functionality. The system will also enable integration of future autonomy capabilities.

    “Puma VNS gives operators an unprecedented advantage in the battlefield,” said Trace Stevenson, AeroVironment vice president and product line general manager for SUAS. “Operators now can execute missions with more confidence in GPS-contested environments with the system’s new navigational capabilities.”

    VNS uses a suite of downward-looking sensors to gather imagery data and track features on the ground, as well as an embedded computing module to process and determine the precise location of an aircraft while in flight. The system automatically transitions to and from GPS-denied navigation mode without operator input.

    Puma VNS is available as an add-on option for new Puma 3 AE system orders and as a retrofit kit for fielded Puma 2 AE and Puma 3 AE systems.

  • Furuno’s latest global timing solutions support L1 and L5 GNSS signals

    Furuno’s latest global timing solutions support L1 and L5 GNSS signals

    Image: Furuno
    Image: Furuno

    Furuno Electric Co. has released a new generation of time-synchronization GNSS receiver modules compatible with all GNSS systems. The modules deliver nanosecond precision for 5G mobile systems, radio communications systems, smart power grids and grand master clocks.

    GNSS receivers for time synchronization are used extensively in critical infrastructure such as mobile base stations and RAN equipment, commercial and defense radio communications, broadcasting, financial trading and smart power grids, where there are increasing needs for robustness, reliability and security.

    Furuno is releasing three new products: GT-100, GT-9001 and GT-90. They are designed to suit different applications based on the frequency bands and output signals supported. All models have the world’s highest level of time stability of 4.5 ns (1 sigma).

    The GT-100 is the company’s first timing multi-GNSS receiver module supporting concurrent L1 and L5 reception. This mitigates the effects of solar flares, which can lead to time errors, and strengthens measures against GNSS vulnerabilities such as jamming and spoofing.

    • The GT-100 delivers three outputs including 1 pulse per second (1 PPS) synchronized with UTC as well as user-programmable frequencies. The outputs can be set as required to 10 MHz, 2.048 MHz and 19.2 MHz, commonly used in a variety of wireless communications systems. This drastically reduces the time from development to market launch for these systems, as well as cost savings through reduced component needs. GT-100 is a full-featured highly robust model, supporting dual-frequency band reception (L1 and L5).
    • GT-9001 supports L1 and delivers high stability 1PPS and programmable clocks on three channels.
    • GT-90 supports L1 and provides a 1 PPS high stability output.

    All models are equipped with the leading Dynamic Satellite Selection (DSS) multipath mitigation technology developed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) that minimizes degradation of time performance even when the antenna is installed in urban areas or near a window.

    Furuno will showcase the new modules at EuMW’s European Microwave Exhibition, a trade and technology exhibition providing access to initiatives in the RF and microwave sector.

    Evaluation kits for all three products are available now.