GPS World

Tag: software-defined radio

  • Loctronix’ Offers ASR Workbench for Software-Defined Radio Module

    Loctronix Corporation, a provider of unified positioning solutions for GNSS-challenged environments, has announced the availability of the ASR Workbench, a development toolset for the company’s recently released ASR-2300 software-defined radio (SDR) module.  The ASR-2300 is a function-rich SDR for high-performance positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), and communication applications, the company said.

    “The ASR-2300 delivers advanced SDR capabilities in a small, mobile form-factor enabling developers to readily create and field complex SDR-based solutions. The new ASR Workbench tool makes it easy for developers to take full advantage of the ASR-2300’s capabilities,” said Michael Mathews, Loctronix’ CEO and founder.

    The new ASR Workbench is a Windows-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for SDR applications development and testing.  It comes with a drag-and-drop, real-time DSP modeling tool with integrated support for the ASR-2300. With ASR Workbench developers will be able to:

    • Process multiple ASR-2300 baseband I/Q sample streams.
    • Access a variety of DSP processing and visualization blocks for use in custom models.
    • Record/playback signals, analyze received signals using a variety of demonstration models.
    • Optimize the performance and configuration of the ASR-2300 module with a suite of diagnostic tools.
    • Export data into formats supporting additional analysis using a variety of standard tools including Matlab/Simulink, Excel, etc.

    Loctronix’ ASR-2300 SDR module provides multiple, fully-integrated RF paths supporting reception of GNSS, cellular, ISM band, and UHF signals of opportunity, making it suitable for demanding scientific, military, aerospace and commercial/industrial applications, such as UAV/UAS navigation, GPS-challenged or -denied tracking and navigation, combined communications and navigation radios, and GPS integrity monitoring and validation, according to Mathews.

    “Using an SDR effectively is challenging due to the steep learning curve required to take advantage of its many programmability benefits.  At Loctronix, one of our highest priorities is to provide tools that simplify complex application development.  It is not enough to provide just an API and hardware for the user community and hope that they will learn how to use the platform effectively,” Mathews said.

    “Developers looking to create solutions for these demanding applications will realize greater functionality with the ASR-2300, thanks to its multiple sensor and multiple frequency capabilities,” he added.  “The new ASR Workbench will result in shorter development times and lower development costs for such high-performance PNT applications.”

    The ASR Workbench will be freely downloadable for customers purchasing the ASR-2300. The ASR-2300 SDR is available directly from Loctronix.

  • Loctronix Ships ASR-2300 Software-Defined Radio Module for Indoor/Outdoor Positioning

    Loctronix Ships ASR-2300 Software-Defined Radio Module for Indoor/Outdoor Positioning

    Loctronix ASR2300 module.
    Loctronix ASR-2300 module.

    Loctronix Corporation, a provider of unified positioning solutions for GNSS-challenged environments, announced that it has begun shipments of its new software-defined radio (SDR) module, the ASR-2300, for developing high-performance positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), and communication applications.

    “The ASR-2300 delivers advanced SDR capabilities in a small, mobile form-factor enabling developers to readily create and field complex SDR-based solutions. Featuring a 2×2 multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) RF transceiver and an array of inertial sensors, the open-source ASR-2300 is an ideal platform for tapping advanced, multi-sensor/signals of opportunity for high-performance PNT,” said Michael Mathews, Loctronix’ CEO and founder.

    Loctronix ASR-2300 kit.
    Loctronix ASR-2300 kit.

    “Unique amongst the growing number of SDRs, Loctronix’ ASR-2300 provides multiple, fully-integrated RF paths supporting reception of GNSS, cellular, ISM band, and UHF signals of opportunity, making it well-suited for demanding scientific, military, aerospace and commercial/industrial applications, such as UAV/UAS navigation, GPS-challenged or -denied tracking and navigation, combined communications and navigation radios, and GPS integrity monitoring and validation,” Mathews noted.

    The MIMO transceiver module incorporates two wideband Field Programmable RF (FPRF) transceivers (300 MHz to 3.8 GHz), 10-axis accelerometer/gyro/compass/barometer sensors, and a large programmable FPGA capable of over 300 MiB/sec sustained communications with a host processor via USB 3.0 interface.  The module’s nine integrated RF path options and low size, weight, and power characteristics contribute to ease of integration and portability, Loctronix said.  Accommodating both internal 1 PPM TCXO or external frequency reference, multiple ASR-2300s can be inter-connected via an expansion port and/or UART interface, supporting real-time reception / transmission of 4, 6, 8 or more signals without the need for significant additional hardware.

    Developers looking to create solutions for demanding military, scientific and industrial applications will realize greater functionality with the ASR-2300, thanks to its multiple sensor and multiple frequency capabilities, Loctronix said. Additionally, access to a variety of user-friendly development tools facilitates waveform experimentation and helps speed the creation of these new solutions, resulting in shorter development times and lower development costs for high-performance PNT applications.

    Bundled kits, which include the module, housing, and power/data communications/RF interfaces, are priced at $1,600 with a special educational discount available for qualified institutions.  The ASR-2300 SDR is available directly from Loctronix.

  • Rockwell Collins Awarded Contract to Develop Secure Software-Defined Radio GNSS Receiver Capability

    Rockwell Collins has received a 2 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop and demonstrate a secure software-defined radio (SDR) GNSS receiver capability.

    GNSS typically refers to equipment that can receive signals from multiple navigation satellite systems including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and the Chinese BeiDou system. By utilizing multiple available satellite signals, a GNSS receiver can provide improved navigation performance and signal availability.

    Hosted in a software-defined radio, this AFRL program will develop the security architecture required for the receiver equipment certifications. The arrival of modernized GPS signals and other constellations is changing the way the U.S. military accomplishes GNSS-based positioning, navigation and timing.

    “Rockwell Collins is actively researching GNSS capability as it applies to the U.S. and global customer base,” said John Borghese, vice president of the Rockwell Collins Advanced Technology Center. “We’re leveraging decades of GPS experience and leading edge security architectures to produce a navigation receiver that will meet global needs.”

  • Loctronix Offers Software-Defined Radio Module

    Loctronix Offers Software-Defined Radio Module

    Loctronix ASR-2300
    Loctronix ASR-2300

    Loctronix Corporation, a provider of unified positioning solutions for GNSS-challenged environments, is making available its new software-defined radio (SDR) module, the ASR-2300, for developing high-performance positioning, navigation and timing, and communication applications.

    The ASR-2300 will be on display September 16-19 at the Institute of Navigation annual meeting, ION GNSS+ 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee.

    “The ASR-2300 delivers advanced SDR capabilities in a small, mobile form-factor enabling developers to readily create and field complex SDR-based solutions. The module moves SDR out of the lab and into production, providing the critical piece for tapping advanced, multi-sensor/signals of opportunity for high-performance PNT,” stated Michael Mathews, Loctronix’ CEO and founder.

    According to Mathews, “The ASR-2300 is unique amongst the growing number of SDRs, having multiple, fully-integrated RF paths supporting reception of GNSS, cellular, ISM band, and UHF signals of opportunity. The ASR-2300 will benefit SDR developers working on demanding scientific, military, aerospace and commercial/industrial applications.”

    The ASR-2300 is a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) transceiver module incorporating two wideband Field Programmable RF (FPRF) transceivers (300 MHz to 3.8 GHz) from Lime Microsystems, 10-axis accelerometer/gyro/compass/barometer sensors, and a large programmable FPGA capable of over 300 MiB/sec sustained communications with a host processor via USB 3.0 interface.  The module’s nine integrated RF path options and low size, weight, and power characteristics contribute to ease of integration and portability. Accommodating both internal 1 PPM TCXO or external frequency reference, multiple ASR-2300s can be inter-connected via an expansion port and/or UART interface, supporting real-time reception / transmission of 4, 6, 8 or more signals without the need for significant additional hardware.

    With on-board flash for storing developer customizable firmware and FPGA logic, the ASR-2300 can be configured to operate in a variety of different power profiles, maximizing battery life without requiring a host processor.  The modules will be factory-programmed with only the RF receiver capabilities enabled.  Developers can enable transmit functionality by modifying the firmware and waveforms.

    The A2300 Open Source Project at Myriad RF

    To encourage innovation in PNT and communications applications, Loctronix has partnered with Lime Microsystems to provide the source materials for the ASR-2300 module under open source licensing at the Myriad RF project.

    “The broad utility of the ASR-2300 makes it an ideal platform for prototyping and developing advanced applications in the communications and PNT markets. Developers can make their own boards using the documents and design database contained in the A2300 project and/or purchase hardware, development kits, support services, and licensed waveforms directly from Loctronix,” Mathews said.

    “Encouraging collaboration between the open source community and industry is a natural way to promote innovation and accelerate growth of SDR technology. We are delighted to partner with Loctronix to make their innovative ASR-2300 SDR design available to open source developers for creating advanced SDR applications,” said Lime Microsystems CEO Ebrahim Bushehri, Ph.D.

    The open-source software package includes basic drivers for Linux and Windows environments enabling both GNU Radio and embedded C/C++ developers to interface with the ASR-2300 module.  Developers can obtain source code and design documents for modifying the ASR-2300 to suit their own applications.

    The ASR-2300 will be available from Loctronix this November. Adaptors, antennas, and a housing kit will also be available that provide a variety of configuration options supporting bench-top testing to wearable, battery-operated field demonstrations.