Spectra Precision‘s MobileMapper 300 smart antenna is now directly driven by DigiTerra Information Services’ DigiTerra Explorer 7 GIS software for mobile mapping.
“Users running DigiTerra Explorer 7 on their Windows devices now have the ability to achieve GNSS accuracies directly and more simply with the MobileMapper 300,” said Olivier Casabianca, Spectra Precision’s business area director, in a news release.
MobileMapper 300 is a professional-grade GNSS receiver with scalable advanced accuracy options, from mapping grade to full RTK accuracy, including RangePoint RTX over IP support. It is designed for use in combination with a wide variety of mobile devices, including smart phones, tablets and notebook computers.
DigiTerra Explorer offers mobile mapping, GIS data collection and maintenance, as well as field-to-office workflow solutions. The software is used in the GIS forestry and agriculture markets in Europe and is expanding into North America.
Eric Anderson describes the Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) and its world conference, coming to Washington, D.C., in 2017. He was interviewed by GeoIntelligence Insider columnist Art Kalinski for geospatial-solutions.com at the Esri Federal GIS Conference, held Feb. 24-25 in Washington, D.C.
European Union (EU) transport ministers have agreed to take action to make autonomous driving a reality across the 28-nation bloc.
The Amsterdam Declaration was signed by the ministers during an informal meeting of the Transport Council on April 14 in Amsterdam.
The declaration outlines the steps necessary for the development of self-driving technology in the EU. In the document, the Netherlands, the European Commission, EU member states and the transport industry pledged to draw up rules and regulations that will allow autonomous vehicles to be used on the roads.
Specifically, they agreed to:
promote a consistent legal framework for driverless driving throughout Europe
develop a policy to deal with connected and automated-vehicle data
work toward an internationally compatible vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure system
cooperate to ensure cyber security
increase acceptance of connected and automated vehicle technologies
“Our industry welcomes the Declaration of Amsterdam as an important milestone that promotes much-needed cooperation between automobile manufacturers, national governments and the EU institutions,” said Erik Jonnaert, secretary general of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).
Connected, cooperative and automated driving developments should come together to harvest societal benefits. (Chart from Amsterdam Declaration)
Leica Geosystems has launched a new antenna for static, long-term projects requiring a high number of sensors. The Leica GMX910 can also enable dynamic monitoring with up to 10-Hz data streaming and advanced multi-frequency, multi-constellation tracking.
Starting with the basic GPS single frequency receiver and adding multiple upgradable options, this antenna fits the needs of diverse monitoring projects, the company said. The antenna supports multiple GNSS satellite systems and signals. Tracking up to 555 channels, this antenna anticipates the future and is ready for ongoing changes in GNSS technology.
The smart antenna is also fully integrated in the Leica GeoMoS deformation monitoring solution and seamlessly connects to Leica GNSS Spider offering high-quality GNSS processing results.
The highest reliability of data streaming is achieved by plugging a cable into the GMX910. An IP67 rating against dust and water, extended temperature ranges and low power consumption enables installation of the device in remote areas and severe conditions.
The Leica GMX910 adapts to a wide range of GNSS monitoring applications, from complex man-made to natural structures. The smallest movements of bridges, dams or high-rise buildings are detected in real-time.
Zac Canders of DataCapable describes the company’s open data products for emergency response, using nontraditional data sources such as social media and weather. He was interviewed by GeoIntelligence Insider columnist Art Kalinski for geospatial-solutions.com at the Esri Federal GIS Conference, held Feb. 24-25 in Washington, D.C.
There were well over 100 presentations and speeches given at the 32nd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colo., last week. However, I only want to speak about one of them briefly. While there were many presentations that were absolutely newsworthy, one presenter had something special and significant to say about the future of space and warfare.
Gen. John Hyten is generally known for his role as the Commander of Air Force Space Command. In truth, he wears many more hats — official and unofficial. Fortunately, his role as the commander of AFSPC works perfectly for our analysis.
Commander AFSPC – Gen. John Hyten (Courtesy of the USAF)
I have known and respected John Hyten for more than 20 years and have seen him grow and mature in his role as leader, mentor and prophet in all things space. He has grown in his ability to speak his mind in a clear and cogent fashion. This has not always been the case, and he and I butted heads for about 30 seconds one day years ago, with the result that I respect him now more than ever.
John Hyten is and has always been an ardent supporter of GPS not only for the military and joint warfighter but also as a free gift to the world, of incalculable value, courtesy of the United States Air Force.
For those who did not notice, let me say that Gen. John Hyten’s Space Symposium Keynote Address was given without him looking at one note. He barely glanced at his slides or his video — all because John Hyten is not only clear and certain with his message, but he is passionate in his beliefs and he speaks from knowledge and experience as well as from the heart. John Hyten lives and breathes “space” as a domain and as a vision.
Now we get to the prophet part of John Hyten. John is not only an articulate spokesman for space, cyber-space and airmen, he is a true visionary for what is to come. He thinks problems through and is not afraid to question conventional wisdom when it is not truly wisdom. John is not afraid to take on the establishment when conventional thinking puts our warfighters in harm’s way.
In his presentation, John makes a curious and I think debatable distinction. He says:
“…a lot of people think that I’m a warfighter. I’m not; I’m with the organize, train and equip command. The warfighter is Lieutenant Gen. David Buck. He works for the Commander of Strategic Command — that’s where we do operations. My job in Air Force Space Command is to lead the 36,000 men and women — organize, train and equip forces so I can present forces to Gen. Buck — so he can actually do the missions he needs to do. That’s the way it works.”
So now the general and I are going to butt heads gently once again. Gen. Hyten and his organize, train and equip forces are warfighters in their own right. After all, the first tenet of organize, train and equip is “train like you fight.” And interestingly, this is the very point John makes in his insightful and prophetic presentation. We have undoubtedly the best warfighters in the world, bar none, but they and the environment they fight in and through can be better. John makes the point that he is not a space warfighter bringing space to the fight, but a warfighter bringing to bear all the forces and assets that space enables, whether they originate there or merely pass into, through and out of that venerable, heretofore peaceful domain.
John makes the point that we don’t want to go to war in space, but if we must, we will prevail. To do so, we must think in a multi-domain fashion. We must have a space enterprise vision and execute Battle Management Command and Control, all without regard to how the threat is mitigated and ultimately defeated. To ultimately succeed, it is paramount we accomplish this first in training long before it happens on the battlefield, wherever that may be. To train a warfighter, you must first be a warfighter.
So yes, Gen. John Hyten is a warfighter, a visionary, and a prophet when necessary. But the question still remains: Does the corporate Air Force truly recognize his abilities and his prescience? Will he be regarded as Joseph, the cupbearer or the baker? Only time will tell. Regardless, Gen John Hyten is a leader and a valuable asset to this nation. We have been blessed to have him as the Commander of Air Force Space Command and as the steward of GPS.
Until next time, happy navigating. Remember, GPS is brought to you free courtesy of the U.S. Air Force and all the warfighters at Air Force Space Command.
Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) launched a new approach to how it offers services and solutions to customers. The new method gives greater clarity on both the range of services and solutions offered, and the value they deliver for customers’ operations and businesses, according to Volvo CE.
The announcement was made at bauma 2016, a building trade fair being held this week in Munich.
Volvo CE also unveiled its Volvo Co-Pilot onboard services display. Co-Pilot is designed for use on machines as diverse as excavators and pavers. It uses a tablet computer to deliver a new generation of intelligent machine services, including Load Assist, Dig Assist, Compact Assist and Pave Assist.
Volvo CE has arranged its services into six streams:
Uptime Services
Efficiency Services
Genuine Volvo Parts
New Life Services
Attachments
Financial Services
This new way of organizing the offering will make it easier for customers to choose the most appropriate cluster of services. Volvo CE dealers will also bundle services into packages as well as offering tailor-made solutions.
New within Uptime Services is Proactive Monitoring, which utilizes innovative technology that enables Volvo dealers to remotely monitor alarms and fault codes on customers’ machines. Any problems can be diagnosed early and corrective steps taken, often before the customer realizes a problem exists, to maximize machine uptime and reduce repair costs.
Efficiency Services sees the launch of Fuel Advice and Fuel Report, two new services that are designed to lower operating costs of new and existing Volvo machines by targeting long-term fuel efficiency. The two services allow customers to decide in what way they would like to drive fuel efficiency improvements in their operations.
Fuel Reports provide customers with tailor-made reports that help customers identify areas of improvement.
Fuel Advice, meanwhile, leverages the competence of Volvo CE dealers in identifying corrective actions and ensuring fuel efficiency improvements are sustainable.
Volvo Co-Pilot
Ruggedized for use in a construction environment, Volvo Co-Pilot and the Assist-functionalities are introduced to the market as part of Efficiency Services, with the ultimate aim of producing higher quality outcomes, in less time and with less effort.
Dig Assist, Load Assist, Compact Assist and the soon-to-be-launched Pave Assist are the first of a new generation of intelligent machine offerings that increase machine efficiency and uptime.
Available as either 2D or In Field Design, Dig Assist allows excavators operators to complete digging tasks to a greater accuracy in less time. Safety is also improved, as there is no need to repeatedly get out of the cab and physically check grades or levels.
Load Assist is designed for Volvo wheel loaders L110-L250 and delivers real time accurate load information to the operator. Preventing under-or-overloading (and additional machine wear and even potential fines), the system allows wheel loaders to work to their maximum efficiencies. Fully automatic, the system logs all load information and the data is then displayed on the operator’s in-cab Volvo Co-Pilot display.
The information can also be accessed remotely, thanks to Volvo’s advanced CareTrack telematics system. This allows complete payload management — giving access to data such as total transported load in tonnes; tonnes transported per liter of fuel and number of cycles.
Compact Assist offers two module options at launch — Intelligent Compaction and Intelligent Compaction with Density Direct. Intelligent Compaction records and displays a pass counter and thermal mapping, while Density Direct cleverly calculates 100% of the surface density.
Pave Assist is a family of paver-related modules and applications that will automate many of the paving parameters that today have to be recorded manually in order to meet stringent road authority reporting requirements. Providing a powerful set of tools to improve productivity, quality and site safety, Pave Assist combines Thermal Mapping, Weather View, Material Manager and (as a complementary option) Volvo Smartview modules.
Vexcel Imaging has introduced the new camera model, the UltraCam Condor. Designed for high-altitude mapping, the UltraCam Condor frame combines a high-resolution RGB image at 37,800 x 5,200 pixel with a lower resolution PAN data capture for automated DSMOrtho and DTMOrtho image generation that is consistently sharp, geometrically accurate and of superior radiometry.
Its expansive footprint, along with the camera’s fast frame rate, allows capture of large regions – even continents – in record-time. This all-in-one system is complemented by a NIR channel, making the UltraCam Condor an a solution for agriculture, forestry and land management applications. The UltraCam Condor will be available in autumn 2016.
Key Benefits
37,800 pixel swath width allow for wide flight lines such as 3.7km @ 10 cm GSD or 9 kilometer @ 25 cm GSD, providing greater coverage in shorter time.
Well-balanced field of view of ±41 degree for utmost productivity and full use of the swath width.
High-resolution RGB, panchromatic and NIR data all in a single pass.
Full resolution in the RGB channel. No pansharpening necessary for high-resolution color imagery.
Fast frame rate and mission envelope, along with forward motion compensation through time-delay-integration, allow operation at high aircraft speeds and in jets – rapid collection minimizes mission time and costs.
Stable geometry and greater independence from GPS/INS accuracy is ensured by a frame sensor.
To eliminate atmospheric effects typical of high-altitude mapping, an uncompressed 14 bit RAW RGB image format and full 16 bit processing workflow allows artifact-free, automated color correction during UltraMap post-processing.
For maximum efficiency and productivity, the complete and fully integrated UltraMap workflow solution supports unlimited project sizes.
“The UltraCam Condor is our response to the growing demand for higher productivity and efficiency in collection of vast areas at rapid flight speeds,” said Alexander Wiechert, CEO of Vexcel Imaging GmbH. “Essentially an ortho-machine, the UltraCam Condor allows customers to fly higher, farther, and faster without making compromises in data quality.”
Hemisphere GNSS is significantly expanding its strategic partnership with CPAC Systems, Gothenburg, Sweden, owned by the Volvo Group. After signing a large contract, Hemisphere will now be the sole source of GNSS positioning and heading systems to CPAC Systems.
Hemisphere’s technology is being used in the recently announced Co-Pilot series for Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) as part of Volvo CE’s industry-changing machine control solutions.
“We were extremely pleased to be chosen by CPAC for use of our GNSS technology,” said Chuck Joseph, Hemisphere GNSS President and CEO. “We are proud of the relationship we have developed with CPAC over the years. It is one of the most innovative companies in the industry and this latest, deeply integrated solution proves how well we collaborate to create value together. It is the very nature of this agreement that defines Hemisphere GNSS as a company, willing to work with and for our strategic partners. We see it as our responsibility to make certain we align ourselves and our business strategy with our OEM and integrator partners like CPAC.”
Initially offering its GNSS positioning and heading technology to CPAC to be used in marine applications, Hemisphere’s diverse cross-platform technology portfolio allows it to be applied in other areas where high-precision, high-accuracy GNSS is required.
“Over the years, Hemisphere GNSS has provided our company with top tier innovation, technology, and service,” said Richard Berkling, President of CPAC Systems. “Hemisphere GNSS’ long term strategy and awareness of their value-added contribution to our customer’s solutions are in perfect alignment with ours which is why we chose them as a partner for the GNSS technology. We look forward to executing this next major phase of our partnership with them.”
Zac Canders of DataCapable describes the company’s open data products for emergency response, using nontraditional data sources such as social media and weather. He was interviewed by GeoIntelligence Insider columnist Art Kalinski for geospatial-solutions.com at the Esri Federal GIS Conference, held Feb. 24-25 in Washington, D.C.
Allen Carroll of Esri describes Esri Story Maps. He was interviewed by GeoIntelligence Insider columnist Art Kalinski for geospatial-solutions.com at the Esri Federal GIS Conference, held Feb. 24-25 in Washington, D.C.
Don Jewell reports from the 32nd Space Symposium, April 11-14, Colorado Springs, Colorado. (See Monday’s blog here.)
Tuesday, April 12
There are few Holy Grails in space. Today’s announcements from several different companies made it clear that a couple of these Holy Grails are hopefully about to be realized.
This morning, Orbital ATK, in conjunction with its customer Intelsat, announced they are entering the home stretch for a viable and hopefully profitable space payload Mission Extension Service/Vehicle (MEV). Indeed, they actually announced they are fully funded and open for business. Intelsat as the inaugural customer was on hand to support Orbital ATK and explain why this is a necessary mission.
David W. Thompson, Orbital ATK’s president and CEO, put the mission in perspective by stating, “There is a vital need to service fully functional but aging satellites in both commercial and government markets.”
Yes, this is the Dick Tracy comic strip capability we have seen for years, where a space vehicle comes alongside another and refuels, replenishes and otherwise reconstitutes another on-orbit satellite vehicle. We have been doing this for years in a sense with the International Space Station with human involvement (a more analog version, if you will).
But the Orbital ATK capability is a true remote in-space servicing and repair capability extending the life of geosynchronous satellites by as much as 15 years. The in-space ability provides a satellite vehicle with batteries, solar panels and propulsion systems that take over for aging satellite subsystems and possibly payloads.
Currently, the first launch of an MEV to service and extend the life of an Intelsat SV is scheduled for 2018. The MEV will launch to support an aging GEOStar spacecraft heritage bus platform on orbit today. Currently Intelsat is utilizing 10 such on orbit assets with the GEOStar bus.
Displaying critical flexibility the 2,000-pound MEV can be dual launched with another GEO asset, making it much more cost effective. The MEV uses an electric propulsion system for both transit, rendezvous and on orbit operations.
The MEV will dock with the subject and/or aging satellite by grappling onto a thruster port. Then the MEV can take over and significantly extend the life of a functional satellite. The MEV can even provide attitude control and, when finished, with one “save” the MEV can use the same electric propulsion system to move to another GEO SV needing replenishment services, even if the move to another platform occurs years later.
“The impossible is fast becoming a reality,” said Stephen Spengler, chief executive of Intelsat. Indeed, over the next five years Orbital ATK expects to launch a fleet of five MEV satellites that will refuel, replenish and provide robotic repair to an ailing/aging space vehicle, and eventually provide on-orbit assembly and repairs.
You may think this is merely a commercial version of the NASA Goddard “Restore L” program. Actually, the Orbital ATK capability is much more aggressive in nature — refueling is merely one of many on-orbit capabilities.
Note that Orbital execs were quick to point out that this is not an offensive weapons capability as it is not made to work with uncooperative satellites. But is by design a life-extension capability for GEO satellites.
I asked Orbital CEO David Thompson about using the MEV capability for boosted GPS satellites that still have a viable capability. While he did not discount the idea, he clearly stated that the GPS missions would have to wait until the capability is proven as economically viable in GEO, which is a much more forgiving environment both for radiation and distances between assets.
The other Holy Grails for space: launch and return, robotic arm
Jeff Bezos also spoke today and showed a video of his Blue Origin spacecraft returning to Earth and landing successfully from a suborbital mission for the third time without an engine change.
This is an incredible capability and, of course, just a couple of days ago Elon Musk and SpaceX demonstrated a similar landing capability. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket landed on a drone ship at sea — the first time the company has been able to pull off an ocean landing after four previous attempts ended in failure.
The robotic arm is capable of being mounted on any suitably-sized space vehicle, that — contrary to the Orbital ATK MEV — can be used both for replenishment and defensive purposes.
So, it appears the Holy Grail of SV rendezvous’ is about to be realized.
