GPS World

Category: Transportation

  • ESA to research monitoring of ground hazards affecting transportation

    ESA to research monitoring of ground hazards affecting transportation

    Operators of UK transport networks will be the first to benefit from Live Land, a satellite-based land monitoring system developed through the European Space Agency (ESA).

    Transport operators across the UK face significant challenges in monitoring and detecting landslides and subsidence across their networks. Geological hazards in the vicinity of roads and railways can disrupt business and communities.

    The Live Land demonstration project will help to assess and monitor high-risk areas by providing more information on geological hazards along rail and road networks using integrated data from GNSS and Earth observation satellites.

    CGG GeoConsulting‘s NPA Satellite Mapping group has been awarded a contract to lead the Live Land project, sponsored by the ESA within its Integrated Applications Program (IAP). Over the next two years, the Live Land consortium will develop a number of products for two prominent Scottish transport operators, Network Rail (Scotland) and Transport Scotland.

    Once successfully demonstrated in Scotland and regions of England, Live Land is expected to expand across the UK and continental Europe as the project team engages with other transport operators who could benefit from the new information that will be available on geohazards.

    The Live Land demonstration project is the follow-on of a previous ESA IAP feasibility study concluded in 2014 and draws on expertise from a team of internationally respected authorities in their respective fields:

    Live Land is a satellite-based land monitoring system developed under ESA’s ARTES Integrated Applications Promotions programme. It offers transport operators increased information on geological hazards, such as landslides and subsidence that affect assets. (Photo: ritish Geological Survey NERC)
    Live Land offers transport operators increased information on geological hazards, such as landslides and subsidence. (Photo: ritish Geological Survey NERC)

    How it works

    Radar images from Europe’s Sentinel-1A observation satellite detect surface motion changes with millimeter precision. This is complemented with data from satnav receivers and sensors installed for in-situ monitoring in specific locations. This space-based information is combined with knowledge about the geology of the area and weather forecasts. For example, an area of steep slopes and wet soil that is expecting heavy rainfall is at a higher risk of a landslide.

    Furnished with such knowledge, transport operators can assess the risks and improve their planning and response to incidents.

    “Live Land integrates data collected from different sources to assess and monitor potential geological threats for transport operators,” said ESA’s Roberta Mugellesi. “Combining space-based data increases the confidence in risk assessment and predictions.”

    NPA Satellite Mapping

    The NPA Satellite Mapping consultancy derives geospatial intelligence from satellite imagery. Its mapping solutions are used around the world by a client base ranging from oil and gas operators to transport asset owners to maximize operational insight and minimize risk. The company has considerable experience in geohazard research projects for ESA and European Commission, and, with its expertise in satellite InSAR (surface deformation) mapping, is optimally placed to coordinate and bring to market the unique monitoring solutions that will be developed within the Live Land project.

    The services are expected to range from regional geological hazard susceptibility and activity datasets that exploit satellite InSAR measurements, to hazard forecasting models using geological and meteorological data, and the development of cost-effective, multi-sensor devices (GNSS receiver and inertial sensors) for in-situ monitoring.

    “Live Land will initially play a crucial role in helping to better understand, monitor and forecast geological hazards across the UK’s road and rail networks,” said Claire Roberts, Live Land project manager and remote sensing consultant with NPA Satellite Mapping. “The developments targeted in the project are ambitious but necessary given the scale of the issues we want to address.”

  • MWC not an auto show, but gaining importance

    MWC not an auto show, but gaining importance

    Mercedes autonomous car on display at Mobile World Congress 2016.
    Mercedes autonomous car on display at Mobile World Congress 2016. (Photo: Kevin Dennehy)

    BARCELONA, Spain — Most attendees at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) wouldn’t mistake the huge mobile phone show to be a gathering of auto manufacturers and their suppliers. However, the show, which broke 100,000 participants this year, has seen a rise in auto companies who are outlining connected and autonomous vehicle strategies.

    MWC was held Feb. 27 to March 2 in Barcelona.

    At MWC, Ford CEO Mark Fields said the company is tripling its investment in new technologies over the next five years with the ultimate goal of fully autonomous vehicles.

    Ford also rolled out the new Kuga SUV, which features the company’s new SYNC 3, which Fields says should be in 43 million vehicles by 2023 (SYNC 3 is upgraded to include improved voice commands and easier to get to applications on a driver’s smartphone).

    Fields said Ford, which attended its fourth straight Mobile World Congress, was transitioning from an auto company to one that is a dual auto-mobility entity. In addition, just as with GM’s decision to invest $500 million in Lyft, Ford is getting into the sharing economy with its own car-sharing, ride-sharing and other mobility services.

    This new mobility strategy includes GoPark, an app that directs drivers to parking spaces; FordPass, a platform that connects services and partners; and FordGuides, a problem-solving app. According to published reports, another Ford app is MyBoxMan, which allows drivers in Europe to make money delivering boxes.

    At least one industry expert believes that car sharing and autonomy is the future for auto companies. “Full autonomy is coming. We will see fleets of driverless public transport vehicles on the roads due to their low overheads,” said Kevin Curran, senior member of IEEE and senior lecturer at the University of Ulster. “Regarding non-autonomy, we will see that cars ownership will change in a number of ways. We will start to see more ride sharing. Uber and other ride sharing models will rise to supersede existing traditional models. That is quite obvious even now, and a proper ride sharing model should also emerge, too.”

    Ford displayed the Kuga in its main booth, and also had a booth featuring its Developer Program. One of its development partners, Magellan, showed off its SmartGPS in-vehicle technology.

    The Magellan unit delivers local information to the car that is equipped with SmartGPS, including speed trap alerts, weather, traffic and lowest gas prices, said Matt Erstling, Magellan product manager, connected platform.

    Magellan’s connected auto strategy was outlined, in part, by its new CEO, Pierre Parent, at CES in January. Parent said that the company will continue to put location capability in connected devices.

    Large industry players make MWC auto announcements

    At its press conference, Hans Vestberg, Ericsson president and CEO, said 5G will provide the latency needed for autonomous cars. The company is jointly developing a connected car with Geeley Automobile Holdings, the Chinese owners of Volvo. Besides Ericsson, Nokia, SK Telecom and others believe that 5G, which is expected to rollout in 2020, will be critical for mobile Internet applications — and, therefore, for better safety in connected vehicles.

    Qualcomm announced its partnership with Audi to integrate the Snapdragon 602A into the automaker’s 2017 vehicles. The company showed off connected car technologies with Formula One Team Mercedes AMG Petronias.

    One of the cooler pieces of equipment at MWC was the folding steering wheel developed by Harman and Rinspeed. The companies are also co-developing an autonomous car.

    Harman showcased its new folding steering wheel at Mobile World Congress 2016.
    Harman showcased its new folding steering wheel at Mobile World Congress 2016. (Photo: Kevin Dennehy)

    Besides rolling out Galaxy S7 phones, Samsung announced its Connect Auto dongle that adds LTE connectivity for older vehicles. The dongle plugs into a diagnostic port to let drivers monitor a vehicle’s performance. It also makes the vehicle a Wi-Fi hotspot. It should be available in the second quarter, with AT&T as the U.S. wireless partner.

    Saying the partnership is a giant step toward driverless vehicles, Panasonic and Ficosa announced at MWC that they were developing a Smart Connectivity Module that enables passengers to be securely connected through a vehicle’s own internal connection. The system provides both inside and outside connections and works in V2V and V2X environments.

    “A lot of people don’t know that 33 percent of our business is in auto and industrial systems. Consumer is only 14 percent,” said Tony O’Brien, deputy managing director, Panasonic Systems Solutions, Europe.

    Inside the Mercedes autonomous vehicle. (Photo: Kevin Dennehy)
    Inside the Mercedes autonomous vehicle. (Photo: Kevin Dennehy)

    In other MWC news:

    • The Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which automakers and their suppliers are heading to in droves, now has 115 exhibiting companies. While far fewer in numbers, and with so many large wireless and device manufacturers involved, auto execs realize that MWC is an important stop before the Geneva Auto Show.
    • At MWC, I could actually talk to people, even see folks again at events and sometimes passing by in the huge exhibit halls at the Fira Grand Via. You can’t say that about CES. Unfortunately, MWC is getting huge…more than 100,000 people with the requisite traffic congestion, public transit strikes, expensive housing and airfares.
    • Join Lyft, BMW Group, HERE and 25 other speakers at Driverless, The Business of Autonomous Vehicles, which is March 22-23 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, San Francisco Airport. Panels feature new technology, executive insights on the future, investments, legal and cyber security and mapping. For more information, go to www.driverlessmarket.com or [email protected].
  • Kongsberg reference system integrates GNSS services

    Kongsberg reference system integrates GNSS services

    kongsberg-DPS-432
    The new DPS 432 combines decimeter accuracy with high integrity and availability of GNSS data.

    Kongsberg Maritime has introduced a new position reference system that integrates all available GNSS and all possible correction services. The new DPS 432 combines full decimeter accuracy with high integrity and availability of GNSS data, supporting the safety and efficiency of offshore operations that rely on advanced dynamic positioning (DP) systems.

    The DPS 432 integrates signals from GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo, and regional correction signals including SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN), in addition to the new G4 services from Fugro, to ensure high flexibility for DP operations globally.

    Because DPS 432 exploits available combinations of GNSS signals, it is suited to complex operations in challenging environments. The system increases satellite availability, improves integrity monitoring and enables more precision under challenging signal tracking conditions, Kongsberg said.

    The new DPS 432 will be part of the Kongsberg DPS portfolio of products that meet requirements for operations in any geographical region.

    “DPS 432 expands our established and field-proven portfolio of position reference systems for DP operations, ensuring that we can offer a highly reliable solution for any DP vessel or operating region,” said Vidar Bjørkedal, VP sales and customer support, Kongsberg Seatex. “The system is based on the same architecture as other DPS products, which means it features a highly intuitive HMI [operator interface], while the ability to integrate all available GNSS and corrections provides integrity and availability of the position data needed for safe operations.”

    The DPS 432 features the sophisticated DPS NAV Engine used in all DPS solutions, which runs critical computations independent from the DPS HMI to ensure continuous and reliable operation. The DPS NAV Engine runs in a safe mode, protected from unintended user operations, while several DPS HMIs can be connected to the same DPS NAV Engine in a networked architecture.

    Straightforward operation to enhance DP operations safety further was a key design goal during development of DPS 432. The system can integrate multiple layers of information, giving the DP operator opportunities for a customized visual presentation, including electronic charts, seabed maps, well-head positions, static targets and Automatic Identification System (AIS) target information.

  • US Coast Guard approves electronic navigation charts

    The U.S. Coast Guard has published guidance that allows mariners to use electronic charts and publications instead of paper charts, maps and publications.

    “After consultation with our Navigation Safety Advisory Committee, the Coast Guard will allow mariners to use official electronic charts instead of paper charts, if they choose to do so,” said Capt. Scott J. Smith, the chief of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Navigation Systems. “With real-time voyage planning and monitoring information at their fingertips, mariners will no longer have the burden of maintaining a full portfolio of paper charts.”

    The Coast Guard published Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular, NVIC 01-16, on Feb. 5 to provide uniform guidance on what is now considered equivalent to chart and publication carriage requirements.

    Combining the suite of electronic charts from the U.S. hydrographic authorities and the Electronic Charting System (ECS) standards published in summer 2015 by the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services, the Coast Guard believes official electronic charts provide mariners with a substitute for the traditional official paper charts.

    Electronic technology will also allow mariners to take advantage of information and data to enhance situational awareness during voyage planning and while underway.

    “Mariners have been requesting the recognition of this capability for some time,” Smith said. “When you combine the new expanded Automatic Identification System carriage requirement and the capability that an ECS provides, it should provide a platform to move American waterways into the 21st century.”

    The new guidance applies to vessels subject to U.S. chart, or map, and publication carriage requirements codified in Titles 33 and 46 CFR and provides a voluntary alternative means to comply with those requirements.

    “Together, with our industry and international partners, we are leveraging modern technology to contribute to the safety, security and prosperity of our nation,” Smith said.

  • Garmin unveils aviation portable navigator, the aera 660

    Garmin International Inc. has launched the aera 660, a new cost-effective, feature-rich, purpose-built aviation portable. The compact 5-inch capacitive touchscreen has a bright, sunlight readable display complete with rich, interactive maps and a built-in GPS/GLONASS receiver that can be viewed in portrait or landscape modes for optimum customization.

    The aera 660 encompasses features of the aera and GPSMAP aviation portable series, adding new Connext wireless capabilities, WireAware wire-strike avoidance technology and more. New cost-effective database options along with built-in Wi-Fi database updating capabilities allow customers to more easily access the most up-to-date data, including daily U.S. fuel prices.

    Bluetooth supports the display of ADS-B in traffic and weather from a variety of sources, including the GDL 39/GDL 39 3D, Flight Stream and the GTX 345 ADS-B transponder. Availability of the aera 660 is expected later this month at an anticipated street price of $899.

    “Pilots have been asking for a new, purpose-built, easy to use aviation portable from Garmin and we have answered with the most powerful, robust and capable handheld device of this size ever designed, the aera 660,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin’s vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “For 25 years we have been the market leader in bringing innovative portable navigation devices to the cockpit that improve aviation safety and we have done that yet again with this terrific aera 660 — a premium portable product that conveniently fits on the yoke or in the palm of your hand.”

     

  • Driverless future revealed at upcoming conference

    May flip transportation industry more than Henry Ford did

    The future rollout of the autonomous vehicle will disrupt transportation in way not seen since the automobile’s introduction. A new conference, Driverless, March 22-23 at the Crown Plaza Hotel-San Francisco Airport will explore future autonomous vehicle markets and policy; outline technological and cultural challenges; detail legal, cyber and privacy issues; and assess the investment opportunity in this potentially game-changing technology.

    Silicon Valley — not traditionally an automotive center — is the new autonomous driving hotspot, as computer and software firms rapidly develop solutions and prototypes. Teaming with established automakers, new ventures and established Silicon Valley giants alike are testing systems worldwide for both passenger cars and commercial fleets. The Driverless conference takes advantage of its proximity to the computing capital to draw influential speakers and knowledgeable, motivated attendees in a high-level gathering.

    Headshot: Alain Kornhauser
    Headshot: Alain Kornhauser

    In the future panel, titled “The Way Ahead: The Road to Autonomous Driving,” industry experts assess the technological challenges facing full-blown autonomous driving. Who leads the effort to reduce component prices? What is the single most important decision that will unleash for ubiquitous rollout?

    Panel members include: Adrian Pearmine, National Director for Smart Cities and Connected Vehicles, DKS Associates; Alain Kornhauser, Professor, Operations Research & Financial Engineering, Director, Transportation Program, Princeton University; Grant Mahler, Advanced Technology Engineer, BMW Group; Mike Jellen, President and COO, Velodyne; and Randall Iwasaki, Executive Director, Contra Costa Transportation Authority

    Headshot: Alain Kornhauser
    Headshot: Alain Kornhauser

    Kornhauser recently stated that autonomous vehicles will, like Ford’s Model T nearly a century ago, disrupt transportation. “Other disruptive technologies include intermodal container shipping, personal rapid transit, the rise of intelligent transportation systems and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Challenge 10 years ago that flipped the industry from automated highways to the automated vehicle,” he said at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting. “It may flip the transportation industry more than Henry Ford did.”

    Headshot: Mike Jellen
    Headshot: Mike Jellen

    BMW, with its longstanding interest is assisted driving (see 2007 GPS World article, Pass/No Pass, is also a leader in autonomous driving. BMW Group, consisting of BMW, Rolls Royce, MINI and BMW Motorrad, recently powered the first self-driving car in China. Baidu, “the Chinese Google,” announced in December that its autonomous car successfully navigated a complicated route through Beijing. According to the company, the modified BMW 3-Series drove an 18.6-mile route around the capital city that included side streets as well as highways. The car made left, right, and u-turns, changed lanes, passed other cars, and merged onto and off the highway.

    A Mapping Panel at the Driverless conference will feature HERE and San Francisco-based Civil Maps. Maps will be integral to any company’s strategy to introduce autonomous vehicles to the roadway.

    Headshot: Randall Iwasaki
    Headshot: Randall Iwasaki

    HERE recently unveiled its HD Live Map, an advanced cloud-based map asset. Ready to be deployed in connected vehicles in North America and Western Europe, HD Live Map creates a highly detailed and dynamic representation of the road environment, enabling a vehicle to effectively “see around corners” beyond the reach of its on-board sensors.

    In 2015’s largest location-industry deal, three German luxury auto manufacturers, Audi, BMW and Daimler, purchased HERE for $2.8 billion from Nokia.

    Civil Maps launched its lidar to GIS online platform at last year’s Esri User Conference. The software extracts and classifies features from 3D laser scans for export to popular GIS software. By leveraging proprietary artificial intelligence graph search powered by a supercomputer, Civil Maps says that its approach reduces turnaround times by 75 percent and yields more accurate maps than human-based processing, providing a streamlined approach to asset management and planning.

    Other panels at the Driverless conference focus on:

    • Why Are Autonomous Vehicles Hot?
    • The Autonomous Vehicle Investment
    • Autonomous Vehicle Project Updates
    • Driverless Product Liability, Cyber Security and Privacy Issues

    Driverless Conference Schedule. The full-day program on Wednesday, March 23, will feature 30 speakers from BMW Group, Peloton, USAA, Farmers Insurance, Velodyne, HERE and many others. The conference begins with an early evening reception on March 22, and ends with a similar reception on the 23rd, featuring exhibits from top companies.

    Register here to attend. Driverless will be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel-San Francisco Airport, which has some of the lowest hotel rates in the Bay Area. Registration and hotel reservation rates go up March 9.

    Sponsorships and displays are still available. Contact Global Technology Communications, (303) 369-3230, or email [email protected].

  • Ford commits to tripling autonomous vehicle investment

    Ford took center stage at the Mobile World Congress (MCW) for a series of announcements. CEO Mark Fields unveiled the new Kuga SUV and confirmed that Ford’s SYNC 3 connectivity technology is coming to Europe. SYNC 3 allows drivers to control audio, navigation, and climate functions plus connected smartphones using simple, conversational voice commands. MCW is being held Feb. 22-25 in Barcelona, Spain.

    Fields also said Ford commits to tripling its engineering investment in semi-autonomous vehicle technologies as the company continues to expand its Ford Smart Mobility plan.

    Fields discussed Ford’s transition from an automotive company to an auto and a mobility company through Ford Smart Mobility — the company’s plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, customer experience, and data and analytics.

    “As we look to the future, it is clear we are on the cusp of a revolution in mobility – from car sharing to autonomous driving to the customer experience,” Fields said. “Technology and innovation provide us with the opportunity to address these trends and to make people’s lives better by changing the way the world moves.”

    The Kuga will offer several new technologies and updates, including Ford’s new SYNC 3 communications and entertainment system and innovative driver assistance technologies. The Kuga has hands-free perpendicular parking; an enhanced version of the Active City Stop collision avoidance system; an adaptive front lighting system; and intelligent all-wheel drive.

    Ford’s drive toward a fully autonomous consumer car includes rolling out traffic jam assist and fully active park assist in the next three years.

    Ford CEO discusses the company's move to fully autonomous vehicles at MWC.
    Ford CEO Mark Fields discusses the company’s move to fully autonomous vehicles at MWC.

    Traffic Jam Assist helps the driver with steering, braking and acceleration in heavily congested traffic situations on motorways. Fully Active Park Assist helps drivers by steering and controlling the transmission, throttle and brake to seamlessly pull into a parking spot at the touch of a button.

    Further semi-autonomous technologies already introduced by Ford include Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, a camera- and radar-based system that detects vehicles and people in the road ahead; and Intelligent Speed Limiter, which could help prevent drivers from exceeding speed limits, and potentially from incurring costly speeding penalties.

    Ford is seeking to deliver autonomous capability that does not require driver input described by the SAE International as Level 4 of automation. At this level of capability, autonomous vehicles will likely be offered first in climates that support optimal sensor performance and in areas that have been mapped in high-resolution 3D. Ford has tested fully autonomous vehicles in winter weather, including snow.

    “We are committed to making autonomous vehicles available for millions of people,” Washington said. “Within well-defined areas and with favorable environmental conditions, we predict that fully autonomous driving will be possible within four years, and that autonomous vehicles will play a significant role in making travel safer, more enjoyable, and more accessible.”

  • Harman offers connected car program for service providers

    Harman International Industries has announced 10 new workflow, content and data service providers for the company’s Open Service Delivery Platform for the connected car.

    Harman made the announcement at the Mobile World Congress, taking place Feb. 22-25 in Barcelona, Spain.

    The service providers can provide automakers and drivers with a wide range of accurate, context-based and relevant services including real-time traffic and location-based services, shopping, parking, streaming audio and live news.

    Service providers include TomTom, Parkopedia, AccuWeather, Yelp, INRIX, CustomWeather, Deezer, AccuRadio, Wcities and NPR. The new services will be available to automakers for their connected car configurations.

    The Service Provider Program is a worldwide initiative available to workflow, content, data and service providers who are looking to bring their services to automakers, vehicles, drivers and passengers faster, while focusing on near-term opportunities in the automotive industry.

    By leveraging the industry’s leading enterprise cloud services platform, automakers can deploy a variety of services including infotainment and navigation, new software features after vehicle sale, vehicle data to predict part failures, forecasting for preventative maintenance, and analysis of warranty claims, Harman said.

    The Harman Service Delivery Platform is a comprehensive foundation with a collection of core services, third-party services and management features, fully integrated with vehicle systems and updated seamlessly over the air.

  • ORBCOMM expands M2M, IoT capabilities for fleet management

    ORBCOMM Inc., a global provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, has added to its fleet management portfolio.

    Announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) are the new cellular-only SkyWave IDP-782 device and the viaFleet web application for tracking, monitoring and managing trucks, railcars and other mobile assets. MWC is being held Feb. 22-25 in Barcelona, Spain.

    By leveraging ORBCOMM’s fleet management solutions, fleet operators can reduce fuel costs, optimize travel routes, monitor driver behavior, minimize idle times and ensure cargo and driver security, the company said.

    ORBCOMM’s cellular-only SkyWave IDP-782 device is designed for vehicle tracking and driver monitoring applications specifically for areas where cellular coverage is widely available. This device provides customers the same functionality and flexibility as the dual-mode version at a more economical cost for cellular-only applications.

    ORBCOMM’s comprehensive viaFleet application enables fleet operators to see the location of mobile assets in real-time, monitor driver behavior, streamline vehicle maintenance schedules, communicate with drivers and much more. With an intuitive, easy-to-use graphical interface, the viaFleet application works with the IDP-782 to display the location of assets on a map in real time, tracks asset movements with breadcrumb reports, and supports advanced reporting capabilities on speeding events, dwelling times, geofence access and asset health, allowing customers to significantly improve operational efficiencies and productivity.

    In addition, ORBCOMM recently introduced several other innovative wireless solutions. These products and services enhance ORBCOMM’s M2M and IoT solutions portfolio, which span from device to dashboard, for system integrators, end user customers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across a wide variety of industries.

    The ORBCOMM OGi modem, which has a footprint smaller than a credit card, is the smallest and lowest cost IDP modem built to date and is targeted for mission-critical applications that require low latency. The versatile modem’s design provides customers with unrivaled ease of use, flexibility and quality of service based on their unique application needs, including message size, delivery speed, geographic coverage and regulatory requirements. Both ORBCOMM’s OG2 and OGi modems use the same electrical and application interfaces, including the connectors, power input and programming environment. This interchangeable format enables OEM customers to plug-n-play satellite connectivity utilizing the ORBCOMM VHF network or the Inmarsat L-band network without the need to redesign their M2M solutions.

    The ORBCOMMconnect subscriber management portal gives ORBCOMM customers complete comprehensive control over wireless services and connected devices, while reducing the complexity of managing and integrating multiple connectivity offerings. Customers can access three satellite and seven Tier One cellular networks in one comprehensive platform, optimizing M2M and IoT service delivery and subscriber management, enabling better business planning and helping to reduce and control costs.

    ORBCOMMmobile is a mobile app that integrates with ORBCOMM’s M2M and IoT applications, including ORBCOMM’s cold chain monitoring solution and the ORBCOMMconnect portal. ORBCOMM’s mobile app runs on both iOS and Android devices to facilitate easy access to ORBCOMM solutions and technology in real-time and remotely outside of the traditional office environment.

    ORBCOMM Enterprise Connect is an end-to-end 4G xLTE wireless failover solution for distributed enterprise, financial, hospitality and retail locations that need reliable, high-bandwidth WAN connectivity for M2M and IoT applications. The solution works with integrated routers from industry-leading hardware manufacturers as a back-up to existing broadband connections in the event of a primary network communications failure. The affordable turn-key solution combines world-class connectivity, hardware, management capabilities along with network and deployment support. ORBCOMM Enterprise Connect allows both large and small enterprises to conduct business efficiently and reduces risks of downtime, reduced productivity, lost revenue and customer experience issues.

    To learn more about ORBCOMM’s latest innovations, visit Booth G11 in Hall 8.0 at Mobile World Congress.

  • Auto industry adopts GSMA embedded SIM specs for connected cars

    Automotive and transportation companies are supporting the GSMA Embedded SIM Specification to help accelerate the growth of the connected car market, according to the GSMA.

    Automakers. The interoperable specification has been backed by international brands including General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Renault Nissan, Scania and Volvo Cars, and will enable automakers to remotely provision connectivity over the air to vehicles with an operator of their choice.

    It will help to deliver a range of in-vehicle services such as real-time navigation, infotainment, insurance and breakdown services, as well as telematics and remote diagnostics. The use of the specification will also help to quickly connect vehicles with local operators, regardless of where the cars are manufactured.

    Mobile Operators. To date, 22 mobile operators worldwide have commercially launched solutions based on the GSMA Embedded SIM Specification. New operators to launch commercial solutions include AIS, América Móvil, KPN, MTN, Rogers Wireless, Swisscom, Taiwan Mobile, Telenor, TIM as well as members of the Bridge Alliance and the Global M2M Association.

    The adoption of an interoperable specification will reduce fragmentation and help the industry to take advantage of the Internet of Things, an addressable market estimated to be worth US$1.1 trillion by 2020 according to Machina Research4. Bell Canada, Deutsche Telekom, Etisalat, Indosat, NTT DOCOMO, Orange, Tele2, Telefónica Brasil, Telefónica Group, TeliaSonera and Vodafone have already made commercial solutions available to the market.

    “The GSMA Embedded SIM Specification has progressed from the first availability of commercial solutions to industry adoption in a very short space of time. The automotive sector is set for huge growth and it is clear that a common, global standard will help mobile operators to provide scalable, reliable and secure connectivity to vehicles regardless of location,” said Alex Sinclair, Chief Technology Officer, GSMA. “This approach will help car manufacturers offer any type of in-car connected service through a single SIM, which can be provisioned with the profile of a mobile operator once the car is shipped, as well as at the end of a contract, without the SIM needing to be changed.”

    The connected car market is set for exponential growth. Gartner Research has forecast that one in five vehicles will have some form of wireless network connection by 2020, equating to more than 250 million connected vehicles in service.

    Additionally, Machina Research estimates that the total number of connections in the connected car market will grow at a CAGR of 31 per cent from 182 million in 2015 to 693 million in 2020.

    Analyst house Berg Insight also notes that in-vehicle embedded telematics systems shipped 1.9 million units in 2014, a figure that is expected to reach 15 million by 20203.

    “Jaguar Land Rover is putting connectivity at the heart of its vehicles to deliver a range of safety, security, convenience and infotainment features for our customers. The GSMA Embedded SIM Specification allows Jaguar Land Rover to reduce manufacturing complexity, adapt to changing regulatory frameworks and work with the best mobile operators, on a country-specific or regional basis, improving the customer offering to deliver the next generation of connected services over the lifetime of our vehicles,” said Mike Bell, Global Connected Car Director, Jaguar Land Rover.

    “The GSMA Embedded SIM Specification solves a number of fundamental issues in auto manufacturing principally in-market localisation and lifecycle management that enable us to provide an efficient, robust and global product,” said Fredrik Callenryd, Senior Business Strategy Manager, Scania CV AB.

    “The Renault – Nissan Alliance is a global industry innovator for technology for mainstream and mass-market consumers. Supporting the GSMA Embedded SIM Specification will help sustain our innovations by enforcing a reliable and stabilized solution and enable us to offer more flexible and agile solutions. We will be able to offer our customers ease of use and a high quality of service which are Renault – Nissan’s main objectives,” commented Alexandre Corjon, Renault-Nissan Alliance Global VP, Electrics Electronics & Systems Engineering.

    GSMA Intelligence research highlights that 76 percent of global M2M connections are now serviced by mobile operators that are deploying or are committed to the GSMA solution, underscoring the momentum behind the specification.

    GSMA Connected Living Programme at Mobile World Congress 2016

    The GSMA’s Connected Living Programme will showcase the GSMA Embedded SIM Specification at Mobile World Congress, Feb. 22-25 in Barcelona. There will be a number of live demonstrations of the specification in the GSMA Innovation City located at Stands 3A11 and 3A31 in Hall 3, Fira Gran Via, including scenarios from Bridge Alliance and the Global M2M Association.

    There will also be a number of workshops, seminars and presentations highlighting the impact of the GSMA Embedded SIM Specification on the international market.

    The GSM Association (GSMA), formed in 1995, is an association of mobile operators and related companies devoted to supporting the standardizing, deployment and promotion of the GSM mobile telephone system. It represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 of the world’s operators with 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.

  • Anti-drone system for airports passes tests

    SkyTracker_sensors_900pxEach month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) receives more than 100 reports from pilots and others who spot what appears to be an unmanned aircraft (UAS) flying close to an airport or a manned airplane. It’s become a serious safety concern for the agency, and a potential security issue for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

    In addition to the FAA’s ongoing outreach and education efforts, an additional step toward a solution is to detect and identify these “rogue drones” and their operators. Recently, the FAA partnered with DHS and CACI International to explore how the company’s prototype detection technology may help detect UAS in the vicinity of airports.

    The main goal of the partnership is to safely explore procedures and processes for deploying and operating detection technologies in and around commercial airports.

    SkyTracker. CACI’s proof-of-concept system — dubbed SkyTracker — employs radio frequency sensors at strategic locations around an airport in high, prominent locations. When the sensors detect frequencies unmanned aircraft typically use, it triangulates the signals and determines the location of both the UAS and the operator.

    Under a Pathfinder agreement with the FAA, CACI successfully tested its system at the Atlantic City International Airport from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2. It was the first UAS detection research in a commercial airport environment.

    A total of 141 operations were executed over five days — 72 with a UAS on the ground and 69 with different small UAS in flight.

    The SkyTracker concept.
    The SkyTracker concept.

    “SkyTracker successfully identified, detected, and tracked UAS in flight, and precisely located drone ground operators — all without interfering with airport ground operations,” said CACI CEO and president of U.S. Operations John Mengucci. “We are very proud to partner with the FAA and DHS to help ensure national airspace safety from the escalating UAS threat.”

    “The explosive growth of the unmanned aircraft industry makes evaluating detection technologies an urgent priority,” said Marke “Hoot” Gibson, FAA senior advisor on UAS Integration. “This research is totally aimed at keeping our skies safe, which is our number-one mission.”

    “Working with the FAA, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate is proud to provide our expertise in testing and simulation of technologies to better address the safety and security challenges posed by unmanned aerial systems,” said DHS Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Technology Robert Griffin.

    In the coming months, engineers from the FAA, DHS, CACI and the University of Maryland (UMD), which also was a partner in the evaluation, will work together to compile the data for a final report by August 2016.

    Malicious drones. Research on UAS detection systems may go beyond addressing the FAA’s concerns with the safety of UAS in the nation’s airspace. The effort also may contribute to keeping the skies safe from “bad actors” who want to use unmanned aircraft for malicious purposes.

    To that end, the FAA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DHS in December to collaborate on the safe integration of UAS into the U.S. aviation system.

  • Australia enacts new GNSS requirements for aviation

    Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has implemented a GNSS equipment mandate for all aircraft flying in the country, regardless of state of registry. The mandate is designed to align Australian operations with global standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Communications, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM).

    The changes include the requirement that all aircraft operating under instrument flight rules (IFR) must now be equipped with GNSS avionics meeting TSO C129, which enables compliance with Required Navigation Performance (RNP) 1 terminal area and RNP 2 continental en route operations that begin May 26.

    GNSS is the enabling technology for both performance-based navigation (PBN) and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) in Australia and will affect all IFR aircraft. Applying both PBN and ADS-B over the whole of Australia will permit:

    • Increased safety as air traffic control surveillance will be available over the whole of Australia at higher levels, and with substantial coverage at lower levels.
    • Flexi-route—a system that optimizes aircraft routes according to the latest weather and location of other aircraft
    • Reduced separation distances, greater fuel efficiency, lower flight times and reduced congestion at busy aerodromes.

    To help foreign-registered aircraft operators in meeting the new requirements, transition arrangements are available for a two-year period. Operators who need the extension must complete an online form before their first flight in Australia on or after May 26.

    To facilitate RNP operations within Australia, CASA has developed an acceptable means of compliance document.

    The GNSS mandate will see ground-based navigation capability reduced by about 50 percent, with the decommissioning of about 190 ground-based navaids. The remaining network of navaids will form the GNSS backup navigation network.