GPS World

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  • Septentrio releases 4.2 firmware for greater performance, security and functionality

    Septentrio releases 4.2 firmware for greater performance, security and functionality

    Septentrio has released version 4.2 firmware for the AsteRx4, AsteRx-U and the newly launched AsteRx-m2. The 4.2 firmware brings higher output rates, low and constant latency, support for TerraStar-C and a built-in NTRIP caster.

    AsteRx-m2 UAS receiver.

    The 4.2 firmware targets machine control applications delivering higher output rates with consistent and low latency. Maximum output rates have increased on all platforms: up to 100 Hz for the AsteRx4 and AsteRx-m2 and 50 Hz for the AsteRx-U, with latencies better than 10 ms and 20 ms respectively.

    TerraStar-C is now supported, bringing precise point positioning (PPP) horizontal position precision to 4 cm. In addition, Septentrio algorithms deliver fast PPP re-convergence making PPP even more attractive for positioning in difficult environments.

    For the AsteRx4 and the AsteRx-U, the 4.2 firmware enhances ease-of-use by including a built-in NTRIP caster. Correction data from the receiver is available for up to 10 NTRIP clients (or rovers) over the internet. The caster supports up to three mount points and can also rebroadcast correction data from a remote NTRIP server.

    “For machine control and automation, Septentrio receivers have unique low-latency behaviour which is constant and independent of the update rate.” stated Francesca Clemente, Product Manager at Septentrio. She continued: “The 4.2 firmware demonstrates Septentrio’s commitment to advancing performance and functionality of its products.”

  • ICAO requests information on unmanned traffic management systems

    During AUVSI Xponential 2017, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, announced a Request for Information (RFI) on traffic management systems for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

    The RFI is an opportunity for industry and governments to submit ideas to define the issues so that global solutions can be proposed, debated and agreed on.

    As UAS operations become more complex and are increasingly used for both commercial and recreational purposes, UAS traffic management systems, or UTM, are necessary to seamlessly integrate UAS into the airspace and existing air traffic management systems.

    An operational UTM will ensure the safe and efficient use of the airspace as UAS operations become more complex, such as with established navigation routes and point-to-point route segments requiring specific equipage requirements. UTM will integrate UAS into the existing airspace infrastructure to ensure the continued safety of the airspace.

    Any framework for a UTM will include many components, three of which are fundamental and will therefore be addressed as a matter of priority: ​

    • Registration system from which data is accessible in real time to allow remote identification and tracking of each UA, its operator/owner and location of the remote pilot/control station. To accommodate UA that are increasingly transported from one state to another for either recreational or professional use, this database should allow global access.
    • Communications systems for control of the UA and for tracking all UA within the UTM area. The communications system used for tracking UA must be able to identify when a manned aircraft is entering UTM airspace and provide an acceptable level of protection between it and UA operating in the airspace. Furthermore, it must facilitate detection of potential collisions with other UA and with obstacles such that appropriate avoidance action can be taken.
    • Geofencing-like systems that will support automatic updates by national authorities on the 28-day aeronautical information regulation and control (AIRAC) cycle to prevent UA operation in sensitive security areas and restricted or danger areas such as near aerodromes.

    ICAO is soliciting proposals for a global framework for UTM ahead of its Drone Enable UAS Industry Symposium, which will take place in Montreal, Canada, in September.

    “ICAO is the natural agency to be gathering together the best and brightest from governments and industry to define the problem so that global solutions can be proposed, debated and agreed on,” said Leslie Cary, ICAO remotely piloted aircraft systems program manager.

    “Collaboration between stakeholders is key to addressing complex issues such as UTM,” added Brian Wynne, president and CEO of AUVSI. “AUVSI is pleased ICAO is taking steps to explore solutions for UTM that will allow companies to operate globally under the same standards, reducing barriers to innovation and improving safety and security for all aircraft – both manned and unmanned. We look forward to working with ICAO to draw awareness and facilitate industry engagement in the RFI process.”

    For more information about the RFI, visit ICAO’s RFI website. Submissions need to be received no later than July 15.

  • Thank you for registering.

    Thank you for registering for the upcoming GPS World webinar, “Alternative PNT Services: LEO Satellite Time, Location and More,” brought to you by Spectracom.

    A link to the live event will be sent to you two hours before the event. Your personalized event URL will be automatically generated by the ON24 system. To ensure receipt of the email, please whitelist this email address by adding it to your contacts: [email protected].

    This presentation will begin on at 1 p.m. EDT /  10 a.m. PDT on Thursday,  June 15, 2017.

    Audience members may arrive 15 minutes prior to live time. You may need to download Flash Player in advance. If you have any questions, please contact event producer Joelle Harms at [email protected].

  • Drone Delivery Canada achieves BVLOS in test flights

    Drone Delivery Canada Corp. (DDC) reports the success of a pivotal milestone towards commercializing its drone logistics platform after successfully achieving beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in test flights.

    The success of these flights, which took place in Foremost, Alberta, after DDC received a Special Flight Operating Certificate from Transport Canada, prove that DDC’s BVLOS technical capability has now passed the most important landmark that enables the DDC platform to run commercially.

    The systems tested predominantly include DDC’s proprietary FLYTE management system, its avoidance technology and communications platform. During the flights, DDC’s Mission Control Centre in Toronto, 2,500 kilometers away, successfully monitored and record telemetry in real time for each flight.

    DDC is set to become the first and only drone logistics compliant operator approved by Transport Canada, which is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2017, followed by commercial operations in the first quarter of 2018.

    Commercial operations are forecast to be based on a revenue model that comprises of integration fees, set-up fees, and on going reoccurring revenue. DDC’s revenue is based on a traditional software as a service
    (SaaS) model format.

    Below is a video of DDC in Foremost, Alberta, performing Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) testing.

    “We are the only pure play drone delivery company that has ever successfully achieved BVLOS flights under Transport Canada’s oversight,” claimed Richard Buzbuzian, president of Drone Delivery Canada. “This is a major milestone for our company. With this success in hand, we now have greater visibility than ever before to operate commercially. Additionally, more than ever, we are also seeing international inquiry for our platform. This win has been a major step forward for us, both domestically and internationally.”

    “The success of these flights now allows us to expand our testing with both new and existing clients that include large corporations and government organizations in Canada and abroad,” said Tony Di Benedetto, CEO of Drone Delivery Canada. “Given Canada’s geography and some of the obvious and social opportunities in Northern Canada, we believe the best place to start commercializing this platform is in our own backyard, then internationally as we prove out our systems.”

  • Tersus GNSS releases inertial navigation system

    Tersus GNSS releases inertial navigation system

    Tersus GNSS Inc. is now offering the INS-T-306, a GNSS-aided inertial navigation system. The INS-T-306 is the advanced module that combines GPS L1/L2, GLONASS, BDS navigation and a high-performance strap-down system. It is capable of determining position, velocity and absolute orientation (heading, pitch and roll) for any device on which it is mounted.

    The launch of the INS-T-306 aims at facilitating motionless and dynamic applications that need high accuracy, such as vessels, ships, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).

    The INS-T-306 utilizes an advanced GNSS receiver, barometer, magnetometers, micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) accelerometers and gyroscopes to provide accurate position, velocity, heading, pitch and roll of the device under measure.

    Besides GPS L1/L2, GLONASS and BDS, the unit supports differential GPS and real-time kinematic (RTK). It is able to integrate into lidar (Velodyne, Riegl and Faro brands). The on-board sensor fusion filter, navigation and guidance algorithms, and calibration software inside all make INS-T-306 a commercially exportable GNSS-aided inertial navigation system.

  • Kongsberg Geospatial offers certifiable application for unmanned traffic management

    Kongsberg Geospatial offers certifiable application for unmanned traffic management

    Kongsberg Geospatial’s IRIS UAS situational awareness application now provides a certifiable option to monitor drones and airspace. Kongsberg Geospatial is an Ottawa-based developer of real-time geospatial visualization software.

    The IRIS UAS Airspace Situational Awareness application meets the requirements of the DO-278A Assurance standard for air traffic management systems.

    By anticipating the regulatory requirements for airspace visualization with Unmanned Traffic Management or UTM, the IRIS display will be a regulatory approved component increasing the safety of commercial drone flight operations — especially when operating beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS).

    IRIS UAS program director Paige Cutland uses the IRIS UAS airspace situational awareness application to monitor the progress of a drone on a beyond line-of-sight (BVLOS) mission from a portable ground control station set up in a trailer.

    Kongsberg Geospatial has been providing software design assurance to meet the certification requirements for real-time geospatial and spatial awareness technology to support air traffic management, air defense applications and unmanned systems for nearly three decades.

    Their IRIS UAS situational awareness application had its genesis in supporting military UAV flight operations and was developed to help operators safely pilot UAVs in BVLOS operations. It was also used by regional airspace UTM managers to monitor the operations of multiple drones simultaneously.

    The DO-278A standard (Guidelines for Communication, Navigation, Surveillance and Air Traffic Management [CNS/ATM] Systems Software Integrity Assurance) is the primary standard used by certification authorities such as FAA, EASA and Transport Canada to provide the assurance of software contained in non-airborne CNS/ATM systems. Unmanned systems manufacturers that build ground control stations for commercial drone systems, and airports and port authorities that create airspace control systems are anticipated to have to meet this standard when designing and building new systems.

    By developing an airspace awareness application that satisfies this standard, Kongsberg Geospatial has provided a key component for unmanned systems manufacturers, airport operators and port authorities that wish to develop ground-based monitoring systems that are safe and certifiable for commercial operations.

    “Unmanned Traffic Management and safe airspace operations will require certification of technology,” said Ranald McGillis, president of Kongsberg Geospatial. “We believe providing a certifiable airspace application will dramatically increase the safety of unmanned flight operations wherever it’s in use.”

  • Fugro partners with Skyline on oblique imagery, 3D modeling

    Fugro is enhancing its mapping services with the introduction of an integrated software package that creates realistic, yet spatially accurate, high-resolution 3D building models using oblique imagery.

    The product will benefit emergency responders during critical infrastructure planning, as well as those involved in infrastructure development, utilities and property management.

    Fugro, partnering with Skyline Software Systems, Inc., provides infrastructure management professionals with robust new capabilities in oblique mapping, including detailed 3D models and view shed studies for advanced visualization and analysis.
    Fugro, partnering with Skyline Software Systems, provides infrastructure management professionals with robust new capabilities in oblique mapping, including detailed 3D models and view shed studies for advanced visualization and analysis.

    Announcing a strategic partnership with Skyline Software Systems Inc., Mike Wernau, Fugro’s Oblique program manager explained, “We are now able to take a 2D oblique product and deliver a realistic 3D environment with enhanced viewing, query, analysis and reporting options. The value that users are going to discover as a result of this software fusion is something the market has really never seen before.”

    The new partnership offers clients an integrated oblique viewing and 3D modeling software. The integration of TerraExplorer and PX Mapper transforms the application of 3D environments by using 2D oblique imagery to create high-resolution building models that are both realistic and spatially accurate.

    Fugro’s oblique mapping solution includes high-resolution 360-degree oblique imagery and the PX Mapper visualization and analysis software. The Fugro/Skyline alliance allows oblique customers to experience Skyline’s automated modeling technology along with TerraExplorer’s optimized analytics capabilities including terrain analysis for flooding, contours, slope and volume metrics, lines of sight and view shed queries and shadow analysis.

    “By combining oblique imagery with our high-quality 3D modeling tool and integrating those models with the unlimited capabilities of TerraExplorer Pro, we’ve created the optimal environment for GIS infrastructure,” said Eatay Ben Shechter, director of production at Skyline. “This versatile product supports countless real-world applications, where time-critical decision making is required, from urban planning to real-estate management, and multiple different emergency response scenarios.”

    A flagship project employing this integrated 3D environment is already underway with completion in Summer 2017.

  • Boundless partners with Planet to expand image access

    Boundless, an open GIS company, has announced a strategic partnership with Planet, the integrated aerospace and data-analytics company that operates history’s largest fleet of Earth-imaging satellites. The partnership enables Boundless customers to access the massive library of high-quality Planet imagery and fast-loading imagery basemaps within Boundless Connect.

    Starting today, Boundless Desktop users can access this content through the Boundless Connect plugin. Planet content is also accessible through Boundless Suite and Exchange subscriptions.

    “This partnership significantly advances the content available through Boundless Connect, and expands our ability to provide high-quality imagery to Boundless users,” said Anthony Calamito, vice president of product for Boundless. “This represents a major step forward in providing our growing user base with valuable insights through Planet’s content. We are excited about this partnership and all the capabilities that will be delivered to our users, now and in the future.”

    A Planet image of Bingham Canyon Mine, Salt Lake County, Utah, taken March 10, 2013.
    A Planet image of Bingham Canyon Mine, Salt Lake County, Utah, taken March 10, 2013.

    The partnership with Planet will provide access to:

    • Basemaps – Automated basemaps optimized for clear seasonal coverage, completeness and visual quality, perfect for map backdrops. In addition, quarterly or monthly timelapse basemaps gives users access to the latest imagery.
    • Image Tiles from PlanetScope – 4-band (RGB and NIR) imagery for visual or analytic use.
    • Image Tiles from RapidEye – 5-band (RGB, NIR, and Red Edge) imagery for visual and analytic use.

    “This partnership is a huge step forward in delivering the most extensive and up-to-date satellite imagery catalog and basemaps to the broader geospatial community,” said Alex Bakir, vice president of product marketing for Planet. “Boundless’ open, flexible platform pairs perfectly with Planet’s data and platform services, and gives Boundless users the tools and content needed to integrate seamlessly into their workflows. We are very excited to be working with Boundless and look forward to what is to come.”

    Boundless-Planet-3-W

    Boundless offers an open GIS ecosystem through a combination of technology, products and experts that gives enterprises deeper intelligence and insights using location-based data.

    The Boundless platform is built upon open source technology and open APIs that generate actionable location intelligence across third-party apps, content services and plugins for enterprise applications.

    In November 2016, the company extended its proven GIS platform with Boundless Connect, a subscription service to the most comprehensive repository of GIS resources, and Boundless Desktop, a full-featured, professional desktop GIS, bringing a powerful ecosystem of geospatial knowledge, tools and resources to the enterprise.

  • ANSI establishes UAS standardization collaborative

    A May 19 meeting convened by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) confirmed there is broad-based support among key stakeholders from the private and public sectors for ANSI to establish an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Standardization Collaborative (UASSC).

    The UASSC will work to coordinate and accelerate the development of the standards and conformity assessment programs needed to facilitate the safe, mass integration of UAS (drones) into the national airspace system of the United States.

    Initial priority areas of focus are expected to include:

    • UAS airworthiness
    • command and control systems
    • remote identification
    • flight operations, including operations over people and beyond visual line of sight
    • licensing, training, qualification and certification
    • sense and avoid systems
    • safety and risk management

    An initial kick-off meeting is anticipated in the third quarter of 2017. To stay up to date regarding future developments, email Jim McCabe, ANSI senior director, standards facilitation, at [email protected].

    The collaborative will also focus on international coordination and adaptability, with the goal of fostering the growth of the UAS market. The work effort will entail the development of a standardization roadmap to identify existing standards and standards in development, define where gaps exist and recommend additional work that is needed, along with a timeline for its completion and organizations that can perform the work.

    ANSI Standardization Collaboratives are formed to support emerging technologies and national and global priorities by advancing cross-sector coordination in the development and compatibility of standards and conformance programs.

    Ultimately, the purpose of such initiatives is to describe the current standards landscape, articulate standardization needs, inform resource allocation for standards participation, and drive coordinated standards activity while minimizing duplication of effort.

    As a neutral facilitator, ANSI has a successful track record of having convened a number of such collaboratives in areas as diverse as homeland security, electric vehicles, energy efficiency in the built environment and, most recently, additive manufacturing.

    The May 19 meeting drew close to 70 participants representing more than 40 organizations from industry, trade associations, standards developing organizations (SDOs), federal agencies, academia and others. The public- and private-sector co-chairs for the meeting were Earl Lawrence, director of the UAS Integration Office, Federal Aviation Administration, and Brian Wynne, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI).

    ANSI has been in dialogue with numerous stakeholders over the past year on this topic, including via panel discussions during the 2016 ANSI Joint Member Forum and at the April 2017 ANSI Company Member Forum. A number of SDOs already are involved in UAS standardization, underscoring the need for coordination to achieve a coherent set of standards.

    “Given our history of bringing public- and private-sector stakeholders together to identify standardization needs to support new technologies, ANSI is well suited to facilitate the need for standards coordination in this exciting new technology area,” said ANSI president and CEO S. Joe Bhatia.

  • u‑blox, Commsignia and NXP collaborate to drive V2X

    V2X companies u‑blox, Commsignia and NXP Semiconductors announced a strategic collaboration to address the rapidly growing demand for reliable vehicle‑to‑vehicle (V2V) and vehicle‑to‑infrastructure (V2I) technology.

    The adoption of V2X technology in North America and European markets equips new vehicles with the ability to securely and anonymously share information with other similarly equipped vehicles, infrastructure and even pedestrians within a radius of up to 1 km.

    IEEE 802.11p V2X technology is the only proven and production ready technology today that can reliably see around corners, the companies said. V2X information will augment the awareness of drivers to improve safety, reduce congestion and emissions, thereby delivering real savings and benefits to all road users today and in the future for self-driving autonomous vehicles.

    This collaboration builds on the strengths of all three companies to deliver substantial time-to-market advantages and benefits to automotive customers, with future-proof solutions that optimize investments and mitigate risks.

    Automotive manufacturers are looking for ways to bring V2X to market now, ramping up to 100 percent implementation in new cars within the next five years. This collaboration between three of the market leaders will accelerate the adoption of V2X technology thanks to the availability of fully integrated hardware and software solutions in a fully‑fledged and secure (US DOT SCMS compliant) V2X system.

    https://youtu.be/fyGDrtVbUOY

    “This collaboration focuses on delivering production-ready Vehicle‑to‑Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle‑to‑Infrastructure (V2I) systems like our V2X communication module,” said Costas Meimetis, director of product strategy, u-blox. “We are already present in the market through our THEO module family, this collaboration will strengthen our position and allow u‑blox to innovate faster, bringing new solutions to market starting. Our expertise and this collaboration means we are uniquely positioned to meet the increasing demand from automotive manufacturers, who must meet new legislation in key markets.”

    “NXP’s status as a Dedicated Short‑Range Communication (DSRC) V2X technology leader, is a key reason u‑blox chose NXP’s RoadLINK solution, a complete automotive-grade 2 +105C ambient, V2X system solution with best‑in‑class performance to power their V2X module,” said Rob Hoeben, senior director, V2X segment. V2X is the only ADAS technology that operates in real-time, lowest latency and sees around corners, facilitating self-driving autonomous vehicles.

    V2X, IEEE 802.11p-based, is complementary to 5G versions of V2X and both technologies are expected to co-exist for the foreseeable future. NXP has participated in several V2X demos and trials, including truck platooning, achieving short separation distances between trucks.

    NXP’s RoadLINK solution, which is now in production with a major North American OEM, will help ensure the u-blox module can deliver accurate and reliable communications to and from a vehicle.

    “Commsignia leads the market with the best end‑to‑end V2X software suite for connecting cars and smart city infrastructure,” said Jozsef Kovacs, CEO of Commsignia. “Combined with the NXP RoadLINK chipset and u‑blox module, automotive manufacturers can benefit from the enhanced performance of a secure and fully integrated solution to implement V2X technology in new vehicle designs, so taking the next step towards improving the safety and efficiency of our roads.”

    u-blox, Commsignia and NXP, will be demonstrating live how this collaboration is enabling life-saving V2V applications at the TU-Automotive Detroit Conference and Expo June 7‑8. The demo entitled “Fast track to safe & secure V2X” will show the following use cases:

    • Blind Spot Warning (BSW)
    • Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL)
    • Co-operative Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
    • Lane Change Assist (LCA)
    • Left/Right Turn Assist (LRTA)
    • Control Loss Vehicle Warning (CLW)
    • Intersection Movement Assist (IMA)

  • Esri releases mobile app for understanding the oceans

    The app provides a new way to measure marine environments on a 3D interactive map for more cost-effective fishery planning and informed conservation.

    Esri has released an Ecological Marine Units (EMU) app for mobile devices. The app is a resource for scientists, educators, governments and industries seeking accessible information and imagery about the ocean’s long-term physical and nutrient properties.

    The EMU app puts data such as temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen from 52 million locations throughout the world’s oceans at any user’s fingertips. This data informs how livable marine environments are for ocean-dwelling species as well as the overall health of the ecosystem.

    Esri-EMU-oceans-appOrganizations involved in fishery planning, for instance, can use the EMU mobile app to review proposed boundaries with a better understanding of which habitats will likely harbor certain species and manage fisheries more cost-effectively.

    By using the EMU mobile app, industries that depend on fishing yields can spend less time and money on areas that are less profitable. Conservation groups that need easy access to information on the environments of marine protected areas (MPA) to more effectively regulate them now also have a mobile tool for understanding the chemical makeup of these areas.

    “The EMU mobile app will serve as a fresh, widely available resource for professionals who benefit from a deeper understanding of the ocean’s structure — its salinity, temperature, oxygen levels and nutrients,” said Dawn Wright, Esri chief scientist. “Scientists and nonscientists alike who must study and understand the ocean now have the freedom of a convenient mobile interface with this vast wealth of environmental data.”

    The primary data source for the EMU mobile app is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) authoritative World Ocean Atlas, with marine chemistry information from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and topographic data from GRID-Arendal.

    The app provides access to this globally comprehensive, data-driven 2D and 3D data and serves as an educational tool for easily understanding marine environments and how they are affected by climate change.

    The EMU mobile app is free from the App Store and Google Play.

  • Swift Navigation releases firmware 1.1 upgrade for Piksi Multi

    Swift Navigation releases firmware 1.1 upgrade for Piksi Multi

    The Piksi Multi. Photo: Swift

    Swift Navigation has released its first major firmware upgrade for its flagship product, the Piksi Multi GNSS module.

    The upgrade is available at no cost to Piksi Multi users and expands on dynamic real-time kinematic (RTK) application support, increasing functionality for users, expanding use-case applications and allowing users to better leverage existing infrastructure and facilitate post-processing.

    Firmware version 1.1 updates include:

    • Increased Data Output Rates to Support Dynamic Use Cases
    • GNSS Measurements (Raw Data) – Up to 20 Hz
    • RTK Output Support
    • Low Latency Mode – Up to 20 Hz
    • Time-Matched/Heading Mode – Up to 5 Hz
    • IMU (Raw Data) – Up to 200 Hz

    Moving Baseline RTK Support. The capability to do real-time, precise relative positioning between two receivers where both receivers can now be in motion.

    RTK-Based Heading Support. The capability to do real-time RTK-based heading for direction finding — even when stationary — without the need for expensive navigational equipment such as gyrocompasses.

    Improved 1 PPS Support. The Piksi Multi Pulse Per Second (PPS) feature has been upgraded to support more customization.

    Standalone RINEX Conversion Utility Tool. The tool allows end-users using RTKLIB, such as those with UAV surveying applications, additional tools to support their post-process kinematic needs.

    Improved Compatibility with Existing Infrastructure (RTCM 3.1 Input). This added support enables end-users to better leverage existing base station infrastructure to receive RTK corrections (observations, station coordinates, etc.) from already deployed Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS).

    For detailed information about the upgrades, refer to the Piksi Multi Firmware 1.1 Release. For detailed instructions on how to upgrade a Piksi Multi device, refer to Section 7 of the Getting Started Guide, Piksi Multi – Upgrading Firmware. For firmware release binaries and product support documentation, visit support.swiftnav.com.