GPS World

Tag: Spirent Federal

  • GNSS leaders honored at GPS World dinner

    GNSS leaders honored at GPS World dinner

    It is a beautiful, crisp afternoon, the last of the summer, as I write and as we prepare for next week’s ION GNSS+ conference, where GPS World and sponsors Harris Corporation, Rockwell Collins and Spirent Federal Systems will host the 2017 Leadership Dinner and confer this year’s Leadership Awards in Satellites, Signals, Services and Products.

    The engraved glass awards nestle snug in their boxes beside me, the names upon them known only by a few.

    However, as you read this, it is early October — and hopefully another beautiful crisp afternoon among autumn’s best — and those glass awards are safe at home with their new owners. Their names are known by all 125 Leadership Dinner attendees, and now by you as well. We will publish their spoken remarks in the December issue. Here now are the basic details.

    The voting ballot for the awards was assembled by polling a group of roughly 25 industry VIPs for their nominations, and that same group plus another 40 voted for the final recipients.

    The 2017 Leadership Award for Satellites went to Wolfgang Paetsch, director of Navigation for OHB, primarily responsible for the space projects that the company executes for the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union. He was nominated for his leadership in setting up the routine production of the Galileo satellites leading to Galileo constellation deployment, including the quadruple Ariane 5 launch in November 2016. As one voter remarked as he cast his ballot, “The quadruple launch capability is a key enabler for the future.”

    The Leadership Award for Signals was conferred upon Christopher Hegarty, director for Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Engineering and Spectrum at The MITRE Corporation, for contributions to the Department of Transportation’s GPS Adjacent Band Compatibility Assessment. Said Compatibility Assessment has been a long and winding road, and has required several sure hands, Chris’ among them, to guide it. We hope to publish something on its outcomes soon.

    The Leadership Award for Services was given to Patricia Doherty, director and senior scientist at the Institute for Scientific Research at Boston College, for initiating and leading the Africa GNSS Outreach program since 2009. The program’s mission is to help developing countries derive social and economic benefits from satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing. Each year, around 50 graduate students and faculty from African and other countries attend these GNSS workshops. The faculty reads like a Who’s Who of satnav scientists and teachers, testifying to both Doherty’s formidable recruiting talents and the dedication of this community to knowledge-sharing around the world.

    2017 GPS World Leadership Awards.

    The Leadership Award for Products was a tri-partite affair, going to colleagues Charles Abraham and Andreas Warloe, vice president of Engineering and senior director of GPS Engineering, respectively, at Broadcom. As the chief designer and the architect of the first dual-frequency L1/L5 E1/E5 GNSS chip for smartphones, they are helping to usher in a new era of high-precision GNSS in mass-market products. See this article for more details on the just-launched product.

    The two shared the award with Javier de Salas, director of Software Engineering at Broadcom, for leadership in establishing Galileo-ready receiver products.

    A good time was had by all at the Leadership Dinner, which also included the PNT Powerplay Puzzle and Pig-in-a-Poke Live Auction. Details in December!

  • Spirent Federal developing MNSA-capable simulators

    Spirent Federal Systems, a provider of GPS and GNSS simulators, has begun developing MNSA-capable GNSS simulators for the Modernized Navstar Security Algorithm.

    Spirent Federal is developing software that will support M-code using MNSA. M-code is an updated GPS military signal that is being rolled out as part of the modernization of the current GPS constellation.

    GPS modernization began in 2000 when the GPS Selective Availability feature was set to zero. Since that time, the U.S. Air Force has been working on newer generation satellites that will transmit new civilian and military signals.

    Until now, AES and SDS have been the only methods authorized to be used within a GNSS simulator to produce M-code.

    Spirent Federal Systems has been a provider of AES M-code and SDS M-code capable simulators for many years, but as the long awaited MNSA M-code signals become available, Spirent Federal Systems will be making this option available to authorized users on the GSS9000 series simulator.

  • Launchpad: Simulate signals from GNS, regional navigation

    Launchpad: Simulate signals from GNS, regional navigation

    Constellation Simulator

    Simulate signals from all GNSS and regional navigation

    Spirent's GSS9000 constellation simulator.
    Spirent’s GSS9000 constellation simulator.

    The Spirent GSS9000 Multi-Frequency, Multi-GNSS RF Constellation Simulator can simulate signals from all GNSS and regional navigation. It offers a four-fold increase in RF signal iteration rate (SIR) over Spirent’s GSS8000 simulator.

    The GSS9000 SIR is 1000 Hz (1 ms), enabling higher dynamic simulations with more accuracy and fidelity. It includes support for restricted and classified signals from the GPS and Galileo systems, as well as advanced capabilities for ultra-high dynamics. It can evaluate resilience of navigation systems to interference and spoofing attacks, and has the flexibility to reconfigure constellations, channels, and frequencies between test runs or test cases.

    Hardware changes can be made in the field, supported by the new on-board calibrator module. The GSS9000 is extensible and can support the widest range of carriers, ranging codes, and data streams for the Galileo, GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou systems, as well as regional/augmentation systems. Multi-antenna/multi-vehicle simulation for differential-GNSS and attitude determination, and interference/jamming and spoofing testing are also supported.

    GSS9000 Attributes

    • 1000-Hz simulation iteration rate (SIR) and hardware update rate (HUR) enabling real-time remote control and trajectory delivery with extremely low latency and simulation of ultra-high dynamic motion
    • 160 channels plus 640 embedded multipath channels across 10 independent frequencies in one chassis
    • Single RF version and dual RF version for differential GNSS and multi-vehicle simulation
    • 0.3 mm RMS pseudorange accuracy, 120,000 m/s relative velocity
    • Highly flexible configurations selectable via a “cabinet” of license keys
    • Complete portability of Spirent SimGEN scenarios
    • In-field upgradeability
    • Future-proofed for all advances in GNSS technology

    Spirent Federal, www.spirentfederal.com

     

  • Spirent Federal focuses on robust PNT at AUVSI’s Xponential 2016

    Paul Crampton, senior systems engineer for Spirent Federal Systems, highlights the company’s GSS9000 Constellation Simulator and GSS6425 GNSS Record and Playback Test System at the Association for Unmanned Vehicles International‘s Xponential show, which is being held May 2-5 in New Orleans.

  • Expert Opinions: What key challenge should developers test for in a full PNT solution?

    Q: What key challenge should system integrators and product developers test for in a full position, navigation and timing solution?

    Günter Heinrichs Director, Customer Applications, IFEN Gmbh
    Günter Heinrichs
    Director, Customer Applications, IFEN GmbH

    A: Spoofing is normally associated with the creation of false signals in order to generate a position error, but the same technique may be used to distort a timing solution. With GNSS timing systems being used in critical infrastructure, like power supply, financial transactions and data network synchronization, disruption of timing solutions could have catastrophic implications. GNSS simulators can be used to test the vulnerability of current timing systems and also the effectiveness of potential mitigation techniques.

    Roger Hart Director of Engineering, Spirent Federal
    Roger Hart
    Director of Engineering, Spirent Federal

    A: An expanded set of tests for anomalous conditions. The growing number of GNSS signals offers attractive performance benefits, but also multiplies exposure to GNSS errors and interference. Functional requirements are clear to the developer and are naturally developed first. Defining response to anomalies is a less clear task, which too easily becomes a secondary concern. To ensure coverage of the larger test space, multi-GNSS development now requires that anomalous cases be addressed earlier, at priority on par with core functional requirements.

    John Fischer Chief Technology Officer, Spectracom
    John Fischer
    Chief Technology Officer, Spectracom

    A: Multi-Constellation performance. Using two or more constellations can significantly increase coverage under adverse, limited-sky-view situations. Using two or more frequency bands will combat interference and jamming, and deriving a PNT solution from multiple constellations is a great way to detect spoofing. Integrators/ developers should be using a simulator to verify how the system/receiver behaves under loss of sky view, jamming or spoofing when tracking any combination of multiple constellations.

    Mark Sampson LabSat Product Manager, Racelogic
    Mark Sampson
    LabSat Product Manager, Racelogic

    A: The recent explosion of wearable technology has led to a proliferation of devices being used in “edge-case” situations, with receiver performance being put under greater pressure to perform in a multitude of potential scenarios. A record and replay simulator gives you real signals as opposed to modeled ones, allowing for GNSS product development to be conducted with absolute realism, resulting in greater robustness within the market.

    Iurie Ilie Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder, Skydel Solutions
    Iurie Ilie
    Chief Technology Officer & Co-founder, Skydel Solutions

    A: The threat of intentional broadcasting of a fake GNSS signal is dangerously growing. GPS spoofing is real and not a military-only concern. The proliferation of SDR and open-source code make spoofing accessible to malicious people even without extensive knowledge in the field of GNSS. Most GPS receivers, as tests show, are vulnerable to spoofing, and no warnings are generated when it happens. Test engineers should definitely consider spoofing attack detection in their test plans.

  • Spirent to Demo GSS9790 Simulator in ION GNSS+ Session

    Spirent Federal Systems will demonstrate its GSS9790 simulator at ION GNSS+, taking place Sept. 14-17 in Tampa, Fla.

    The Spirent demonstration “Interference and Anti-jam Antenna Testing Using the Spirent Wavefront Simulator (GSS9790)” will take place in Room 17 on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2-2:45 p.m. Attendance gains one ticket for an Apple Watch raffle, with the winner to be announced Thursday at 4 p.m., Booth C in the Exhibit Hall.

    The ability of a CRPA to null out unwanted signals while still allowing wanted signals to be received is key to its performance. This ability allows GNSS receivers to continue to operate in challenging signal environments, Spirent said in an email. The similar but slightly different signal composition at each antenna element allows the CRPA to distinguish direction for wanted and unwanted signals. Recreating this signal environment in an anechoic chamber is critical in allowing the discerning test professional to rigorously evaluate the performance of a CRPA system.

    The Spirent GSS9790 is designed for this testing. The 9790 allows for code, carrier and amplitude control on a satellite-by-satellite and interferer-by-interferer basis.

     

  • 2014 Simulator Buyers Guide

    2014 Simulator Buyers Guide

    In GPS World’s annual Simulator Buyers Guide, we feature simulator tools, devices, and software from six prominent companies. Also available as a downloadable PDF.

    CAST Navigation

    CAST-SGX GPS Satellite Simulator

    sgx_high-W

    The new SGX GPS satellite signal simulator from CAST Navigation provides the user with dynamic, repeatable GPS RF signals for use in the laboratory or in the field for a wide range of GPS applications. The SGX simulator is housed in a portable, lightweight, handheld enclosure measuring 7 x 11 x 3 inches and weighing just over 4 pounds.

    The SGX replaces the CAST-SIMCOM simulator, a 17- inch, 50-pound simulator. The SGX is lightweight and portable, operates on AC or battery power, and features 16 channels of L1 C/A and P codes. Based on CAST’s technology that has been developed for use in the company’s larger military products, it is extremely accurate and repeatable.

    The SGX is controlled via an intuitive touchscreen interface that allows the user to select, start, and stop scenarios, change screen views, and change satellite RF power levels while a scenario is running. Three test scenarios are delivered with the simulator.

    XGEN Plus Scenario Generation Software. This optional software gives the user the ability to generate custom scenarios for use with the SGX. The software allows for complete control over GPS almanac, ephemeris, and all satellite error sources.

    The user can select from a variety of vehicle types and simulate static or dynamic motion. The user may also employ antenna gain patterns and vehicle silhouettes if desired. The user may generate a trajectory by defining a total mission profile using a six-degree-of-freedom model. The new scenarios can be downloaded via USB port or SD card interfaces.

    CAST has been in the GPS simulation and support business for more than 30 years, designing, developing, manufacturing, and integrating innovative GPS/INS simulators and associated equipment for government, military, prime vendor, and consumer markets.

    www.castnav.com
    phone: 978 858-0130
    email: [email protected]

    IFEN Inc.

    NavX-NCS Professional GNSS Simulator
    NavX-NCS Essential GNSS Simulator

    NCSPRO-MULTI_SW-W

    The absolute flexibility of the NavX-NCS Professional GNSS Simulator allows it to be configured with up to 108 channels and all of the following signals:
    •    GPS L1/L2/L5 C/A & P code and L2C
    •    GLONASS G1/G2 standard & high accuracy codes
    •    Galileo E1/E5/E6 (BOC/CBOC/AltBOC)
    •    BeiDou B1/B2
    •    SBAS L1/L5 (WAAS, EGNOS, MSAS, GAGAN)
    •    QZSS L1 & L1-SAIF
    •    IMES

    The user is enabled to assign signals freely to any of the RF modules fitted to the simulator. This allows the same hardware to be used in a range of different configurations.

    Signals may be added by software license with no need to return the hardware for upgrade.

    Up to four independent RF outputs may be fitted, enabling the user to simulate multiple antenna locations simultaneously (allowing simulation of multiple antennas on one vehicle, multiple vehicles simultaneously, a mixture of static locations and mobile vehicles, and multiple antenna elements forControlled Reception Pattern Antenna [CRPA] testing).

    The comprehensive and easy-to-use Control Center operating software allows the operator to quickly create realistic test scenarios for effective testing of user equipment.

    IFEN also offers the NavX-NCS Essential GNSS Simulator, which is available with 21 or 42 channels and is capable of simulating GPS L1 (including SBAS L1), GLONASS G1, Galileo E1, BeiDou B1, QZSS L1, and IMES. The simulator is also supplied with Control Center operating software for comprehensive scenario generation.

    www.ifen.com
     
    For USA and Canada
    Mark Wilson
    phone: 951-739-7331
    email: [email protected]
    For Rest of World
    Dr. Guenter Heinrichs
    phone: +49-8121-2238-20
    email: [email protected]

    RaceLogic

    LabSat 3

    LabSat3_on-Hand-SD-Screen-W

    LabSat 3, the latest generation of GNSS simulators from Racelogic, is a low cost, stand-alone, battery powered, multi-constellation, RF record and replay device designed to assist GNSS engineers in the development and testing of their products. With its small size and all-in-one design, LabSat 3 makes it easier than ever to collect raw satellite data in the same environment that end users experience in everyday use. This enables repeatable and realistic testing to be carried out under controlled conditions.

    LabSat 3 doesn’t need to be connected to a PC to record live-sky GNSS signals. With one-touch recording to SD card and a two-hour battery life, it can be used in any outdoor location to create real-world scenarios, for eventual replay back in the lab. As well as recording GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS, Galileo, and SBAS signals, it can simultaneously log CAN bus, serial, or digital data, embedded alongside the satellite information. This additional information can then be replayed alongside the GNSS output, with synchronization to within 60 ns. A 1 PPS signal can also be generated using the internal GPS receiver.

    LabSat 3 can be used as a replay system out of the box with a set of pre-recorded scenarios supplied as part of the package, recorded from various locations around the globe. SatGen software, a free version of which is included with LabSat 3, allows for scenario generation of user-defined trajectories, with precise control over velocity, heading, height, and constellation profiles. Routes are also easily created in Google Maps, and the software also supports NMEA and KML file import. SatGen gives the test engineer the ability to develop a product using simulations that would be difficult or impossible to record due to geographic location or safety constraints.

    LabSat 3 is available in four variants: replay only, or record and replay, of a single channel — one of GPS/Galileo/SBAS/QZSS, GLONASS, or BeiDou; and replay only, or record and replay, of dual channels — two of GPS/Galileo/SBAS/QZSS, GLONASS, or BeiDou.

    LabSat is currently used by many leading manufacturers of GPS chipsets, portable navigation devices, smartphones, and by major car companies in their test, development, and production processes.

    www.labsat.co.uk; phone: +44 (0)1280 823803

    Rohde & Schwarz

    R&S SMBV100A: GNSS Simulator on Vector Signal Generator

    Rohde-Schwarz-Beidou-W

    Rohde & Schwarz extends the functionality of the R&S SMBV100A vector signal generator by adding BeiDou/Compass capability to its integrated GNSS simulator. With the R&S SMBV-K107 option, the GNSS simulator now covers the BeiDou standard as well as the GPS, Galileo and GLONASS satellite navigation systems.

    The new option allows users to generate real-time scenarios with up to 24 BeiDou satellites. R&S SMBV-K107 supports all possible BeiDou orbits and can therefore even simulate satellites that are not yet in orbit. It also supports hybrid scenarios with GPS, Galileo, or GLONASS satellites. A software update makes it easy to upgrade existing GNSS simulators for BeiDou. No hardware modifications are required.

    The R&S SMBV100A permits users to quickly define their own satellite scenarios to test GNSS receivers under diverse conditions. A wide range of options are available for simulating realistic effects such as signal obscuration and multipath propagation. These scenarios can now be configured for BeiDou as well.

    This inexpensive solution is one of the few on the market that does not require an external PC for testing receivers and components of satellite-based navigations systems. In addition to GNSS signals, the R&S SMBV100A can simulate mobile radio, wireless, and radio standards, allowing users to test several functions with a single instrument.

    The new R&S SMBV-K107 option is now available from Rohde & Schwarz.

    www.rohde-schwarz.com
     
    email: [email protected]

    Spectracom

    Configurable, Upgradeable GNSS Simulators

    GSG_Family-SPECTRACOM-W

    Spectracom multi-channel, multi-frequency GSG Series GPS/GNSS Signal Simulators are designed for research, development and manufacturing. They provide powerful, affordable, and easy-to-use application-specific GNSS testing solutions allowing users to simulate virtually any condition through built-in and user-defined scenarios. The simulators now feature expanded capabilities and a flexible, field upgradeable design that allows users to select only the features needed for a specific application, upgrade when necessary.

    The GSG 5 and 6 Series simulators are portable and fully operational via front panel, web-based remote control (Ethernet, USB, GPIB), or SCPI protocol. The models include GSG StudioView PC Software to build, edit, and manage complex scenarios and trajectories. Advanced simulation features include: SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS, GAGAN, MSAS), multipath scenarios, interference detection and mitigation, white-noise generation, and trajectories. The new features and capabilities can be added to any GSG-5 or GSG-6 purchased since June 2012.

    GSG-6 Series Multi-Frequency, Advanced GNSS Simulator
    •    Up to 64 channels and 4-frequencies simultaneously
    •    GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
    •    Sync multiple units for testing hundreds of signals
    •    L1, L2, L2C, L5, E1, E5, B1; [E6, B2, B3 capable HW, with FW upgrade available in the future]
    •    P-code, pseudo P(Y) in L1 and L2
    •    Add-ons for real-time scenarios, record and playback, Assisted-GNSS, RTK/Differential measurements, high velocity
    •    Fully upgradable to future constellations and signals

    GSG-5 Series Multi-Channel, Advanced GNSS Simulator
    •    4, 8 or 16 channels
    •    GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
    •    L1, E1, B1
    •    Upgradeable to more channels and frequencies

    GSG-51 Low Cost Single Channel GPS Signal Generator
    •    1-channel GNSS tester for fast, simple manufacturing test and validation
    •    Fully upgradeable to GSG-5 and 6 series

    www.spectracom.com
     
    email: [email protected]; phone: 585-321-5800

    Spirent Federal Systems

    GNSS Simulators

    GSS8000-W

    Spirent provides simulators that cover all applications, including research and development, integration/verification, and production testing.

    GSS8000 (pictured). Spirent’s flagship simulator, the GSS8000, is fully approved for Y-code, SAASM, AES M-code and SDS M-code testing. Spirent provides options and configurations for testing GNSS interference effects and interference mitigation techniques, such as integrated GPS/inertial testing, CRPA testing, and jamming/anti-jam simulation.

    Spirent has delivered simulators that produce legacy signals as well as modernized signals such as 2C, L5, and L1C. In addition to GPS, systems can include GLONASS L1/L2, Galileo, and Beidou-2, plus SBAS (WAAS, MSAS, and EGNOS) and Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS).

    CRPA Test System. Spirent’s Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) Test System generates both GPS L1/L2 and interference signals; multiple GSS8000 chassis may be combined to coherently control up to seven antenna elements. Null-steering and space/time adaptive CRPA testing are both supported by this comprehensive approach.

    GSS7790. Spirent’s GSS7790 Multi-Output Simulation System allows the signal from each satellite to be mapped to a separate RF output. These signals can then be fed to individual transmit antennas, which, when suitably deployed in an anechoic chamber, replicate the spatial diversity of satellite and jammer signals incident on the receiver antenna. Additional flexibility is offered as the signal is further split into its GPS L1 and L2 components, as appropriate.

    www.spirentfederal.com
     
    Jeff Martin, Director of Sales
    Kalani Needham, Sales Manager
    email: [email protected]
    phone: 801-785-1448; fax: 801-785-1294

     

     

     

  • Spirent Federal Offers Training Conference in March

    GNSS simulation expert Spirent Federal is inviting users to “a rigorous and thorough” one-and-a-half-day training conference, including a half-day of For Official Use Only (FOUO) sessions, set for March 26-27 in Salt Lake City.

    The 2014 Spirent Federal GNSS Training Conference features hands-on training led by Spirent engineers on its latest GNSS simulation equipment. FOUO sessions will be held on Thursday, March 27, for U.S. citizens only.

    Topics covered include:

    • SVN49 anomaly simulation
    • Utilizing remote control and motion
    • Advanced modeling and simulation techniques
    • Differential GPS and augmentation systems
    • Multi-GNSS constellation testing
    • Integrated GPS/inertial testing (FOUO Session)
    • M-code simulation (FOUO Session)
    • CRPA testing (FOUO Session)

    General sessions will be held Wednesday and Thursday, March 26-27. FOUO sessions will be held Thursday, March 27.

    For information and to register, visit the event website.

  • GPSWorldTV – Spirent Federal at ION GNSS

    GPSWorldTV talks with Neal Fedora of Spirent Federal at the ION GNSS 2012 conference.