Tag: OEM

Research: MEMS IMU carouseling for ground vehicles
Micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes have advantages for orientation sensing and navigation as they are small, low cost and consume little power. However, the significant noise at low frequencies produces large orientation errors as a function of time. Controlled physical rotation of the gyroscope can remove the constant part of the gyro errors and reduce low-frequency noise. As adding motors for this would increase the system cost, it would be advantageous to attach gyros to a rotating platform that is already built in the vehicle. The authors present theory and results for novel navigation systems where an inertial measurement unit (IMU) is attached to the wheel of a ground vehicle. The results show that a low-cost MEMS IMU can provide a very accurate navigation solution using this placement option. It has two clear advantages:
- Wheel motion removes the constant bias of the gyroscopes
- Distance traveled can be estimated from accelerometer data.
For low-dynamic ground vehicles, this approach is superior to conventional dead-reckoning with an odometer when a low-cost MEMS gyro provides the heading information. Test results are obtained using a vehicle driving slowly on a relatively smooth surface, and the use of an accelerometer for wheel phase-angle tracking was fairly accurate for this purpose.

For higher vehicle dynamics and gravel roads, the accelerometer data will be contaminated with significant centripetal and motion-caused accelerations. For that purpose, the use of high-range gyro with the sensitivity axis perpendicular to the wheel plane should be considered to complement the accelerometer-based (bias-free) observations. Applying this method to passenger cars at highway speeds would require an IMU with wide bandwidth, and solving the challenges at high speeds remains a future research topic. In addition, there is a requirement to bring electricity to the wheel and the need for wireless data transfer. As the major error source of MEMS gyros is eliminated, the method opens new applications for inertial navigation systems. In addition, there is a very large potential for wheel-based sensing in general, not restricted to Earth surface or navigation applications.

Published in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, June 2015.
September 13, 2016
Septentrio launches PolaRx5TR GNSS receiver for timing

The Septentrio PolaRx5TR.

Septentrio has launched its most advanced GNSS receiver for dedicated time and frequency transfer applications, the PolaRx5TR.

The PolaRx5TR is the newest addition to Septentrio’s PolaRx product line of GNSS receivers, which led to the selection of Septentrio as preferred vendor for reference stations to UNAVCO for 2015-2018.

The PolaRx5TR has 544 hardware channels and supports all major satellite constellations including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS and IRNSS.

A calibration circuit is incorporated into the PolaRx5TR to measure and compensate for the internal delay. This feature removes the need for calibration using external equipment and ensures measurement latching is always accurately synchronized with the PPS input.

Septentrio’s newest receiver is compliant with the new-format CGGTTS version V2E of Consultative Committee for Time and Frequency (CCTF) recommendations. Also included as standard is Septentrio’s Advanced Interference Mitigation (AIM+) technology, giving outstanding interference robustness in difficult radio environments. Furthermore, up to eight independent logging sessions can be configured logging to either the 16-GB internal memory or to an externally connected device.

“Septentrio’s timing receivers have established themselves as trusted market leaders for time and frequency transfer applications,” said Francesca Clemente, product manager for the PolaRx product line. “The PolaRx5TR continues in this tradition with updated GNSS technology, compliance to new standards set by CCTF and an auto-calibration feature reducing initial setup times.”

September 12, 2016
2016 State of the GNSS Industry Report

The 2016 State of the GNSS Industry Report reveals the results of our annual survey of GNSS professionals, covering the state of their business, the economic climate for GNSS products and services, driving market factors, the government’s role in funding and regulating, budgets devoted to R&D, the effects of jamming, and the “Issue of the Year.” Download the 2016 State of the GNSS Industry Report.

September 1, 2016
U-blox, Wirepas partner on industrial IoT module

NINA-B1

Wirepas and u-blox have partnered on an advanced decentralized radio communications solution, the NINA-B1 module, for industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The goal of the partnership is to make large scale, decentralized industrial IoT networks easy to deploy for the companies’ customers.

The small NINA-B1, which the companies say is comparable to advanced mesh technology, is a stand-alone Bluetooth low energy module with the latest power performance. It can be used for applications such as healthcare, connected buildings, manufacturing and telematics. The module has been certified for a range of countries world-wide, according to the companies.

“The NINA-B1, in combination with the Wirepas Connectivity software, enables short time to market for easy-to-install, large scale, decentralized industrial IoT applications in segments such as lighting, sensor, asset tracking and beacons,” says Hakan Svegerud, head of product strategy, short range radio, at u-blox.

“We believe that technology should never be the starting point; instead, we should concentrate on business and application needs,” says Wirepas CEO Teppo Hemiä. “As needs evolve over time, so should the technology. Wirepas and u-blox share this core value and that is what makes us stronger together.”

August 25, 2016
Unmanned update: Government and industry join to resolve issues

The White House has joined in to support continued growth of the emerging unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technologies are powering a revolution in unmanned flight.

Already used by government, by research organizations, and by industry for more efficient and safe applications, drones are now becoming a developing part of the United States economy. A new initiative by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) brought together 150 UAS community leaders for a recent workshop at the White House. The event was held to find out more about the UAS industry, where it’s headed, and to seek ideas for how government might contribute.

Given that the current administration has only limited time remaining, the group proposed some significant issues that could be launched, or at least where there should be focus. The only short-term goal that could be achieved by the end of the year is the release by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for UAV operations over people.

One principle objective should be for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop rules in concert with industry for licensing allocated frequency spectrum. While the FAA has yet to develop rules for higher altitude, larger-UAV operations, the UAS industry requires spectrum for command and control of aircraft at high altitudes and for beyond visual line of sight operations. The FAA and FCC regulations should be developed in parallel.

The group felt another problem that should be tackled is UAS Traffic Management (UTM). While NASA has been investigating prototype UTM options and various industry leaders have been advocating a number of different approaches, the group seemed to indicate that unless government took some form of leadership role, a number of different, incompatible solutions might be developed.

Finally, there was discussion about how a number of states are implementing local UAS regulations, while the FAA believes it has responsibility for all U.S. airspace. However, large numbers of small UAS (sUAS) are expected to operate at lower altitudes, so local authorities believe they should assert more control, even though they were comfortable in the past ceding control of manned aviation to the FAA. However, nationwide, uniform safety regulations appear to be just as critical for UAS as for manned aircraft, which seems to imply that the FAA should lead the effort.

So, some good issues were identified that need serious work to enable UAS operations, but it’s always a problem when someone else gets stuck with the responsibility to find solutions — which will be the case when the administration changes. Hopefully the new guys will also believe how beneficial UAS will be for the economy and will chase down and help overcome these barriers.

Package Delivery

Meanwhile, on the package delivery front, Google’s Project Wing has been approved by FAA to begin testing, albeit within the confines of Northern Plains UAS test site in North Dakota. The heavier Google delivery drones will be tested from the ground up to 29,000 feet with external loads, and efforts will be made to fly them beyond line of sight without chase aircraft. Google will also prototype a low-altitude airspace management system for the tests that uses inexpensive comms and data technologies.

While authorization in the U.S. was still pending, Google went looking for somewhere to test its prototype drone delivery system, and in August 2014 undertook testing in Queensland, Australia. At that time Google was using a vertical take-off UAV system — they delivered portable radios and water bottles to farmers.

Google tests delivery drones in Australia.

Word is that Google is now looking at fixed-wing UAVs and cargo slung from them — maybe for transporting heavier packages.

Google’s new delivery drone?

And further North in Ontario, Canada, Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) is moving forward with the development and implementation of a commercial drone delivery platform for retailers, service organizations and government agencies. In remote parts of Canada, access to some communities can be difficult to impossible for conventional means. DDC expects to add additional sites later this year for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) testing, working with the Canadian government towards obtaining its operator status. DDC also just announced an agreement with a Canadian retailer to test and integrate its drone system with the retailer’s existing depot-to-depot delivery logistics.

DDC prototype drone delivery system.

And not to be left out of this picture, 7-Eleven has been working with drone manufacturer Flirtey to test autonomous delivery of convenience store items. Dispatched from a Nevada 7 Eleven store, two deliveries were completed to a local customer’s house using precision GPS, where the Flirtey drone hovered and gently lowered each package of goodies.

Flirtey drone delivers 7-Eleven goodies.

So, while the White House now seems to be actively engaged in supporting the introduction of UAS into commercial operations in the U.S., we still have many significant obstacles to overcome — not least are access to control frequencies, the development and introduction of drone traffic-control systems, and the coordination of federal and state rule-making. But this apparently has not deterred several organizations, including Google, DDC, Flirtey/7-Eleven, Amazon, Walmart and others, to trial drone package delivery. U.S. states have also recognized the promise of everything connected with UAVs and their operations, and are collaborating with the FAA to establish large swaths of the airspace for UAV testing.

What with the White House and states already on the UAV bandwagon, surely it won’t be long before we crack the nut and get significant commercial operations approved and underway.

Tony Murfin
GNSS Aerospace

August 17, 2016
Tiny u-blox EVA-M8Q module supports GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo
U-blox has released its tiny EVA-M8Q high-sensitivity GNSS module in a 7 millimeter by 7 millimeter package. EVA-M8Q supports GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo, the company said in a news release.

The EVA-M8Q completes the company’s lineup of receivers in the miniature and EVA form-factor package.

The EVA-M8Q is TCXO-based and is optimized to provide the highest acquisition and tracking sensitivity, the company says, making it suitable for use with small antennas either in covert applications such as asset tracking and stolen vehicle recovery, or in portable devices; the previously announced EVA-M8M is better suited to cost-sensitive systems.

“The key differentiator of the EVA-M8Q to the other cost effective EVA variants is the sensitivity,” says Stéphane Vincent, product strategy director, positioning, u-blox. “This, along with the accuracy provided by concurrent reception of three GNSS constellations, enables an end-system and its antennas to be easily hidden within a vehicle or other high-value asset that need to be tracked.”

The ease of manufacturing offered by the Quad Flat No-leads (QFN)-like package suits requirements for medium- to high-volume production. While the highly integrated module of the EVA-M8 series allows OEMs to achieve a faster time-to-market.

EVA-M8 series are the smallest u-blox modules featuring GPS, BeiDou, Galileo and GLONASS reception. Three out of the four GNSS constellations can be received concurrently, which leads to high positioning accuracy. The series also features anti-spoofing and anti-jamming technology to provide superior security and integrity protection.

Samples of the EVA-M8Q are available now. The modules will be in full production in Q4 2016.

Features
- Complete GNSS solution in 7 millimeter by 7 millimeter package.
- Sensitivity — ideal for small or covert installations.
- High accuracy from three concurrent GNSS.
- Highly integrated module leads to faster time-to-market.
- Anti-spoofing and anti-jamming.
August 15, 2016
Launchpad: OEM, UAV and survey/mapping products

OEM

Geodetic Antennas

For RTK, PPP, and other precision applications

The VP6300 is a triple-band antenna for reception of GPS L1/L2/L5, GLONASS G1/G2/G3, BeiDou B1/B2 and Galileo E1/E5a+b (1165MHz to 1254MHz + 1560MHz to 1610MHz). The VP6200 is a dual-band antenna for reception of GPS L1/L2, GLONASS G1/G2, BeiDou B1/B2, Galileo E1 and the L-Band correction services (1195 MHz to 1254 MHz + 1525 MHz to 1610 MHz). Both antennas have been calibrated by the U.S. National Geodetic Survey and are designed for high-precision applications such as real-time kinematic, precise point positioning and other applications where precision matters. The antennas feature an available, uncommitted printed circuit board for integration of custom electronics such as precision GNSS receivers. Both antennas feature the VeraPhase technology used in the VP6000 all-band reference antenna.

Tallysman, www.tallysman.com

‘Future Proof’ RTK

For rover or base station

The Altus APS3G is a real-time kinematic (RTK) receiver that brings technology from scientific receivers into the field for professional surveyors. The new multi-constellation APS3G addresses major concerns about compatibility with new satellite constellations, as well as interference and jamming. Built on Septentrio’s AsteRx4 engine, the APS3G tracks all-in-view GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, IRNSS, SBAS, Galileo and QZSS, including E6/L6 and all other signals known to be available in the medium term. The APS3G incorporates Septentrio’s AIM technology with three notch filters for in-band jamming and chirp jammer resistance, ensuring the highest possible levels of accuracy and resilience under all conditions. It provides optimum GSM signal reception, as well as a built-in advanced UHF receiver for reliable performance on longer baselines, yielding real-time 25-Hz RTK.

Septentrio, www.septentrio.com

GNSS Receiver

Offshore surveys, machine control, crustal deformation

CHC’s N72 GNSS series offers high-end receivers for GNSS applications including offshore surveys and machine control, national geodetic networks, crustal deformation monitoring and bathymetry. It was designed to provide all the necessary technical features required for geodetic surveying and demanding applications such as Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS), on-board machine control and disaster monitoring. Embedded battery supports 15 working hours without external power supply; 32-GB internal memory integrated and 1TB+ external memory supported; Eight threads of logging with circulating storage and FTP push functions; Wi-Fi, LAN, Bluetooth and serial ports for data communications; and LCD display and function buttons for direct configuration.

CHC, www.chcnav.com

Anti-Jam Antenna

Suitable for airborne platforms

The GAJT-AE-N anti-jam antenna is designed for size- and weight-constrained applications such as small airborne and ground unmanned platforms where it is preferable to mount the antenna electronics inside the vehicle. Users can select from a variety of four-element Controlled Reception Pattern Antennas (CRPA) and cabling lengths to meet the form factor requirements of their installation. Interference mitigation is achieved by applying proprietary digital beamforming algorithms to the signals, creating dynamic nulls to give protection against narrowband and broadband interference sources. GAJT-AE-N comes in variants that protect L1 and L2 signals in wide or narrow band. The wide bandwidth version ensures future compatibility with M-code GPS.

NovAtel, www.novatel.com

Transportation

GNSS Modules

Automotive-grade positioning modules

The NEO-M8Q-01A and the NEO-M8L-01A positioning modules provide concurrent reception of GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo. The NEO-M8L-01A is suited to providing 100 percent dead-reckoning positioning coverage even in areas of weak signal such as in tunnels or multi-story car parks or those experiencing poor signal quality such as caused by multipath reflections. This module is qualified to operate in the -40 to +85 degrees temperature range. The NEO-M8Q-01 GNSS module is the first GNSS module able to operate across the extended automotive temperature range from -40 to + 105 degrees Celsius.

u-blox, www.u-blox.com

Connected Car Reference Platform

Simplifies integration of advanced connectivity technologies into new vehicles

The Qualcomm Connected Car Reference Platform is aimed at accelerating the adoption of advanced and complex connectivity into the next-generation of connected cars. The product is designed to maintain pace with an ever-increasing set of automotive use cases facilitated by the latest advances in 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. The platform is also designed to solve for challenges such as wireless coexistence, future-proofing and support for a large number of in-car hardware architectures. The Connected Car Reference Platform is built upon Qualcomm Technologies’ broad automotive product and technology portfolio, including quad-constellation GNSS, Snapdragon X12 and X5 LTE modems, and 2D/3D dead-reckoning location solutions, Qualcomm VIVE Wi-Fi technology, Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) for V2X, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy and broadcast capabilities such as analog and digital tuner support using software-defined radio via Qualcomm tuneX chips. In addition, the platform features in-vehicle networking technologies such as Gigabit (OABR) Ethernet with Automotive Audio Bus (A2B) and Controller Area Network (CAN) interfaces.

Qualcomm Technologies, www.qualcomm.com

SURVEY & MAPPING

Total Station App

Connects Android device to information gathered

Total Station Survey helps land surveyors and civil engineers view and inspect on any Android device the information gathered by the total station. It connects to the total station using Bluetooth or a USB-serial adapter/converter cable. It can measure horizontal and vertical angle, slope and horizontal distance, and set the horizontal angle on the total station. The app is available free on Google Play.

Systranova Software, play .google.com

Laser and Android App

Collect survey-grade accuracy with an Android device

The TruPoint 300 is a lightweight, compact point-and-shoot laser with survey-grade accuracy. It measures the distance between two remote points and has onboard solutions for volume, heights and 2D and 3D areas. Users can collect 3D measurements from a single location using a personal smart device and capture a photo of every shot taken, using LTI’s MapSmart on Android software. MapSmart combines sophisticated technology typically required to collect field data and puts it into a straightforward app for smart devices. It simplifies the mapping process by allowing users to establish an origin quickly and begin mapping in just minutes. Users can integrate location data using the GPS from a smart device or improve accuracy with an external antenna.
Laser Technology, www.lasertech.com

Laser Technology, www.lasertech.com

Smartphone App

Quick land measurements

GPS Fields Area Measure Pro is easy, intuitive, app to manage area, distance, perimeter. It enables fast area/distance marking, and ha a Smart Marker Mode for accurate pin placement. Its GPS tracking enables auto measurement while walking or driving around a boundary. Users can share an auto-generated link with boundary/selected area/ direction/route. GPS Field Area Measure useful as map measurement tool for outdoor activities, sports, range finder applications, bike tour planning, or run tour planning, explore golf area, land survey, golf distance meter, field pasture area measure, garden and farm work and planning, area records, construction, agricultural fencing, solar panel installation – roof area estimation, trip planning.

Studio Noframe, play.google.com

Dedicated 3D Tablet

Capture and review 3D images in the field

The EyesMap tablet is a versatile instrument for modeling 3D scenes indoors and outdoors. It provides results while working in the field with real-time measurements. The tablet has a stereocamera, depth sensor scanner, GPS and inertial measureent unit. It also supports external cameras and other topographic instruments. Applications include crime scene investigation, archaeology and architecture documentation, as-built measurements and inspections, industrial and civil maintenance.

eCapture, www.ecapture.es

Handheld Collector

Entry-level GNSS device for GIS

The TDC100 handheld data collector is an entry-level GNSS device for a variety of geographic information system (GIS) applications. It combines both smartphone and ruggedized data collection capabilities in a single, mobile device. The Android-based TDC100 can run commercially available or in-house developed applications on a professional, IP-67 ruggedized platform with a sunlight readable display and user replaceable batteries. The built-in GNSS receiver also provides real-time accuracy. It supports GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou, as well as satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) capabilities.

Trimble, www.trimble.com

UAV

Reconnaissance Kit

Situational awareness for disaster relief

The Digital Mapping Reconnaissance Toolkit (DMRT) provides real-time reconnaissance for disaster relief and other time-sensitive situations. . It is a custom configuration of cameras, laser rangefinder, GPS unit and software all linked through the Red Hen VMS-333 multiplexing system. Users can create up-to-date orthomosaic maps and 3D models, as well as geotag reference points in impacted areas without a time lag. Users can create search patterns and map with situational awareness. Both modular aerial and land-based solutions are available

Red Hen Systems, www.redhensystems.com

UAV Backpack

Intelligent Obstacle Navigation

The Typhoon H UAV with Intel RealSense Technology comes with a factory installed Intel RealSense R200 Camera and quadcore Intel Atom processor, an ST16 controller with a Wizard controller for dual operator mode, two batteries and extra propellers, all packed in a custom designed backpack. RealSense Technology enables Typhoon H to fly autonomously, intelligently navigating around objects. The Intel RealSense R200 Camera and the Atom processor work seamlessly with the flight-control firmware to add intelligent obstacle navigation. With a combination of specialized cameras and sensors, this Intel system maps and learns its environment in 3D, recognizing each obstacle, planning an alternative route, and safely navigating around it — an advancement over ultrasonic collision prevention, which automatically stops short of obstacles but cannot model the environment or intelligently reroute around obstacles. The module also adds downward facing sensors to improve stability, enabling flight indoors or outdoors close to the ground, even with poor GPS reception.

Yuneec International, www.yuneec.com

Intelligence Platform

Insight for complex missions

Mission Insight provides UAS operators in deployed situations with a common operating picture in a customized graphical interface. The commercial off-the-shelf application processes and analyzes large streams of data from disparate sources in real-time. It ensures real-time, in-depth data access for mission-critical events even in remote environments or low-bandwidth situations. Complex data filtering, advanced processing and timing techniques enable Mission Insight to prioritize data and allow transmission as low as 2400 baud. The complete information management solution —including archival and replay capabilities in addition to the correlation, fusion and analytical tools — aid in training, post-operation analysis, incident investigation and review of operational effectiveness.

Simulyze, www.simulyze.com

Multi-Spectral Camera

Situational awareness for disaster relief

Sequoia is a small, light multispectral UAS sensor that captures images of crops across four highly defined, visible and non-visible spectral bands, plus RGB imagery. Sequoia is fully compatible with the eBee Ag and other eBee platforms via senseFly’s proprietary Integration Kit. It has four 1.2 megapixel sensors (near-infrared, red-edge, red and green) plus one 16 megapixel RGB sensor, providing multispectral and RGB imagery from a single flight. An upward-facing Sunshine Sensor automatically calibrates Sequoia’s multispectral sensors for accurate imagery, whatever the light conditions. The camera unit can be configured over Wi-Fi and has 64-GB of built-in storage; the Sunshine Sensor has GPS, an IMU, a magnetometer and SD card slot

senseFly, www.sensefly.com

August 1, 2016
Spirent presented with RIN award for technical achievement

Spirent Communications plc’s Positioning Technology Unit, a company that provides solutions for improving positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system performance, was yesterday presented with the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) Duke of Edinburgh Navigation Award for Technical Achievement.

The award was presented at the Institute’s Annual Meeting, held at the Royal Geographical Society in London Jul.y 21, by the Institute’s Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. It was received by Eric Hutchinson, Spirent’s chief executive officer.

Eric Hutchinson, Spirent CEO, (left) receives the RIN Duke of Edinburgh Navigation Award for Technical Achievement from the Institute’s Patron, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh (right). Looking on is the President of the RIN, Captain James Taylor.

Spirent was selected for this year’s award to recognize its leading role in the evolution of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) since 1985, and joins the European Space Agency, the UK National Air Traffic Services (NATS), the Russian GLONASS system, and others who have previously received the award.

“We are extremely honoured to have been recognized by the Institute in this way,” said Martin Foulger, general manager of Spirent’s Positioning Technology Unit. “Spirent has been at the forefront of GPS and other GNSS development for 30 years, so to join the other winners of this award is a great acknowledgement of the technical innovation and commercial success driven by the Spirent team in Paignton.”

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh (right) congratulates Eric Hutchinson, Spirent’s Chief Executive Officer (left), after receiving the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) Duke of Edinburgh Navigation Award for Technical Achievement.
Peter Chapman-Andrews, Director of the Royal Institute of Navigation, commented: “Spirent is a well-known and well-respected leader in PNT testing. This wholly-deserved award is the Institute’s way of recognizing Spirent’s significant contribution over many years towards helping the world evaluate and improve performance of navigation and timing receivers, systems and applications.”

Spirent delivers navigation and positioning test equipment and services to governmental agencies, major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide. Spirent’s portfolio has recently been updated with new technology that includes innovations not seen elsewhere, including the most flexible simulation systems covering the full range of GNSS signals and the world’s smallest hi-fidelity, portable PNT record and playback system. Spirent has recently opened three services labs, in UK, USA and China, to further support positioning and timing development and innovation.

August 1, 2016
KCS TraceME upgrades TM-178 with LoRa technology

KCS BV has upgraded its successful TraceME module TM-178, targeted for tracing and controlling vehicles and other powered equipment.

The TM-178/R9H7 module has been upgraded with optional LoRa, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Smart (BLE), ANT/ANT+ and proprietary RF, which enables easy integration with existing wireless networks and specific custom mobile apps on smartphones and tablets.

The LoRa technology offers a communication range up to 60 kilometers line of sight. The module offers an advanced indoor and outdoor location-based positioning solution, which covers a variety of Internet of Things (IoT)-applications and enables stolen object and vehicle recovery.

The TM-178 is equipped with external power and battery backup connection, basic I/O-connectivity and multiple onboard sensors. The unit contains multiple integrated antennas for GPS/GLONASS, GSM (2G/3G) and RF functionality. The functionality of the module can be remotely programmed to fit any job, from basic/general functionality to advanced/low-level application-specific detailed functionality.

With a compact size of 91 x 40 millimeters, weight of 30 grams, and a battery lifespan of more than 10 years, the module offers endless OEM integration possibilities. Optionally, the module can be ordered in a robust IP67 housing.

July 27, 2016
Jackson Labs releases Galileo-enabled oscillators

Jackson Labs Technologies Inc., a designer and manufacturer of GNSS, timing and frequency equipment, is releasing several new products with full support for the new and emerging Galileo satellite navigation system, as well as a free software retrofit to existing products that adds Galileo functionality.

Jackson Labs’ low-phase-noise Rubidium GNSS disciplined oscillators (GNSDO).

The European Galileo satellite navigation system has now become a reality with recent launches and commissioning of Galileo satellites. Three to four Galileo satellites can now typically be tracked on average in the continental U.S., and additional space vehicle launches are planned for later this year and next year that will significantly improve Galileo availability.

Jackson Labs has upgraded its Mini-JLT GPSDO with an eighth-generation GNSS NEO-M8T timing receiver from u-blox that allows receiving Galileo signals as well as concurrent GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and QZSS signals.

Users can choose to operate a single GNSS system, or multiple concurrent GNSS systems for redundancy. Concurrent operation aids performance by allowing reception of up to 72 GNSS satellites in challenged reception areas such as in urban canyons, under foliage, indoors, or close to the Earth’s poles.

“A new era of global navigation system performance has arrived with the advent of enough usable Galileo space vehicles that are now allowing first positioning and timing operations,” said Jackson Labs President Said Jackson. “Galileo promises new technology and performance levels over the many decades-old GPS and GLONASS systems, and we are excited to lead the way with our new Galileo product line.”

The Galileo GNSS promises significant improvements in timing and frequency performance due to improved on-board hydrogen maser atomic references (Cesium and Rubidium references are used in GPS and GLONASS satellites) and other system improvements.

In stationary timing mode, the new Galileo-capable GNSS disciplined oscillator (GNSDO) products will operate with as little as one single satellite in-view, and can use additional satellites to improve timing stability and accuracy via an over-determined timing solution for oscillator disciplining. Indoor tracking is possible with a GNSS performance of down to -167 dBm.

These new Galileo GNSDO’s provide 1 PPS timing, position and navigation (PNT) data, as well as highly stable and accurate 10-MHz reference outputs. The M12M replacement receiver also provides a user-adjustable timing/frequency output with 1 Hz to > 10 MHz adjustment range, while the low-noise rubidium GNSDO can provide a typical holdover performance of up to, and better than 500 nanoseconds over 24 hours.

Besides introducing the new Mini-JLT GNSS module, JLT also makes available concurrent Galileo reception via a free software update to existing customers of the JLT M12M replacement receiver, and the low-noise Rubidium product line.

July 27, 2016
ComNav releases Quantum algorithm for its OEM boards

ComNav Technologies has released its new generation Quantum algorithm to international market. The Quantum algorithm can be easily achieved through a firmware upgrade (version 2.5.2 and above), and suits all ComNav OEM boards and OEM-based receivers.

An upgrade to ComNav’s Quan algorithm, the Quantum algorithm dramatically improves the stability and reliability of RTK positioning in complex environments, as well as providing a DP-filter enhancement for the ComNav GNSS products.

Single-point positioning: version 2.30 (left) compared to the new version 2.5.2.

Applications such agricultural guidance and fleet management, where pass-to-pass accuracy is important, will benefit from the advanced smoothing filter in standalone mode. The company’s testing shows smoother and consistent performance, reaching 20-cm pass-to-pass accuracy.

Moreover, the Quantum algorithm provides better CORS compatibility, which means that users can acquire and keep high-accurate solutions even if the CORS network exhibits a poor geometry distribution.

A white paper is available on the Quantum algorithm. Also, see the video below.

July 26, 2016
Harxon releases mini modem suitable for UAVs
Harxon has released a 900-megahertz modem designed for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) customers.

The HX-DU1018D is a miniature high-performance OEM 900-megahertz multi-frequency modem with advanced data-processing architecture, which can offer customer selectable ISM 900-megahertz or licensed 400-megahertz modes in the same module.

The HX-DU1018 features an extremely small footprint for tight integration and design flexibility.

The modem supports a transmission rate of 200 kilobits per second over narrow channel bands using digital signal processing technology. It comes with a development kit, which the company says makes it easy to install and operate.

Key applications
- Automatic vehicle location.
-  Traffic monitoring and control.
- Differential GPS navigation.
- Water and wastewater management.
- Irrigation control.
- Oil and gas field monitoring.
- Security system management.
- UAV market.
Features
- Supports 400 megahertz or 900 megahertz bands.
- Transmission rate: 200 kilobits per second.
- Point to point, point to multipoint.
- Frequency-hopping spread spectrum.
- Low cost, high performance and high reliability.
- Longer transmission distance over 50 kilometers in open air.
- Adjustable transmit power 100 milliwatts to 1 watt.
- High interference rejection.
- Industrial temperature: negative 50 degrees Celsius to 80 degrees.
July 25, 2016