GreenRoad, a driver performance management company, has announced new features including RFID-based driver identification; real-time email alerts; and an enhanced interface for GreenRoad Smartphone Edition.
GreenRoad’s new RFID feature automates driver association with trips by detecting when a driver boards a vehicle, eliminating the need for drivers to log on with a Dallas key.
One customer, Big Bus Tours, operator of open-top sightseeing tours, has starting using RFID in its fleet of open top tour buses in London, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi soon to follow. Gerry Price, group commercial director, said, “GreenRoad has enhanced driver performance and cut risk in our bus fleet across the world, as well as improving the customer experience for thousands of sightseers. Now with RFID it is even easier for our drivers to use GreenRoad.”
GreenRoad Smartphone Edition has been enhanced with Facebook integration that allows drivers to share their achievements with friends. GreenRoad Smartphone Edition, code named “Asimov,” uses smartphone native functionality, including GPS and built-in accelerometers, to eliminate the need for a professionally installed telematics device in the vehicle.
A new version of GreenRoad Central, the software at the heart of the GreenRoad service, includes real-time alerts for exception events, including high-risk events in all driver behavior categories as well as speed violations. In addition to receiving email alerts in real-time, managers can view their alerts on a To Do list through GreenRoad Central.
Maiden flight trials have been successfully conducted in Moldova using GMV’s magicSBAS solution. These trials form part of a GMV-led European Commission FP7 collaboration project.
In 2011 the European GNSS Agency (GSA) awarded GMV the EEGS2 project (EGNOS Extension to Eastern Europe). The main objective of the project is to demonstrate through flight trials the benefits of the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) in areas of Eastern Europe where it is not yet available, such as Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova and Russia, and to prepare the civil aviation authorities and air navigation service providers for future use of the system.
In the context of this project, after the tests conducted in Spain, the maiden flights have been successfully carried out in Moldova, using the equipment and tools developed by GMV. The Moldova demonstrations have given pilots and service providers a clear idea of the potential benefits of EGNOS and the flying procedures of the near future, GMV said.
Four flights had previously been conducted in Spain in November, December and February. The satisfactory results of these flights then paved the way for the demonstrations in Moldova.
The magicLPVsystem, developed under this project, enables LPV approaches (localizer performance with vertical guidance) to be carried out using the signal generated by the magicSBAS application. This test environment allows any region of the world to analyze the air-navigation benefits to be obtained with deployment of a Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS). This signal is read by Internet and transmitted by radio frequency in the vicinity of the airport, allowing LPV approaches to be made in places where SBAS is either completely unavailable or available only on a very limited basis.
Eight flights in all were carried out in various Moldovan airports, including Chișinău International Airport. Test results were highly satisfactory, demonstrating the simplicity of equipment configuration and operation, and the performance of the magicSBAS signal, GMV said.
“These trials are an important milestone for GMV, for the project and, fundamentally, for the use of EGNOS in the countries of Eastern Europe in the near future,” said Miguel Romay, executive director of GNSS–Aerospace.
GMV will continue with these demonstrations in other countries of Eastern Europe. The next trip in two weeks will be to Romania, where new flights are expected to be just as successful.
iTRAK Corporation, a wireless GPS-based tracking, mapping, and fleet reporting company, has made available its iTRAK Virtual Fleet Support Manager service. This service will allow iTRAK customers to use one or a group of expert iTRAK employees who will help to cost effectively manage many of the functions associated with the iTRAK GPS tracking system and fleet management related logistics. This will free the customer to focus on applying the provided information for better and more efficient use of their fleet, iTRAK said.
This service will provide customers standard or custom reporting, management of alerts and geospatial features such as geofences and landmarks, and monitoring the status of vehicles and tracking devices. The Virtual Fleet Support Manager can also help manage grouping of devices for analysis and supervision by customer associates, reassignment of vehicles, and online review of overspeed and idle alerts, which can help to reduce overall fleet fuel consumption. The professional Virtual Fleet Support Manager (VFSM) team can also help to set up and manage some of the more advanced features of the system, such as maintenance reporting, updates to the cloud-based fleet vehicle or asset database, as well as the online driver database.
Other activities may be requested by iTRAK customers, such as custom tracking, fuel reports, and alerts for maintenance such as oil, tire, and engine maintenance.
Additional reminder alerts such as tag and insurance renewal can also be setup and supported as needed. Regular status reports will be provided to iTRAK VFSM customers; the iTRAK team can also provide additional consulting on how their fleet and tracking technology can be further used to optimize fleet efficiency and reduce overall operation costs.
“Many of the successful fleet based companies we provide services to have reorganized for higher efficiency. As they have subsequently grown many have been lacking the needed bandwidth to oversee or process some of these advanced technical but vital logistical-related activities,” said Craig Gooding, director of sales at iTRAK. “By using our Virtual Fleet Support Manager service, we can help bridge this gap for the customer; while the customer can focus on using the information the system generates in order to help improve their business. They can also be certain that an expert is helping them to use all the features of the system to get the maximum value out of their investment in fleet management information technology. This includes immediate use of new features as soon as they are available.”
Two new features have been added to GPSTrackIt’s Fleet Manager vehicle tracking system. Route Optimization evaluates the stops in a route and rearranges them to produce the most efficient ordering of the stops. In addition, fleet managers and dispatchers can now compare a route with the actual vehicle trail recorded by the system.
“Route Optimization has several benefits,” according to Eddie Bermudez, GPSTrackIt’s product manager. “It streamlines the route, which means less time is spent driving around. That saves fuel, which helps you run a greener fleet. It also saves money and improves customer service. Optimizing a route may allow for additional stops to be added.”
While optimizing a route on the system is one thing, it’s another whether the driver actually drove the route assigned. Fleet Manager’s Vehicle Trails feature can map out Ignition On/Off, Travel Start/Stop, and Drive events for a set date and period. The software has been modified with a route selection list and a button that displays the route superimposed over the vehicle trail.
“This enables a dispatcher or fleet manager to compare a driver’s plotted route to their vehicle trail,” Bermudez added. “Managers can determine whether drivers are making unscheduled or unauthorized stops.”
For more information about GPSTrackIt, their new features, or their Fleet Manager vehicle tracking system, visit the website.
Telit Wireless Solutions and PayGo Systems, an Israel-based telematics service provider (TSP) have announced that PayGo’s new TTM Type B family of PAYD solutions will include Telit’s ultra-compact GSM/GPRS cellular module, the GE865-QUAD. The solutions include self-contained consumer installable data collection devices for high-growth application area — UBI/PAYD — in the automotive insurance industry. PayGo and Telit plan to expand connected automotive data collectors into new and existing markets made possible by PayGo’s self-powered product concept.
The TTM Type B is a self-powered peel-and-place product family with a multi-year internal battery power source. Smart energy consumption algorithms in conjunction with Telit’s energy efficient GE865-QUAD module, which is fully certified by mobile network operators worldwide, allow PayGo to deploy the TTM Type B family in any regional market its customers offer auto insurance, Telit said.
The TTM Type B family incorporates a feature set designed to address specific insurance industry application requirements beyond basic UBI including distance traveled, minutes of use, trip start and end time and geo-zones where vehicle was driven in a continuous data collection stream. It is also able to notify appropriate service centers in real time about crashes and crash location, and to provide trip summaries (time, distance, etc.) via text message for each trip as well as curfew violations (time and geo-zone). The PayGo device is packaged in a cellphone-size enclosure requiring no external wires and is ready to be affixed, out of the box, to the inside of the car’s windshield like a traditional toll-pass module. The unit is self-powered and completely independent of any vehicle system, including power. To meet requirements from the insurance industry, the TTM Type B senses and reports installation of the device as well as tampering or post-installation removal. The products are fully FCC and CE certified.
The GE865-QUAD isfor embedded cellular applications where small size and energy efficiency are crucial. Measuring 22 x 22 x 3 miilimeters, the GE865-QUAD is significantly smaller than most cellular modules in the industry. It features an optimized power consumption profile with very low standby current compared to the majority of current competing products. Because of its extremely compact form factor and a rich set of features, including an on-board Python interpreter, it is well positioned for vertical application areas such as telemetry, mobile asset tracking telematics and telemedicine.
NovAtel’s single-box SPAN-CPT GNSS/INS receiver now supports the company’s next-generation OEM6 GNSS technology platform. The OEM6 GNSS engine significantly improves positioning performance through its support of GPS and GLONASS, all-in-view satellite tracking and intelligent measurement selection, the company said.
“We kept the design of the enhanced SPAN-CPT identical to our legacy product to ensure a seamless upgrade process for our customers who would like to take advantage of the improved positioning capabilities,” said Jason Hamilton, NovAtel director of marketing. “The enhanced SPAN-CPT is fully backwards compatible with the previous generation of product. It retains the same compact form factor with identical pin-out and log structure.”
As with the previous generation product, the upgraded SPAN-CPT integrates NovAtel’s precision receiver technology with fiber optic gyro and MEMS accelerometer inertial components from KVH Industries in one compact unit. The tight-coupling of the GNSS and INS technologies optimizes the raw GNSS and IMU data, delivering a superior position, velocity and attitude solution, NovAtel said. Comprised entirely of commercial components, the SPAN-CPT minimizes the operational complexities of working across international boundaries.
Production of the OEM6 supported SPAN-CPT begins June 1.
Emerging GNSS applications in automobiles support regulation, security, safety, and financial transactions, as well as navigation, guidance, traffic information, and entertainment. The GNSS sub-systems and onboard applications must demonstrate robustness under a range of environments and varying threats. A dedicated automotive GNSS test center enables engineers to design their own GNSS test scenarios including urban canyons, tunnels, and jamming sources at a controlled test site.
By Mark Dumville, William Roberts, Dave Lowe, Ben Wales, NSL, Phil Pettitt, Steven Warner, and Catherine Ferris, innovITS
Satellite navigation is a core component within most intelligent transport systems (ITS) applications. However, the performance of GNSS-based systems deteriorates when the direct signals from the satellites are blocked, reflected, and when they are subjected to interference. As a result, the ability to simulate signal blockage via urban canyons and tunnels, and signal interference via jamming and spoofing, has grown fundamental in testing applications.
The UK Center of Excellence for ITS (innovITS), in association with MIRA, Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), and Advantage West Midlands, has constructed Advance, a futuristic automotive research and development, and test and approvals center. It provides a safe, comprehensive, and fully controllable purpose-built road environment, which enables clients to test, validate and demonstrate ITS. The extensive track layout, configurable to represent virtually any urban environment, enables the precise specification of road conditions and access to infrastructure for the development of ITS innovations without the usual constraints of excessive set up costs and development time.
As such, innovITS Advance has the requirement to provide cityscape GNSS reception conditions to its clients; a decidedly nontrivial requirement as the test track has been built in an open sky, green-field environment (Figure 1).
Figure 1. innovITS Advance test circuit (right) and the environment it represents (left).
NSL, a GNSS applications and development company, was commissioned by innovITS to develop Skyclone in response to this need. The Skyclone tool is located between the raw GNSS signals and the in-vehicle system. As the vehicle travels around the Advance track, Skyclone modifies the GNSS signals to simulate their reception characteristics had they been received in a city environment and/or under a jamming attack. Skyclone combines the best parts of real signals, simulated scenarios, and record-and-replay capabilities, all in one box. It provides an advanced GNSS signal-processing tool for automotive testing, and has been specifically developed to be operated and understood by automotive testing engineers rather than GNSS experts.
Skyclone Concept
Simulating and recreating the signal-reception environment is achieved through a mix of software and hardware approaches. Figure 2 illustrates the basic Skyclone concept, in which the following operations are performed.
In the office, the automotive engineer designs a test scenario representative of a real-world test route, using a 3D modelling tool to select building types, and add tunnels/underpasses, and jammer sources. The test scenario is saved onto an SD card for upload onto the Skyclone system.
The 3D model in Skyclone contains all of the required information to condition the received GNSS signals to appear to have been received in the 3D environment.
The Skyclone system is installed in a test vehicle that receives the open-air GNSS signals while it is driven around the Advance track circuit.
The open-air GNSS signals are also received at a mobile GNSS reference receiver, based on commercial off-the-shelf GNSS technology, on the test vehicle. It determines the accurate location of the vehicle using RTK GNSS. The RTK base station is located on the test site.
The vehicle’s location is used to access the 3D model to extract the local reception conditions (surrounding building obstructions, tunnels attenuations, jamming, and interference sources) associated with the test scenario.
Skyclone applies satellite masking, attenuation, and interference models to condition/manipulate raw GNSS signals received at a second software receiver in the onboard system. The software receiver removes any signals that would have been obstructed by buildings and other structures, and adds attenuation and delays to the remaining signals to represent real-world reception conditions. Furthermore, the receiver can apply variable interference and/or jamming signatures to the GNSS signals.
The conditioned signals are then transmitted to the onbaord unit (OBU) under test either via direct antenna cable, or through the air under an antenna hood (acting as an anechoic chamber on top of the test vehicle). Finally, the GNSS signals produced by Skyclone are processed by the OBU, producing a position fix to be fed into the application software.
Figure 2. Skyclone system concept.
The Skyclone output is a commercial OBU application that has been tested using only those GNSS signals that the OBU receiver would have had available if it was operating in a real-world replica environment to that which was simulated within the Skyclone test scenario.
Skyclone Architecture
The Skyclone system architecture (Figure 3) consists of five principal subsystems.
Office Subsystem Denial Scenario Manager. This software has been designed to allow users to readily design a cityscape for use within the Skyclone system. The software allows the users to select different building heights and styles, add GNSS jamming and interference, and select different road areas to be treated as tunnels.
Figure 3. Baseline Skyclone system architecture.
City Buildings. The Advance test site and surrounding area have been divided into 14 separate zones, each of which can be assigned a different city model. Ten of the zones fall inside of the test road circuit and four are external to the test site. Each zone is color-coded for ease of identification (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Skyclone city zones.
The Skyclone system uses the city models to determine GNSS signal blockage and multipath for all positions on the innovITS Advance test site. The following city models, ordered in decreasing building height and density, can be assigned to all zones: high rise, city, semi urban, residential, and parkland.
Interference and Jamming. GNSS jamming and interference can be applied to the received GNSS signals. Jamming is set by specifying a jamming origin, power, and radius. The power is described by the percentage of denied GNSS signal at the jamming origin and can be set in increments of 20 percent. The denied signal then decreases linearly to the jammer perimeter, outside of which there is no denial.
The user can select the location, radius, and strength of the jammer, can select multiple jammers, and can drag and drop the jammers around the site.
Tunnels. Tunnels can be applied to the cityscape to completely deny GNSS signals on sections of road. The user is able to allocate “tunnels” to a pre-defined series of roads within the test site. The effect of a tunnel is to completely mask the sky from all satellites.
Visualization. The visualization display interface (Figure 5) provides a graphical representation of the scenario under development, including track layout, buildings, locations, and effects of interference/jammers and tunnels. Interface/jammer locations are shown as hemispherical objects located and sized according to user definition. Tunnels appear as half-cylinder pipes covering selected roads.
Figure 5. 3D visualisation display.
Reference Subsystem
The reference subsystem obtains the precise location of the test vehicle within the test site. The reference location is used to extract relevant vehicle-location data, which is used to condition the GNSS signals.
The reference subsystem is based on a commercial off-the-shelf real-time kinematic GPS RTK system, capable of computing an accurate trajectory of the vehicle to approximately 10 centimeters. This position fix is used to compute the local environmental parameters that need to be applied to the raw GNSS signals to simulate the city scenario.
A dedicated RTK GNSS static reference system (and UHF communications links) is provided within the Skyclone system. RTK vehicle positions of the vehicles are also communicated to the 4G mesh network on the Advance test site for tracking operational progress from the control center.
Vehicle Subsystem
The vehicle subsystem acquires the GNSS signals, removes those that would be blocked due to the city environment (buildings/tunnels), conditions remaining signals, applies interference/jammer models, and re-transmits resulting the GNSS signals for use by the OBU subsystem.
The solution is based on the use of software GNSS receiver technology developed at NSL. In simple terms, the process involves capturing and digitizing the raw GNSS signals with a hardware RF front end. Figure 6 shows the system architecture, and Figure 7 shows the equipment in the innovITS demonstration vehicle.
Figure 6. Skyclone hardware architecture.
The digitized signals are then processed in NSL’s software receiver running on a standard commercial PC motherboard. The software receiver includes routines for signal acquisition and tracking, data demodulation and position determination.
In the Skyclone system, the raw GNSS signals are captured and digitized using the NSL stereo software receiver. The software receiver determines which signals are to be removed (denied), which signals require conditioning, and which signals can pass through unaffected. The subsystem does this through accurate knowledge of the vehicle’s location (from the reference subsystem), knowledge of the environment (from the office subsystem), and knowledge of the satellite locations (from the vehicle subsystem itself).
The Skyclone vehicle subsystem applies various filters and produces a digital output stream. This stream is converted to analog and upconverted to GNSS L1 frequency, and is sent to the transmitter module located on the same board.
The Skyclone transmitter module feeds the analog RF signal to the OBU subsystem within the confines of a shielded GPS hood, which is attached to the vehicle on a roof rack. An alternative to the hood is to integrate directly with the cable of the OBU antenna or through the use of an external antenna port into the OBU. The vehicle subsystem performs these tasks in near real-time allowing the OBU to continue to incorporate non-GNSS navigation sensors if applicable.
Onboard Unit Subsystem
The OBU subsystem, typically a third-party device to be tested, could be a nomadic device or an OEM fitted device, or a smartphone. It typically includes a GNSS receiver, an interface, and a software application. Examples include:
Navigation system
Intelligent speed adaptation system
eCall
Stolen-vehicle recovery system
Telematics (fleet management) unit
Road-user charging onboard unit
Pay-as-you-drive black-box
Vehicle-control applications
Cooperative active safety applications
Vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure systems.
Tools Subsystem Signal Monitor
The Skyclone Monitor tool provides a continuous monitoring service of GNSS performance at the test site during tests, monitoring the L1 frequency and analyzing the RF singal received at the reference antenna. The tool generates a performance report to provide evidence of the open-sky GNSS conditions. This is necessary in the event of poor GNSS performance that may affect the outcome of the automotive tests. The Skyclone Monitor (Figure 8) is also used to detect any spurious leaked signals which will highlight the need to check the vehicle subsystem. If any spurious signals are detected, the Skyclone system is shut down so as to avoid an impact on other GNSS users at the test site. A visualization tool (Visor) is used for post-test analysis displaying the OBU-determined position alongside the RTK position within the 3D environment.
Figure 8. GNSS signal and positioning monitor.Figure 9. 3D model of city.
Performance
Commissioning of the Skyclone system produced the following initial results. A test vehicle was installed with the Skyclone and RTK equipment and associated antennas.. The antennas were linked to the Skyclone system which was installed in the vehicle and powered from a 12V invertor connected to the car power supply. The output from the RTK GPS reference system was logged alongside the output of a commercial third-party GNSS receiver (acting as the OBU) interfaced to the Skyclone system. Skyclone was tested under three scenarios to provide an initial indication of behavior: city, tunnel, and jammer.
The three test cenarios were generated using the GNSS Denial Scenario Manager tool and the resulting models stored on three SD cards. The SD cards were separately installed in the Skyclone system within the vehicle before driving around the test site.
City Test. The city scenario consisted of setting all of the internal zones to “city” and setting the external zones to “high-rise.”
Figure 10A represents the points as provided by the RTK GPS reference system installed on the test vehicle. Figure 10B includes the positions generated by the COTS GPS OBU receiver after being injected with the Skyclone output. The effect of including the city scenario model is immediately apparent. The effects of the satellite masking and multipath model generate noise within the position tracks.
Figure 10A. City scenario: no Skyclone.Figure 10B. City scenario: withSkyclone.
Tunnel Test. The tunnel scenario consists of setting all zones to open sky. A tunnel is then inserted along the central carriageway (Figure 11). A viewer location (depicted by the red line) has been located inside the tunnel, hence the satellite masking plot in the bottom right of Figure 11 is pure red, indicating complete masking of satellite coverage. The output of the tunnel scenario is presented in Figure 12. Inclusion of the tunnel model has resulted in the removal of all satellite signals in the area of track where the tunnel was located in the city model. The color shading represents signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), an indication of those instances where the output of the test OBU receiver has generated a position fix with zero (black) signal strength, hence the output was a prediction. Thus confirming the tunnel scenario is working correctly.
Figure 11. 3D model of tunnel.Figure 12. Results.
Jammer Test. The jammer test considered the placement of a single jammer at a road intersection (Figure 13). Two tests were performed, covering low-power jammer and a high-power jammer. Figure 14A shows results from the low-power jammer. The color shading relates to the SNR as received within the NMEA output from the OBU, which continued to provide an output regardless of the jammer. However, the shading indicates that the jammer had an impact on signal reception.
Figure 13. Jammer scenario.Figure 14A. Jammer test results: low power interference.Figure 14B. Jammer test results: high-power interference.
In contrast the results of the high-power jammer (Figure 14B) show the effect of a jammer on the OBU output. The jammer denies access to GNSS signals and generates the desired result in denying GNSS signals to the OBU. Furthermore, the results exhibit features that the team witnessed during real GNSS jamming trials, most notably the wavering patterns that are output from GNSS receivers after they have regained tracking following jamming, before their internal filtering stabilizes to nominal behaviors.
The Future
The Advance test site is now available for commercial testing of GNSS based applications. Current activity involves integrating real-world GNSS jammer signatures into the Skyclone design tool and the inclusion of other GNSS threats and vulnerabilities.
Skyclone offers the potential to operate with a range of platforms other than automotive. Unmanned aerial systems platforms are under investigation. NSL is examining the integration of Skyclone features within both GNSS simulators as well as an add-on to record-and-replay tools. This would enable trajectories to be captured in open-sky conditions and then replayed within urban environments.
Having access to GNSS signal-denial capability has an immediate commercial interest within the automotive sector for testing applications without the need to invest in extensive field trials. Other domains can now benefit from such developments. The technology has been developed and validated and is available for other applications and user communities.
A small device the size of a flash drive brings a new level of accountability to fleet drivers, providing a tool for timekeeping that will help the back office by verifying driver time sheet information, according to GPSTrackIt.
“The device itself is simple,” explained Eddie Ramirez, GPSTrackIt’s product manager. “Each device is an electromagnetic ‘key’. The driver must seat the face of the key in a receptacle wired into the vehicle’s electrical system so that it can be read.”
The device has a 16-digit code, or hex number, associated with it. The number is embossed across the face of the device. That number is the device’s electronic signature.
“When the key fob is seated in the reader the system checks the hex number encoded on it,” Bermudez continued. “It uses the key number to identify the driver. This enables fleet managers to have multiple drivers assigned to the same vehicle, optimizing their use of fleet resources. And it increases driver accountability — reports can be run to evaluate the behaviors of specific drivers.”
It also helps out in the back office when it comes to verifying time cards, according to the company. When the driver uses the key fob to identify himself, it also registers a “clock in” on the system’s time clock. Drivers use the key fob at the end of their shift to clock out. If a driver forgets to clock out, the clock-in by the next driver automatically clocks the previous driver out.
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) became fully operational with the first precision approach flown by a United Airlines aircraft using Honeywell’s SmartPath Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS) on April 22. IAH is one of two airports in the country participating in a pilot program, in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United Airlines and Honeywell to demonstrate the use of GBAS. This new system delivers a cost-effective solution to increase airport capacity, decrease air traffic noise and reduce weather-related delays.
“The Houston Airports are among the most innovative and progressive in the nation when it comes to safety and efficiently connecting passengers to destinations around the world,” said Mario Diaz, director of the Houston Airports. “It is imperative that we continue to invest in new technology that enhances the aviation sector.”
Honeywell’s SmartPath GBAS system augments GPS signals so they can be used for precision navigation in the approach and landing phases of flight. The flexible approaches provided by GBAS may produce a significant reduction in aircraft delays and carbon emissions at airports. The project is a component of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). It’s a migration from what is considered to be a ground-based air navigation system to a satellite-based navigation system which uses the same GPS that you use in your cars today.
“There is a great opportunity for SmartPath to modernize the flight experience for airline passengers,” said Pat Reines, senior manager, SmartPath Ground Based Augmentation Systems at Honeywell Aerospace. “We’re looking forward to helping Houston passengers and visitors’ experience more flights that depart and arrive on time.”
United Airlines will operate the flights with a Boeing 737 aircraft equipped with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) landing system (GLS) technology to receive the GBAS landing approach data. United was an early leader in NextGen technology, taking delivery of GLS-equipped aircraft since 2009.
“We believe that GBAS is the air carrier precision landing system of the future,” said Captain Joe Burns, United’s managing director of technology and flight test. “We continue to work closely with the FAA and our industry partners on GBAS and other NextGen initiatives.”
GBAS can provide aircraft with guidance to as low as 200 feet above the surface of the runway, referred to as a Category I approach. The FAA is currently validating the requirements for a GBAS to support Category II and Category III precision approach operations which would guide an aircraft to the surface of the runway. GBAS represents the only currently feasible satellite-based navigation solution for Category II/III precision approach operations, according to the Houston Airport System.
Navevo specialists in satellite navigation solutions for heavy-goods vehicles (HGV) drivers, now offers the ProNav HGV Cyclist Alert. Supplied as standard on the new ProNav PNN420 satnav for truck drivers and soon to be rolled out across all current ProNav systems, the safety feature provides junction alerts at high convergence areas of trucks and cyclists and prompts drivers to take extra care.
The number of cyclists in London is on the rise, along with safety risks that arise when trucks and cyclists both are traversing busy London junctions and interchanges.
The ProNav HGV Cyclist Alert software was developed in association with Transport for London (TfL) to provide a commercial vehicle driver with an audible and visual alert as he or she approaches a junction (or section of road) that has been determined to be a location where there are high volumes of HGVs and cyclists. A warning symbol is displayed on the navigation system’s mapping that projects a 50-meter radius “warning zone” around each HGV/Cyclist convergence area. Drivers are also provided with a short audible tone as a reminder, giving the driver plenty of time to check for any cyclists on the road, Navevo said.
The HGV Cyclist Alert software uses data provided by TfL and the up-to-date Department for Transport HGV and pedal cycle flow figures for London’s road network. The dataset uses this information to identify locations where large numbers of HGVs and cyclists converge. Initially, 100 high-convergence areas across London have been included (alerts at every junction would be counterproductive to drivers). Working with other local authorities both in London and nationally, Navevo plans to increase the level of coverage and will provide free updates when new data becomes available.
“A navigation system is something a driver is likely to be listening to as they approach a junction, and so it makes perfect sense to also alert the driver of the risk of cyclists, reminding them to be observant and drive safely,” says Navevo CEO, Nick Caesari. “The safety of drivers, cyclists and other users of the road is a concern for everybody, and we are proud to lead the navigation industry by launching this ‘world first’ safety feature, which we believe could significantly contribute in improving road safety and reducing the number of incidents involving HGVs and cyclists.”
“For many years, London has worked to lead the way in pushing for the adoption of safer lorries and safer lorry driving,”
Ian Wainwright, head of Freight and Fleet at Transport for London. “The creation of a specific cyclist alert for HGV drivers is another positive step forward and will help to further raise awareness and improve cycle safety across the capital.”
A LocataNet will provide the vitally important high-precision positioning required by the VRC to perform rigorous, consistent and repeatable scientific evaluation of the new vehicle crash avoidance systems, Locata said. VRC crash tests produce the “Top Safety Pick” ratings that have helped consumers make informed decisions about buying safer cars for years. Now research into new technology systems, which allows cars to avoid crashes in the first place, will elevate the value of the institute’s safety ratings, Locata said.
Carrying out these new tests is not a trivial exercise, Locata said. The VRC will have to research and install new robotic and positioning technology to enable the required level of precision. The LocataNet installation will furnish the IIHS with a locally controlled positioning system that is seamless over all of the VRC test areas, enabling extremely reliable automated positioning of vehicles. The newly expanded facility includes a continuous vehicle test track that traverses not only open-air roadway areas, but also a vast 300- by 700-foot fully covered testing area. Locata’s ability to provide centimeter-accurate, locally controlled positioning across both outdoor and indoor environments gives the IIHS flexibility to design a positioning system to meet their vital test requirements, while also allowing easy upgrade and expansion in the future, Locata said.
The dramatic video footage from IIHS crash tests draws extensive media coverage, which becomes a powerful public incentive for automakers to improve the safety of their vehicles. The media, auto industry and policymakers look to the IIHS as a leader in highway safety research, and the expanded VRC will enable the IIHS to play a major role in the emerging area of crash avoidance testing, Locata said. IHS’s YouTube channel shows crash tests and dicusses the ratings system.
“Crash tests and research conducted at the VRC have helped drive life-saving improvements in vehicle designs,” said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. “Our new state-of-the-art facility will allow us to also evaluate emerging vehicle-based systems intended to prevent crashes or lessen their severity, so that we can encourage the entire industry to adopt the most effective ones.”
To do this new research, it is essential to conduct tests under identical, controlled condition, Locata said. With Locata, IIHS researchers will be able to ensure precise positioning data is available in all of its test areas. In places where GPS signals would be unreliable or unavailable when tests are conducted under cover, Locata seamlessly delivers consistent, reliable and accurate positioning, available everywhere, the company said. It will help IIHS carry out automated, identical testing to allow “apples to apples” comparisons of motor vehicles. This is a critical advancement for testing systems that will save many lives in the future, Locata said.
The planned Locata-enabled covered test track.The Locata-enabled covered test track building (artist’s concept).
Here is a video tour of the VRC.
Locata technology provides GPS-style, ground-based positioning covering local areas ranging in size from a parking lot to thousands of square miles. It provides precise positioning either in combination with, or in the total absence of, GPS. It is the first technology that can replicate GPS’s precise positioning capability without using satellites.
Locata’s current devices have already delivered new positioning capabilities to professional applications in mining, aviation, warehousing, and as “GPS backup systems” for important strategic areas. Locata is being trialed by several government bodies in urban areas as a locally controlled positioning infrastructure in applications for transport, first responders, surveyors, and container port automation. As Locata devices are further miniaturized over the next few years, this technology promises to be a game changer for the positioning capabilities available to indoor, mobile and smartphone applications, Locata said.
The partners met at the VRC on February 14 to plan out the Locata installation. From left are Robert “Bo” Jones, IIHS engineer; Paul Perrone, president, Perrone Robotics; Geoff Hoekstra, business development, Perrone Robotics; Adrian Lund, president, IIHS; David Zuby, chief research officer, IIHS; Nunzio Gambale, Locata CEO; Jimmy LaMance, Locata. The auto is the result of a crash test conducted that day.
“GPS satellites are in a constant state of motion,” said Nunzio Gambale, CEO of Locata Corporation. “In many environments, this makes it impossible to achieve the level of reliable positioning required for meaningful scientific testing. Locata readily steps into these environments to deliver an always-on, unfailing and superbly accurate positioning signal. We are honored to be chosen as the positioning technology that helps the IHS research, test and drive forward the development of life-saving automotive initiatives. This Locata installation at the legendary Vehicle Research Center will be the most publicly visible jewel in our crown to date. Relationships like this confirm the value of years of hard work we put in to invent this amazing and unique technology.”
“The Locata team is thrilled to see how rapidly our systems are being taken up by the creme-de-la-creme of the positioning industry,” continued Gambale. “We know this VRC testing is world-first, groundbreaking work that has enormous global and social value. It’s wonderful to think that our work may contribute to one day saving my life—or yours.”
GreenRoad has announced the integration and availability of GreenRoad Advanced Tracking, powered by GPS Insight fleet tracking service. GreenRoad Advanced Tracking provides fleet operators with a new level of insight into fleet performance, resulting in improved fuel economy, better asset utilization, and enhanced productivity, GreenRoad said.
With the availability of GreenRoad Advanced Tracking, GreenRoad adds powerful fleet management capabilities to its best-in-class driver performance and safety solution, which combines real-time, in-vehicle safety feedback with a management portal that provides insight and guidance.
“GreenRoad Advanced Tracking builds on the GreenRoad Connected Fleet vision by giving managers deeper, broader insight into how they’re using their fleet assets, in addition to how their drivers are performing,” said Karen White, senior vice president of customer solutions for GreenRoad.
Additional highlights of GreenRoad Advanced Tracking include:
Interactive displays of entire fleet, any vehicle group or single vehicle. Color-coding for easy status identification, 2D and 3D mapping, vehicle history trails, automatic alerts when management attention needed.
Increased fleet activity insight with landmark and geofence support. Automatic alerts when a vehicle enters or leaves a landmark or group of landmarks.
Enhanced reporting to optimize fleet resources. Multiple, detailed activity reports including Drive Time Summary, Fleet Utilization and Odd-Hours Violations. Vehicle MPG reports available with fuel card transaction data integration.
A customizable dashboard runs specific reports and provides managerial insights with a minimum of mouse clicks.
