Category: Uncategorized

Unicore, ArduSimple unveil GNSS RTK receivers
Unicore has partnered with ArduSimple to integrate Unicore’s tripleband GNSS real time kinematic (RTK) receivers into ArduSimple’s evaluation boards.

Photo: Unicore

The UM980, UM981 and UM982 RTK modules are integrated into the ArduSimple simpleRTK3B series to accelerate high-precision GNSS integration. Supporting Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) and fast update rate (50Hz), these devices are suitable for applications that require reliable and precise navigation.
- simpleRTK3B Budget (UM980): The most affordable step into triple-band precision.
- simpleRTK3B Fusion (UM981): Ideal for projects that need GNSS and inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor fusion or tilt compensation.
- simpleRTK3B Compass (UM982): Designed for setups requiring dual antennas to determine the heading on moving platforms.
ArduSimple has also integrated Unicore UM980, UM981 or UM982 modules into the simpleRTK3B Micro Unicore, part of the most compact Micro-format lineup. It is designed for simple PCB integration, which can significantly speed up the development process and the time to market for new products.
October 2, 2024
The need for trained geodesists is an international issue
My previous newsletter highlighted activities associated with the Transportation Research Board ADK70 Standing Committee on Geospatial Data Acquisition Technologies. As I mentioned in the newsletter, Linda Foster, ESRI and president-elect of the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), highlighted how geodesy and surveying provide the foundation for digital twin products. Similar to the inverted geospatial pyramid depicted in my February 2022 GPS World newsletter, Foster’s presentation highlighted that geodesy is at the base of an inverted triangle. See my February 2022 and August 2024 newsletters for more details. Both diagrams emphasize the importance of geodesy and surveying in creating geospatial products and services.

That said, on August 20, I had the opportunity to participate in the UN-GGIM: Europe webinar series: Quo Vadis Geodesy? webinar. Quo vadis is a Latin phrase meaning “Where are you going?” The webinar highlighted the importance of geodesy and the need for more trained geodesists. This is a topic that I have been highlighting for several years.

Agenda for webinar. (All photos courtesy of UN-GGIM: Europe webinar.)

Webinar write up

Modern society relies heavily on satellite services for various critical functions, including economic development, the operation of critical infrastructure, and defense applications. Despite their clear and proven significance, these satellite services are at risk of degradation or failure due to the lack of resources provided to the global geodesy supply chain. It is crucial for decision-makers to understand the far-reaching implications of not strengthening this supply chain, which impacts societal, economic, and environmental applications. Additionally, these decision makers need clear pathways to address these vulnerabilities effectively.

The Community of Interest on Geodetic Reference Frames – Europe, established by UN-GGIM: Europe, is dedicated to supporting the sustainment and growth of the geodetic profession. To address current knowledge gaps, we have organized this webinar featuring two insightful presentations. The first presentation will discuss the risks associated with weak geodetic foundations and their potential to compromise satellite services. The second presentation will introduce an initiative to launch an international Master of Science in Geodesy, emphasizing the importance of formal geodesy education in building robust geodetic foundations.

There were three objectives of the webinar:

1) Provide geo-experts resources to help them convincingly communicate and advocate for a strong global geodesy supply chain.

2) Inform decision makers of the risks of not strengthening the global geodesy supply chain.

3) Support the initiative of the IDEA-league universities to establish an international Master of Science in Geodesy.

The webinar was recorded and can be found here. The presentations can be downloaded from the following weblinks:
- You, Me and Geodesy – Nicholas Brown, UN-GGCE
- International MSc Geodesy – Ramon Hanssen and Peter Teunissen, TU Delft
This newsletter is going to highlight some interesting items from the webinar, but I would encourage everyone to listen to the recording to obtain the full discussion.

First, I would like to note that Ramon Hanssen included the geospatial inverted pyramid (designed by Dana J. Caccamise II, NGS Regional Geodetic Advisory) and the white paper titled “The Geodesy Crisis” (prepared by Mike Bevis collaborating with others) that documented the concern about the lack of trained geodesists in the United States (see February 2022 GPS World newsletter). Based on the presentation by Ramon Hanssen it appears that the lack of trained geodesists is also a concern of the European geospatial community.

Image: Dana Caccamise II

Nicholas Brown, Head of Office, United Nations Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence, did a nice job of explaining the importance of geodesy in everyday activities. He highlighted how GNSS is a critical infrastructure for telecommunications, emergency services, and financial exchanges. In my opinion, GNSS and geodesy are unsung heroes of everyone’s daily activities.

He provided a scenario that would affect almost everyone in their daily routines.

Imagine a scenario without GNSS.

This highlights the importance of geodesy and the need to increase the number of trained geodesists in the world. My July 2020 “First Fix” article in GPS World discussed the need to increase the number of trained geodesists in the United States, and it appears the same issue is a concern of many individuals in Europe. Ramon Hanssen and Peter Teunissen, TU Delft, presented a way forward for Europe. The following are some highlights of the presentation but, again, I would encourage readers to download the slides and webinar for more details.

The presentation described “The IDEA League,” which is a strategic alliance between five European universities of technology: TU Delft, ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen, Chalmers University, and Politecnico di Milano. One goal of the partnership is to re-establish Europe as a technological and scientific leader by integrating academic resources and knowledge. The concept includes pooling resources for collaborative and complementary programs for teaching students and researchers.

The alliance established an initiation team to develop a proposal that included the following:
1. Establish a joint international European MSc program in Geodesy.
2. Combine resources of universities, scientists, and educators in Europe.
3. Respond to the urgent need for academic geodesists.
4. Inspire collaboration via complementary fields.
The group sent a questionnaire to stakeholders in the geodetic job market to obtain an understanding of the need for trained geodesists. The responses to the questionnaire highlighted the urgent need for more trained geodesists. Two important responses by stakeholders were (1) 72% perceived the current availability of MSc graduates in geodesy to be unsatisfactory and (2) 83% expects the demand for (academic) professionals with expertise in geodesy to grow in the foreseeable future.

As mentioned above, 72% perceived the current availability of MSc graduates in geodesy to be unsatisfactory. The questionnaire asked, “What challenges or gaps do you face in recruiting qualified geodetic professionals?”

There were many responses to this question; the image below provides a few examples that were presented at the webinar.

The stakeholders provided reasons why they believe that the demand for geodesists will increase in the future. The list below provides a breakdown of the reasons provided by the stakeholders. The top two reasons were technological advancements and digital transformation. Concerns with consistency in the digital delivery of geometric products were highlighted in my August 2024 newsletter.

We now live in a world where everything is digital. Today, most surveying and mapping instruments collect and generate data in digital format. This paradigm has affected how surveyors, geodesists, and engineers provide their products and services. So, it makes sense that advancements in technology and the transformation of digital data would be important to stakeholders.

The stakeholders were asked their opinion on what expertise is needed by geodesists to meet their requirements. The image below shows the responses of the stakeholders. There were six expertises that exceeded 50%:
- Quality (Precision, Accuracy) – 75.8%
- Sensors and Techniques – 63.6%
- Data Analytics – 60.6%
- Mathematical Fundamentals – 58.6%
- Reference Frames – 58.6%
- GIS and Geo-Databases – 52.5%
The group provided a preliminary program design for a MSc Geodesy. See the image below.

Draft overview MSc Geodesy.

As in all partnerships and collaborations, there are challenges. The group is working together to overcome these challenges. The stakeholders could help by supporting the IDEA League concept and proposal.

Nicholas Brown’s presentation, “You, Me and Geodesy,” provides information that others can use to explain how the global geodesy supply chain is fundamental to what they do and how critical it is to our daily lives. He describes five weaknesses (see the box titled “Weakness in Geodetic Message”) that need to be addressed to improve the message of why it is important to increase the geodetic capacity in the world. I have provided a short summary below, but readers should listen to the webinar for more details.
- Evidence – There is no clear, understandable evidence to explain the importance of investing in geodesy to decision makers.
- Resources – Leadership cannot make the business case to invest in geodesy without good evidence.
- Awareness – There is a need to communicate the importance of geodesy to other science agencies and scientists in different fields of study. For example, climate change is highly dependent on geodesy for measuring sea level rise, changes in gravity, ice melt, and the location of Earth’s center of mass.
- Capacity – Capacity development in geodetic science needs to be strengthened everywhere not just in developing countries.
- Governance – The scientific geodetic community has done an exceptional job of managing the geodetic infrastructure (e.g., International Association of Geodesy) but they are expected to do too much. During Nicholas Brown’s presentation, he mentioned that, in his opinion, an improved governance model could help advance geodesy around the world. He mentioned the need to have a governance model like the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). WMO members contribute resources to the organization, technical commissions are established to address issues, and operational support and resources are provided to implement capacity development programs.
Weakness in geodetic message.

The UN-GGIM: Europe webinar series: Quo Vadis Geodesy webinar highlighted the importance of geodesy and the need for more trained geodesists. Anyone reading my GPS World newsletters knows that I have been highlighting the need for more trained geodesists in the United States for several years. This newsletter highlighted interesting items from a webinar that discussed the need for more trained geodesists in Europe. Again, I would encourage everyone to listen to the recording to obtain the full discussion.
September 4, 2024
Seen & Heard: UAVs advance medicine delivery, increases in GPS jamming and more

“Seen & Heard” is a monthly feature of GPS World magazine, traveling the world to capture interesting and unusual news stories involving the GNSS/PNT industry.

Tracking down criminals

Photo: m-gucci / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

In Deschutes County, Oregon, a sheriff’s deputy used a GPS-based tracker to tag a stolen pickup truck, leading to the arrest of a suspect who tried to evade a traffic stop. After a short pursuit, the deputy tagged the vehicle using a StarChase device, which can fire a GPS-based tracking device from a law enforcement vehicle to attach to a suspect’s vehicle. The truck was tracked, and the suspect was apprehended.

UAVs advance medicine delivery

Photo: Oundum / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Wing and Apian have partnered with Blackrock Health and St. Vincent’s Private Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, along with healthcare technology company Medtronic, to launch a UAV delivery trial for medical supplies and devices. The delivery service will include Medtronic’s ingestible camera, PillCam, sutures, surgical tools and heart valve repair products, with plans to expand to pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) in the future. Wing’s UAVs are designed for quicker and more reliable deliveries than traditional transport methods, avoiding traffic congestion in Dublin.

Finland faces increase in GPS jamming

Finnish authorities have reported a surge of GPS malfunctions in the area. Authorities speculate the disturbances are due to Russian jamming. The reports were brought to the public’s attention when a Finnish maritime pilot shared on social media a video depicting radar malfunctions. Traficom, Finland’s federal transport and communications agency, told local news outlet Iltalehti that there has been a noticeable increase in GPS malfunctions, although it detected no interference with radar frequencies in the Gulf of Finland.

China takes PNT to the moon

Photo: Elen11 / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Scientists from the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering proposed the construction of 21 positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) satellites around the moon to support China’s lunar ambitions. The satellites will be deployed in four types of orbits over three phases, featuring a sustainable and cost-effective design, according to a paper published in the Chinese Space Science and Technology journal. China aims to put astronauts on the moon by 2030 and build a research base at the lunar south pole with international partners around 2035, according to the paper.

August 29, 2024
Saildrone, NOAA and Rutgers improve Hurricane Beryl monitoring

Photo: Saildrone and NOAA.

As Hurricane Beryl moved across the Caribbean, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has partnered with Saildrone to deploy seven hurricane-tracking saildrones in strategic locations.

These unmanned surface vessels (USVs) are equipped with a specialized “hurricane wing” to withstand extreme wind conditions. The USVs are gathering real-time data on key atmospheric and oceanic parameters such as wind speeds, wave heights, temperature, pressure and salinity.

Hurricane Beryl

Hurricane Beryl impacted Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the Yucatan Peninsula. Residents were urged to complete preparations to protect life and property as the storm progressed.

Two saildrones were deployed in the Gulf of Mexico, launched from St. Petersburg, Florida, and Port Aransas, Texas, and five more in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, launched from Jacksonville, Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These systems provide critical data to improve the understanding and prediction of tropical cyclone intensity changes, particularly rapid intensification — where hurricane wind speeds increase dramatically in a short period.

To enhance these efforts, Rutgers University deployed underwater gliders that work in tandem with saildrones. These gliders measure temperature and salinity at various depths, offering a detailed picture of the ocean’s conditions before, during and after a hurricane.

The collaboration aims to provide high-resolution, coordinated measurements from the ocean surface to the atmosphere, enhancing situational awareness for forecasters and improving the accuracy of hurricane intensity forecasts.

Our researchers flew into Cat5 Hurricane #Beryl w/ @NOAA_HurrHunter to gather data from the air, while a @saildrone and a @RutgersU sea glider gathered data from the ocean, and @NOAASatellites gathered data from space. #collaboration @NOAAResearch pic.twitter.com/gG8P0yM9wo

— NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Lab (@NOAA_AOML) July 3, 2024

Advanced Technologies

Equipped with a “hurricane wing,” Saildrone’s USVs can collect continuous data in harsh storm conditions, providing real-time insights into the physical interactions between the ocean and atmosphere. Underwater gliders, deployed by Rutgers, aid in measuring subsurface ocean conditions, which are critical for understanding how variations in temperature and salinity affect hurricane strength.

The information gathered by these technologies is extremely valuable for enhancing predictive models, ultimately helping to improve disaster preparedness and response. The partnership between Saildrone, NOAA and Rutgers University represents a significant step forward in the use of uncrewed systems for environmental monitoring.

Photo: Saildrone and NOAA

July 10, 2024
Seen & Heard: Robotic dogs, coral bleaching, songs for cows

“Seen & Heard” is a monthly feature of GPS World magazine, traveling the world to capture interesting and unusual news stories involving the GNSS/PNT industry.

Songs for the Cows

Photo: SWNS Media Group

Farmers are controlling cows with a GNSS-based tracking system that plays “Waltzing Matilda” when they get too close to a virtual fence. Blue Carbon Farming in Somerset, England, has begun working with the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust (WWT) to allow cattle to graze in wetlands and salt marshes for the first time in 30 years. Farmers can now use the Nofence app and collars to track where the cows are and warn them away from danger with music. If a cow gets near the virtual fence, a boundary determined by the farmers, its collar will play the tune to warn it away from the area.

Robotic Dogs on a Mission

Photo: BMW

BMW is using a four-legged robotic dog to gather data for a digital twin at its Hams Hall engine production plant in the United Kingdom. The robot – a Boston Dynamics Spot model, which BMW has renamed Spotto – also will act as a watchdog and assist in other tasks at the site’s facilities. The autonomous robot is equipped with visual, thermal and acoustic sensors. The Hams Hall digital twin operates on three levels. On the first level, the twin generates 3D representations of the plant. The mobile robot feeds data into the second level – a data layer that also receives information from the site’s production facilities and IT systems. On the third level – the application level – programs sort the collected data, which personnel use for quality assurance and production planning purposes.

Keep Your Hands on the Wheel

Photo: Tesla

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems. Tesla is under the microscope of U.S. federal prosecutors, as well as the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), who want Tesla to share more information related to its autopilot system after crashes continued occurring despite a December recall of more than 2 million vehicles. The investigation focuses on Tesla’s Autopilot system and the more advanced Full Self-Driving package, which the company has been selling as an optional add-on. Neither system can fully automate the driving process without human supervision, a point of contention that has raised questions about the accuracy of Tesla’s promotional materials.

Mass Coral Bleaching

Photo: Rainer von Brandis / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), in collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, has observed extensive coral bleaching caused by elevated sea temperatures during aerial and in-water surveys of the reef. This information confirms that a mass coral bleaching event is taking place on the Great Barrier Reef, which is the fifth such event since 2016. The aerial surveys have so far covered almost two-thirds of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

June 28, 2024
Inertial Labs launches GPS-aided INS

Photo: Inertial Labs

Inertial Labs has launched the INS-FI, a GPS-aided inertial navigation system (INS) designed to improve performance and reliability for land, marine and aerial applications.

INS-FI is built with tactical-grade fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) technology and an IP67 rating, indicating its robustness and resistance to electromagnetic and environmental interference. This system integrates an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that combines fiber optic gyroscopes and MEMS accelerometers, along with an all-constellations GNSS receiver supporting multiple bands.

It offers horizontal and vertical positioning with approximately 0.1% error of distance traveled for land applications and a drift of five nautical miles per hour for aerospace applications without GNSS signal. INS-FI is fully compatible with Inertial Labs’ Air Data Computer (ADC), visual inertial navigation systems (VINS) and stand-alone magnetic compass (SAMC).

The INS-FI incorporates Inertial Labs’ sensor fusion filter, navigation and guidance algorithms, and calibration software for optimal performance and reliability. This new system aims to provide precise horizontal and vertical positions, velocity, and absolute orientation (heading, pitch, and roll) for any mounted device, maintaining high accuracy for both stationary and dynamic applications.

June 19, 2024
Launchpad: Upgraded surveying software, application suite, GPS integrity module

A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the June 2024 issue of GPS World magazine.

SURVEYING & MAPPING

Upgraded surveying software
With an improved CAD engine

Survey Master 3.5.0 includes an enhanced CAD engine. A measurement grade has been added to the CAD to improve the software’s utility in design and planning projects. Additionally, the latest version features expanded CAD drawing and survey functions to offer users a comprehensive toolset — including point, line, polyline, curve, arc, square, rectangle, polygon, circle and text. Survey Master 3.5.0 features CAD capture mode from any point and allows users to easily display or hide point icons.

The system added the Dominican predefined coordinate system, SBAS configuration, PPP and RTK PPP fusion, updated satellite frequencies and an external datalink CDL7 configuration. Existing software users can update directly in Survey Master.
Comnav Technologies, comnavtech.com

Scanning kit
Combines photogrammetry with RTK precision

The Pix4D & Emlid Scanning kit combines advanced photogrammetry with real-time kinematics (RTK) precision for quick data capture when documenting trenches and as-builts, performing volumetric measurements and enhancing aerial data with terrestrial scans. It includes the PIX4Dcatch app and the Emlid Reach RX RTK rover.

The PIX4Dcatch app allows precise scanning for both photogrammetry and lidar projects. The hardware features the Emlid Reach RX RTK rover, which comes with an ergonomic handle and accessories. It is integrated with PIX4Dcatch and provides real-time positioning through NTRIP.

The kit works with any correction network or GNSS base station broadcasting RTCM3. The rover gets a fix in less than five seconds, offering centimeter-accurate positioning in challenging conditions. It can also be used with the survey pole as an RTK rover for data collection and stakeout.

Designed for urban surveying, the Reach RX rover is lightweight, rated IP68, sealed and protected from water and dust.

The PIX4Dcatch mobile app allows users to use a smartphone for scanning, access RTK precision data through integration with Reach RX and generate a digital model within minutes. Users can also store, annotate, measure and share data online in PIX4Dcloud as well as verify geolocated positions and visualize the project in AR. It extracts insights from both terrestrial and aerial data and features online and offline processing, advanced photogrammetry capabilities, team collaboration and AR for CAD overlays.
Emlid, emlid.com

UAV surveying software
Now with planimetric survey capabilities

Virtual Surveyor version 9.5 is a smart UAV surveying program featuring new planimetric survey capabilities. Users can survey 2D features from UAV orthophotos and add them to a 3D topographic model generated from the same data set.

The integrated Terrain Creator app photogrammetrically processes UAV photos to build survey-grade digital surface models (DSMs) and orthomosaics. These transfer seamlessly to the traditional Virtual Surveyor app where users can generate CAD models, create cut-and-fill maps and gather other 3D topographic information.

No third-party software is needed to create surveys from UAV data. The system is ideal for users in construction, surface mining and excavation projects.
Virtual Surveyor, virtual-surveyor.com

RTK technology
For GIS needs

RTK Torch is designed for high-precision geolocation and GIS needs. It has tri-band reception and tilt compensation.

The RTK Torch can provide millimeter-grade measurements. Users can connect a phone to the device over Bluetooth and receive the NMEA output and work with most GIS software.

The RTK Torch features Zero-Touch RTK technology, which gives connected devices WiFi credentials for a hotspot or other WiFi network. The device will begin receiving corrections without any further setup, with no NTRIP credentials required. These corrections are obtained over WiFi from u-blox PointPerfect and are available in the United States, Europe and various parts of Australia, Canada, Brazil and Korea.

The RTK Torch includes a one-month free subscription to PointPerfect. Additional subscriptions can be purchased if desired. If PointPerfect coverage is not available in the area, corrections from a local base station or service can be provided to the device over NTRIP, delivered via Bluetooth or WiFi.

It is housed in an IP67-rated enclosure. It is waterproof when submerged up to 1 m for up to 30 minutes when the USB cover is closed. Under the hood of the SparkFun RTK Torch is an ESP32, a UM980 L1/L2/L5 high precision GNSS receiver from Unicore, and an IM-19 for tilt compensation. The addition of the L5 reception makes this portable GNSS device ideal for densely canopied areas where normal L1/L2 reception may have problems.
SparkFun, sparkfun.com

3D laser scanner
For indoor and outdoor mapping

The VZ-600i terrestrial laser scanner offers a broad range capability from 0.5 m up to 1,000 m and is suitable for indoor and outdoor 3D mapping applications. It features 3D position accuracy of 3 mm, less than 30 sec scan time for high-resolution scans with 6 mm point spacing at 10 m, weight less than 6 kg (13 lbs), 2.2 MHZ PRR, three internal cameras and is GNSS integrated.

Designed for mobile mapping applications, the system is suitable for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC), building information modeling (BIM), as-built surveying, forensic and crash scene investigation, archeology, forestry and more.
RIEGL, riegl.com

OEM

Application suite
Featuring GRIT Technology

The NovAtel Application Suite Version 2.0 now includes GNSS Resilience and Integrity Technology (GRIT). The GRIT Monitor application allows users to observe radio frequency (RF) interference through a comprehensive dashboard to make informed decisions to maintain robust positioning.

GRIT is RF interference detection and mitigation technology available on all OEM7 GNSS receiver products, including individual cards and enclosures such as smart antennas, PwrPak and MarinePak.
It includes positioning and device status overviews to serve as a mitigation assistant that indicates whether interference is detected. It features an interactive spectrum viewer, which shows all constellations and frequency bands (spectrum and waterfall), and a signal matrix indicating the signal quality and interference status by frequency band and constellation.

The updated suite also introduces firmware compatibility and improvements to the user interface and extends support to include MarinePak, among other enhancements. The Manage application, previously known as Setup and Monitor, now supports satellite tracking for L-Band and SBAS and offers a global map view of connected receivers.

Version 2.0 of the NovAtel Application Suite is designed to assist users in maintaining accurate GNSS positioning by quickly identifying and responding to RF interference. This update is targeted to industries that require precise location data, such as aerial mapping, agriculture and autonomous vehicle navigation.
NovAtel, novatel.com

DEFENSE

Upgraded UAS
With silent VTOL capabilities

The VXE30 Stalker unmanned aerial system (UAS) features the new “Havoc” configuration, designed to double the system’s flight endurance and payload capacity.

With the Havoc upgrades, the VXE30 can now support the complex demands of both small tactical units and larger brigade-level operations without extensive reconfiguration. The upgrades are designed to make the UAS more versatile across various military applications.

The VXE30 Stalker UAS has silent, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities and is payload agnostic with the Havoc configuration. It supports easy integration of third-party payloads and subsystems through a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), requiring no additional training for current operators.
Edge Autonomy, edgeautonomy.io

CUAS technology
Adheres to NDAA standards

This counter-unmanned aircraft system (CUAS) is a high-speed kinetic interceptor UAS that utilizes advanced autopilot algorithms for calculating and tracking precise target trajectories, neutralizing Group 1 and 2 aerial threats with pinpoint accuracy.

The system is manufactured in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to ensure it meets the federal requirements necessary for immediate deployment in both military and industrial settings in the United States.
Nearthlab, nearthlab.com

GPS integrity module
Seamlessly integrates with existing platforms

The Shift5 GPS integrity module is a platform-agnostic solution for military, aviation, rail, maritime and space applications.
With real-time access and analysis of onboard data, the module assesses changes in navigational position through multi-faceted anomaly detection methods, which alert operators to GPS spoofing attacks as they happen.

Using data collected from onboard systems, the module uses algorithmic position analysis to identify significant position deviations and GPS data validation to verify GPS information accuracy. Discrepancies or deviations that indicate tampering trigger an immediate notification, allowing operators to initiate standard operating procedures (SOPs) rapidly and accurately.

The module is designed for cross-platform deployment, across commercial and military planes, locomotives, vessels and aircraft, as well as on other critical systems such as radar, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and weapon guidance systems. It seamlessly integrates with existing platforms and can deploy directly to onboard hardware.

It offers multi-faceted detection and alerts for GPS spoofing attempts, designed to improve the safety and reliability of navigation systems. It uses physics-based spoofing detection to determine whether reported changes in position are physically possible to provide an effective method for initial spoofing detection. The system analyzes data from all sources to detect subtle, sophisticated spoofing attempts, which is essential for identifying more complex spoofing strategies that may evade traditional spoofing detection techniques.

Shift5 alerts can be integrated into existing SOPs to help preempt contamination of other positioning and navigation data, such as inertial navigation calibration against false GPS data. Metadata about the time, location, duration and estimated position of the attack can be passed for inclusion in threat mapping and other geospatial systems for future route avoidance.
Shift5, shift5.io

VTOL UAS
Designed for military forces

The Rogue 1 loitering munition UAS is designed to provide military forces with enhanced versatility, survivability and lethality in modern combat environments.

The Rogue 1 is an optionally lethal, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capable of engaging both moving and stationary targets, including armored vehicles and dismounted threats. It features a unique mechanical interrupt fuzing system that allows for the drone to be safely recovered and reused if the mission is aborted or targets are disengaged.

Equipped with advanced electro-optical and FLIR Boson 640+ thermal cameras, Rogue 1 offers day and night long-range reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities. The system’s gimballed payload allows for precise targeting, facilitated by a novel coupling between sensors and warhead. Operators can customize the munition with various modular, mission-specific payloads to effectively engage different types of enemy targets.

It has a flight time of 30 minutes, can reach burst speeds exceeding 70 mph and has an operational range of over six miles, making it suitable for missions in harsh battlefield conditions, including communication- and GPS-denied environments.
Teledyne FLIR Defense, flir.com

UAV

Delivery winch
Improves safety and operational capabilities

A2Z Drone Delivery has released new safety features and hardware upgrades for its RDS2 commercial UAV delivery winch, including a weatherproof cover and an auto-releasing bag hook. This aims to improve safety and operational capabilities as well as aid in regulatory compliance for beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations.

The system features entanglement auto-detection, which autonomously detects tether entanglements and allows the system to safely abandon the tether to prevent damage to the UAV. This feature can be customized to recognize different types of obstructions, whether at altitude or during the landing phase, enhancing safety across a variety of operational scenarios.

Additionally, the overweight payload rejection feature ensures that the payload weight does not exceed the 5 kg limit. This is useful when picking up payloads from third parties, as it automatically confirms that the weights are within safe flying limits before proceeding with the mission. The RDS2 now includes Tether Lifecycle Alerts, which notify operators when the winch’s tether, rated for up to 800 deliveries, requires replacement.
A2Z Drone Delivery, a2zdronedelivery.com

Integration platform
For fully autonomous operations

Flinks is designed for one-click integrations with third-party applications and devices. The platform aims to streamline the coordination of various systems involved in UAV operations, creating end-to-end automated workflows for fully autonomous systems.

It allows users to connect the FlytBase platform with critical business systems such as alarm systems, video management, data processing and more. By eliminating the need for complex, time-consuming manual interventions, Flinks is designed for users to seamlessly incorporate autonomous drones into their existing operations.

By joining the Flinks Partner Program, organizations can access FlytBase’s global network of UAV service providers, system integrators and enterprise customers.
FlytBase, flytbase.com

MACHINE CONTROL

Antenna
Integrates with heavy construction equipment

The iCON 120 machine smart antenna offers scalable and flexible machine control solutions for construction professionals.

The iCON 120 is a GNSS antenna intended for integration within the existing Leica MC1 platform. Using the iCON 120, operators can benefit from a tailor-made, Leica MC1-based machine control, allowing for more streamlined operations and consistent workflows with a variety of heavy construction equipment and application requirements.

Leica iCON 120 users can start with a single GNSS solution using a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), such as WAAS or EGNOS, or a HxGN SmartNet service. The HxGN SmartNet family offers network real-time kinematics (RTK) with RTK bridging and precise point positioning (PPP) services that work exclusively with Leica Geosystems GS sensors. The new smart antenna can be easily switched, with quick mounting and dismounting, between Leica MC1-prepared machines.

Users can optionally upgrade their basic-level machine-control solution with the Leica CR50 communication unit to receive RTK correction data via radio or modem. The CR50 features a web interface, automotive ethernet communication, worldwide cellular modem and integrated dual-frequency UHF radio.
Leica Geosystems, leica-geosystems.com

GNSS smart antenna
For construction Site Positioning

The R780 GNSS Smart Antenna is designed for construction site positioning. It features a dual-band radio (450/900 MHz) that connects to diverse base stations and job sites without additional external radios. The dual Trimble Maxwell 7 GNSS ASIC chip allows the system to perform in challenging GNSS environments such as a blocked sky, multi-path or degraded signal.

An activated and ready-to-use Trimble CenterPoint RTX subscription is included for the first 12 months. CenterPoint RTX is point positioning technology that provides real-time, centimeter-level corrections via satellite or cellular/IP.

Using the R780 with Trimble FieldLink software supports underground and long-distance layout projects as well as QA/QC and field positioning tasks. The R780 can serve as a GNSS rover or as a base station for other GNSS operations including machine control.
Trimble Civil Construction, heavyindustry.trimble.com

June 17, 2024
Safran Federal unveils MEMS and HRG technologies

Safran Federal Systems has released a line of tactical-grade inertial measurement units (IMUs). These units are engineered to address the evolving needs of unmanned applications and space-based operations.

The IMUs include Iconyx, a high-performance HRG-based IMU that significantly outperforms legacy technologies, the company says. It offers improved accuracy and reliability for demanding navigation needs. It also features a small tactical IMU (STIM) ideal for applications requiring lower size, weight and power (SWAP).

The company is also upgrading its Geonyx inertial navigation system (INS), which is based on HRG technology, to incorporate M-Code capability. The fully integrated solution can perform in GPS-denied or spoofing environments, offering reliable navigation in challenging environments.

Safran Federal Systems unveiled these IMUs at the Joint Navigation Conference (JNC) 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Attendees are invited to visit Safran Federal Systems at Booth A to learn more.

June 4, 2024
FAA approves Amazon Prime Air BVLOS UAV deliveries

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Amazon Prime Air permission to operate UAVs beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). This allows Prime Air to expand its UAV delivery service to more customers and scale operations across the U.S.

Prime Air’s BVLOS operations rely on detect-and-avoid technology, which allows UAVs to autonomously navigate obstacles for safe flight operations. Amazon provided the FAA with detailed engineering data and conducted flight demonstrations, which included real-world scenarios involving planes and hot air balloons, to validate the system’s safety.

With this FAA approval, Prime Air will extend its delivery area in College Station, Texas, using its MK-27 UAV. The service will integrate into Amazon’s existing delivery network, with UAVs deploying from facilities adjacent to same-day delivery sites.

Prime Air received an Air Carrier Certificate in 2020. The recent BVLOS approval further extends its capabilities, allowing Amazon to access more densely populated areas. The UAVs aim to deliver packages within 30 minutes or less.

June 4, 2024
Seen & Heard: Dark matter, robots, Taiwan earthquake

“Seen & Heard” is a monthly feature of GPS World magazine, traveling the world to capture interesting and unusual news stories involving the GNSS/PNT industry.

Photo: ESA

Detecting dark matter with atomic clocks

A team of researchers from Belgium’s Royal Observatory, SYRTE in Paris, the Université Côte d’Azur and the European Space Agency have used atomic clocks to search for dark matter transients in space. The team focused on a network of passive hydrogen masers (H-masers) on board the fleet of Galileo satellites to detect these transient variations. They presented a new technique that interprets fluctuations in fundamental constants as a specific kind of frequency modulation — a discrepancy in the expected times indicated by the satellite clocks. The findings are detailed in a paper titled “Searching for large dark matter clumps using the Galileo Satnav clock variations.”

Photo: H2L Robotics

Gardening Robots

H2L Robotics has deployed fully autonomous agricultural vehicles enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) across farmlands in the Netherlands. The robots are tasked with spotting and eliminating diseased tulip bulbs ahead of the country’s financially significant spring tulip bloom. The Selector180 robot uses GNSS to autonomously drive through tulip fields, and onboard cameras to take thousands of photos. An AI model then sorts the images, looking for potentially diseased bulbs. Finally, the Selector returns to the fields and removes diseased bulbs to prevent disease from spreading.

Photo: DoorDash

Deliveries from the sky

DoorDash has expanded its partnership with Wing to bring its UAV delivery pilot to the United States. DoorDash users who are near the Wendy’s fast food restaurant located at 2355 N. Franklin Street in Christiansburg, Virginia can order eligible menu items from the restaurant. They will see the new delivery option on the checkout page. Once they select the “drone” option, their order will be prepared and delivered via a Wing UAV within 30 minutes.

Photo: USGS

Earthquake strikes Taiwan

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern coast of Taiwan on April 3, according to the United States Geological Survey. USGS has released a ShakeMap providing near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following the earthquake. According to USGS, the earthquake and aftershocks were strong enough to be felt across the island nation and parts of mainland China and Japan.

May 30, 2024
American Aerospace granted FAA waiver for BVLOS operation

Photo: American Aerospace Technologies (AATI)

American Aerospace, an Iridium partner, has received a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct UAV surveillance of critical infrastructure in California’s San Joaquin Valley for Chevron, an oil and gas company.

Enabled by Iridium’s global L-Band satellite connectivity, AATI’s AiRanger UAV will conduct remote aerial surveillance of the energy company’s pipeline and production facilities. Iridium’s network offers beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) connectivity, including remote command and control (C2) and detect and avoid (DAA) capabilities. The UAV will send information via Iridium satellites to conduct routine inspections.

Iridium partner Blue Sky Network customized and integrated its SkyLink 7100 voice, data and BVLOS terminal on the UAVs. The SkyLink 7100 offers continuous tracking and C2 capabilities for aviation and UAV operations.

The AiRanger is the first UAV to comply with industry standards for the DAA system and meet FAA BVLOS operation requirements. This achievement aims to pave the way for broader use of BVLOS UAVs to enhance situational awareness, reduce inspection costs and maximize value.

May 28, 2024
NYPD to use UAVs for 911 calls

Photo: aerogondo / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

The NYPD will soon improve its crime-fighting efforts with the Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program. Announced by New York Police Department (NYPD) Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry, the program will deploy UAVs in response to specific 911 calls for serious crimes in progress, such as shootings, robberies, and missing persons.

UAVs will launch from five precincts: the 48th Precinct in the Bronx, the 67th, 71st and 75th Precincts in Brooklyn, and Central Park, New York. The UAVs will provide real-time video and telemetry to officers to enhance situational awareness and safety.

“The information provided by DFR will be shared with responding officers. It will enhance officers’ situational awareness as they arrive on scene, promote officer safety, and help us deploy resources more effectively,” Daughtry said.

The NYPD uses 85 UAVs for various tasks, including monitoring major events and inspecting structural stability after accidents. Despite a 400% increase in UAV use last year, Daughtry emphasized they cannot be used for “warrantless surveillance” or “traffic enforcement.”

According to the NYPD, these UAVs will be deployed in response to 911 calls for service within the next few months. The program will start with four precincts in Brooklyn and the Bronx, chosen “based on recent crime trends.”

May 22, 2024