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  • See NASA’s GUARDIAN Catch a Tsunami

    See NASA’s GUARDIAN Catch a Tsunami

    News from NASA

    A new data visualization illustrates how an experimental NASA technology can provide extra lead time to communities in the path of a tsunami. Called GUARDIAN (GNSS Upper Atmospheric Real-time Disaster Information and Alert Network), the software detects slight distortions in satellite navigation signals to spot hazards on the move.

    The animation breaks down a real-life case study: 2025’s massive Kamchatka earthquake and the tsunami that it sent racing across the Pacific and towards Hawaii at more than 500 mph (805 kph).

    The visualization shows the magnitude 8.8 earthquake (seen in purple) strike off the Russian coast on July 29, 2025, triggering the tsunami. The red, orange, yellow, and green ringlets represent real-time readings from ground stations tracking GPS and other navigational satellite signals. The disturbances were spotted by GUARDIAN’s artificial intelligence-powered detection algorithms as soon as eight minutes after the earthquake.

    For the next several hours, signs of the tsunami were picked up by GUARDIAN across the Pacific Ocean in near real time. The system flagged an incoming wave off the coast of Kauai some 32 minutes before it made landfall and was detected by tide gauges (shown in blue).

    The results highlight GUARDIAN’s potential to augment existing early warning systems, said Camille Martire, one of its developers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

    Currently, determining whether an earthquake generated a tsunami remains a challenge. Forecasters rely on seismic data and computer simulations to make their best prediction, then wait for pressure sensors attached to the ocean floor to confirm a passing wave. Those sensors work well but are expensive and thinly dispersed. Gaps in coverage remain. And in those gaps, warning time disappears.

    The GUARDIAN approach is complementary and cost effective because it monitors existing data from GPS and other constellations that make up the Global Navigation Satellite System. It’s also free to access, though for now best suited to analysts trained to interpret its findings.

    How GUARDIAN works

    All day, every day, geopositioning constellations transmit radio signals to ground stations around the globe. On the ground, the data is refined to sub-decimeter (less than 10 centimeters) positioning accuracy by JPL’s Global Differential GPS System. Before the signals get there, however, they must travel through an electrically charged skin of plasma called the ionosphere.

    Solar storms and other space weather can wreak electrical mayhem in the ionosphere, and so can events on Earth. Tsunamis and earthquakes, by displacing large amount of air at Earth’s surface, unleash pressure waves that can slightly perturb the radio signals coming down from satellites. While systems are in place to correct for this “noise,” GUARDIAN considers it a useful signal.

    Currently, GUARDIAN scours data from more than 350 GNSS ground stations around the Pacific Ring of Fire, a hotbed for the ocean’s deadliest waves. And the system is not confined to tsunamis. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, missile tests, spacecraft reentries, meteoroid splashdowns — anything that produces a large rumble on Earth is potentially fair game. While the Kamchatka event didn’t cause widespread damage to people or property, it showed how the next time disaster strikes, NASA science could give communities a few more minutes to act.

    GUARDIAN is being developed at JPL by the GDGPS project, which is partially supported by NASA’s Space Geodesy Project.

  • CAST Navigation delivers advanced GNSS simulation for complex environments

    CAST Navigation delivers advanced GNSS simulation for complex environments

    Testing GNSS receiver systems in real-world conditions is limited by unpredictability, legal restrictions, and the inability to replicate scenarios. CAST Navigation addresses this challenge with advanced simulation technology that creates controlled, repeatable satellite signal environments.

    When testing a GNSS, comprehensive testing usually isn’t possible when relying on live satellite signals, according to CAST Navigation. In a live environment, engineers can’t determine the exact cause of errors, which can slow development and increase risk, so it’s impossible to establish controlled conditions suitable for experimentation and isolate specific variables without using a controlled signal environment.

    A valid experiment requires repetition of identical scenarios because it enables engineers to validate assumptions, debug faults and compare performance. Without this consistent verification, it’s impossible to put confidence in a satellite system, CAST Navigation said.

    Also, certain GNSS conditions can’t be put into practice in the real world for testing purposes. For example, spoofing or jamming satellite signals is usually illegal because such activities could cause interference or harm in other systems. Also, environmental effects like atmospheric interference or terrain obstruction can’t be easily configured or isolated in a live testing scenario.

    Improving reliable testing

    A controlled simulation environment that can generate repeatable GNSS conditions enables engineers to conduct reliable testing and validation. CAST Navigationprovides such a highly realistic and reliable simulated satellite signal environment, enabling organizations to conduct rigorous testing of guidance systems and positioning technologies. By creating artificial signals that can be precisely repeated as many times as necessary, engineers can get the data they need without the difficulties and restrictions of operating in a real-world environment.

    Multi-constellation frequencies available

    At the core of this technology from CAST Navigation is the ability to generate multi-constellation GNSS signals across multiple frequencies, such as GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou. These systems are highly adaptable to all kinds of experimental conditions. They support simultaneous simulation of multiple satellite systems at once, allowing engineers to account for variables like terrestrial movement and space-based trajectories.

    Using advanced motion modeling, engineers can use CAST’s system to simulate position, orientation and complex motion patterns in real time. But CAST Navigation technology isn’t just modeling satellite movement. It’s also modeling the environment the satellites are operating in, with variables such as atmospheric interference (such as ionospheric delay) fully integrated into the testing environment.

    Engineers can test their production systems in both ideal and adverse environments, such as one where satellite signals are being jammed. This makes CAST Navigation systems suitable for both military and commercial applications, particularly when engineers are trying to design resilient and flexible GNSS systems.

    CAST Navigation offers full-service support.

  • NASA releases GNSS radio occultation data in common CF compliant format

    NASA releases GNSS radio occultation data in common CF compliant format

    The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) and principal investigator Stephen Leroy of JANUS Research Group have released GNSS Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) datasets.

    The data release includes 72 different products from 15 different GNSS-RO receivers (or constellations of receivers) processed at four different GNSS-RO retrieval/processing centers. The data from different processing centers have been reformatted to have a common Climate and Forecast Metadata Conventions (CF) compliant format.

    The algorithm was developed with funding from the NASA ACCESS 2019 program and the NASA Supplements for Open Science Support. These are the version 2.0 GNSS-RO products; version 1.1 is available through the AWS Registry of Open Data. 

    GNSS-RO data undergoes processing that is radically different from that of most atmospheric sounders, but it can still be categorized by its processing step: 

    • uncalibrated data, as provided by the satellite instrument with communication information stripped, are Level 1a (not part of this release); 
    • calibrated data, wherein the clock biases of the transmitters and receivers are removed and precise orbits determined are Level 1b; 
    • extremely high vertical-resolution profiles of RO bending angle and microwave refractivity are Level 2a; and 
    • profiles of temperature, pressure, and specific humidity on a coarser vertical grid are Level 2b.

    Products are still being added to the archive. This initial release is complete for all processing levels of the COSMIC-1 data sets from four different processing centers. After all of the products in the initial release are complete for available data through July 2025, the project will bebegin forward processing for missions still actively producing data.

    For more information about these products please see the README document and the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (ATBD).

  • EUSPA and EIOPA harness Copernicus data to guide disaster response

    EUSPA and EIOPA harness Copernicus data to guide disaster response

    Using data from satellites to predict and resond to climate-related disasters is considered in a new white paper.

    The EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published the joint white paper. 

    It explores how Earth observation (EO) data could be harnessed to enhance the supervision of natural catastrophes and assess the impact of extreme weather events on Europe’s insurance sector.

    As Europe faces escalating climate-related disasters and rising economic losses related to them, the need for more effective risk management and greater resilience against natural catastrophes is paramount — not least through the deployment of innovative solutions.

    The white paper is the result of a joint pilot project between EIOPA and EUSPA — highlights the benefits of using open-access Earth observation data from Copernicus to improve the tracking and management of natural hazards.

    The project demonstrates that satellite-based EO data offers independent, objective and near real-time geospatial insights that can meaningfully improve risk assessment and risk management practices for insurers, communities and supervisors.

    Earth observation technology — especially the open, traceable data that Copernicus provides — can sharpen risk identification, reinforce scenario design and accelerate loss estimates in the aftermath of shocks. Financial supervisors can leverage the technology to:

    • rapidly identify affected areas and exposed insurance undertakings: Satellite imagery makes it possible to map disaster-affected areas (for example, the extent and trajectory of floods) as events unfold. This granular geospatial data can be matched with Solvency II regulatory reporting to estimate the potential impact of natural catastrophe events on individual insurers (micro-prudential perspective);
    • estimate overall loss-magnitudes early on by scaling up the micro-level analysis to the sector as a whole (macro-level perspective); and
    • improve benchmarking, model validation and scenario and stress test design by providing objective, data-driven reference points against which model outputs and reported or calculated losses can be compared.

    The collaboration between EIOPA and EUSPA showcases the value of innovation in addressing the challenges posed by climate-related disasters: when used effectively, Earth observation data can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable insurance sector — one that better protects European citizens and businesses from the damaging effects of a warming climate.

  • US Air Force seeks hardened anti-jam receiver for missle guidance

    US Air Force seeks hardened anti-jam receiver for missle guidance

    The U.S. Air Force has opened market research for a GPS Increment 2 GNSS M-code receiver for the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) program.

    The Air Force’s Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center at Eglin Air Force Base published a Request for Information on March 17 to identify qualified vendors capable of developing and producing the receiver.

    Key requirements include:

    • demonstrating a point-of-departure design at or above Technology Readiness Level/Manufacturing Readiness Level 5 applicable to U.S. Department of Defense tactical missiles
    • identifying existing programs leveraged
    • providing current TRL and MRL status
    • presenting a funded development plan to achieve required maturity.

    Respondents must also

    • describe their technical approach for the GPS receiver
    • identify the status of Increment 2 M-code Application Specific Integrated Circuit certification with the GPS Directorate Security Team
    • demonstrate an active production line delivering DoD M-code receivers where possible
    • provide a notional low-risk development and integration schedule from contract award.

    The government is using the market research phase to assess vendor capability before proceeding to formal solicitation. The opportunity is open to qualified commercial vendors without foreign participation. The government is seeking established manufacturers with demonstrated capability in DoD M-code receiver production.

    Respondents must submit white paper responses of 10 pages or less by May 29. Administrative information including company credentials, facility security clearance, and executed Non-Disclosure Agreements must be submitted separately and do not count toward the 10-page limit.

  • SBG Systems unveils resilient INS

    SBG Systems unveils resilient INS

    SBG Systems has expanded its product line with the launch of the Stellar-40, a modular and scalable inertial navigation system (INS) designed for demanding environments and mission-critical applications.

    Designed for land, air and marine platforms, the Stellar-40 integrates a tactical-grade IMU, a GNSS receiver and advanced sensor fusion algorithms within a compact and rugged enclosure. The system is designed to provide reliable navigation performance in high-vibration, high-dynamics and electronically challenging environments.

    The development of the Stellar-40 focused on two main objectives: increasing resilience in harsh operational conditions and improving production scalability. To overcome the vibration sensitivity commonly encountered in defense and industrial applications, SBG Systems implemented an innovative three-level mitigation approach:

    • Sensor-level isolation: Dampers integrated directly at the IMU sensor level reduce vibrations at the source.
    • Resonance-free enclosure: A specialized housing engineered to drastically minimize resonance and internally induced vibrations.
    • Structural isolation: Custom external dampers designed to isolate the unit from harsh vehicle dynamics.

    This architecture supports stable system behavior in dynamic environments.

    Beyond mechanical robustness, the Stellar-40 addresses modern electronic warfare challenges. The system incorporates a high-performance GNSS receiver designed to actively mitigate advanced jamming and spoofing threats. When GNSS signals are degraded or unavailable, the system relies on multi-sensor fusion and dead-reckoning capabilities to maintain navigation continuity.

    Positioned as the heavy-duty counterpart to the Ekinox Micro, the Stellar-40 introduces a revised mechanical and electronic design intended to simplify integration and manufacturing processes. The system is suited for defense programs, robotics platforms, UAVs and autonomous systems requiring compact, scalable navigation solutions.

    “Stellar-40 was developed with scalability and integration flexibility as key priorities,” said Kaoutar, product manager at SBG Systems. “The design aims to support a broad range of platforms while keeping large-scale production in mind. This product brings high-end resilience against vibrations, jamming and spoofing into a box that teams can completely trust in real-world operations.”

    With the introduction of the Stellar-40, SBG Systems continues to expand its range of inertial navigation solutions for professional and industrial applications.

    For more information about the Stellar-40, visit www.sbg-systems.com/ins/stellar-40.

    Applications Across Industries

    The Stellar-40 is designed for a wide range of applications across defense and autonomous systems. It supports platforms such as UAVs, robotics and other autonomous vehicles that require compact and scalable navigation solutions. Its revised mechanical and electronic design simplifies integration and manufacturing, making it well-suited for both large-scale production programs and demanding operational environments.

  • Hybrid RTK: A scalable path to high‑precision positioning for the IoT era

    Hybrid RTK: A scalable path to high‑precision positioning for the IoT era

    The world is rapidly filling with connected devices. IoT Analytics reports that 18.5 billion IoT devices were online in 2024, with growth accelerating toward an expected 21.1 billion by the end of 2025 and 39 billion by 2030. As artificial intelligence drives demand for richer, more precise device data, the need for reliable, high‑accuracy positioning becomes foundational.

    Yet today’s GNSS infrastructure — including cellular-based real‑time kinematic (RTK) networks — was never designed for this scale. Billions of devices — from vehicles to drones to industrial sensors — depend on location data, but the traditional GPS model struggles under three converging pressures: (1) massive device growth, (2) rising accuracy requirements, and (3) increasing vulnerability to interference.

    These pressures are reshaping expectations for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) and creating demand for a new, more resilient delivery model.

    Why Accuracy and Resilience Matter More Than Ever

    Autonomous systems are the clearest example of the accuracy challenge. Xona Space Systems CTO Dr. Tyler Reid notes that safe autonomous driving requires 10 cm accuracy 95% of the time and 30 cm accuracy at “eleven nines” reliability. Standard GPS, accurate only to several meters, cannot meet these thresholds — even with traditional enhancement techniques.

    At the same time, GNSS signals face growing threats. Spoofing and jamming events are now daily occurrences in parts of Europe, and U.S. federal agencies increasingly require contract bidders to incorporate resilient PNT technologies alongside legacy GNSS.

    Finally, the explosion of IoT devices introduces a network‑scale challenge. Many of these devices could benefit from high‑precision positioning, but continuous unicast RTK streams are not an efficient use of cellular networks, especially as billions of devices come online.

    Together, these factors point to a simple conclusion:

    A new delivery model for high‑precision GNSS corrections is needed — one that is accurate, resilient, and scalable.

    Why a Hybrid Approach Is Required

    RTK positioning is the gold standard for centimeter‑level accuracy. It works by combining GNSS signals with correction data from a known base station. However, traditional RTK has two major limitations:

    1. Coverage constraints — corrections must be delivered within a limited range of the base station due to the fact that accuracy diminishes the further the GNSS base is from the rover.
    2. Network constraints — corrections are typically delivered over cellular networks, which become inefficient at scale.

    Precise Point Positioning (PPP‑RTK) can extend range and reduce dependency on local base stations, but today’s PPP‑RTK implementations are proprietary and lack a common standard.

    To support billions of devices — many mobile, many mission‑critical — the industry needs a correction‑delivery model that is:

    • Nationwide
    • Efficient at scale
    • Resilient to interference
    • Cost‑effective for high‑volume IoT deployments

    This is where hybrid RTK becomes essential.

    Introducing Hybrid RTK: A Dual‑Path Delivery Model

    Hybrid RTK refers to the dual‑path delivery of GNSS correction data, consisting of:

    • Primary path: ATSC 3.0 broadcast
    • Fallback path: Cellular (LTE/5G)
    • Upstream messaging: Cellular for acknowledgments or device telemetry

    Compared to a satellite-based RTK solution or even a cellular-only RTK solution, hybrid RTK will deliver corrections over a far more reliable and scalable network, because it’s both broadcast and terrestrial-based.

    Why broadcast first?

    ATSC 3.0 provides:

    • One‑to‑many multicast efficiency
    • Predictable capacity and uniform latency
    • Wide coverage footprints
    • Strong penetration in dense urban environments
    • Lower cost per delivered bit

    This makes it ideal for distributing high‑precision correction data to large numbers of devices simultaneously — something cellular networks are not optimized for.

    Why cellular second?

    Cellular fills in:

    • Coverage gaps where ATSC 3.0 is not yet deployed
    • Uplink needs (e.g., device status, position feedback)
    • Mobility scenarios requiring two‑way communication

    The result is a resilient, nationwide correction layer that scales with IoT growth.

    EdgeBeam Wireless: A New Entrant with a Broadcast‑First Architecture

    EdgeBeam Wireless is deploying a hybrid RTK network that leverages the existing infrastructure of U.S. television broadcasters — including secure facilities, hardened towers, and nationwide engineering resources — for both over-the-air RTK delivery and collocating GNSS base stations.

    This approach provides several advantages:

    • Accelerated deployment of GNSS base stations designed to complement existing base networks.
    • Lower infrastructure costs than cellular‑only RTK networks.
    • High reliability through broadcast delivery.
    • Scalable distribution for dense IoT environments.
    • Nationwide reach as ATSC 3.0 coverage expands.

    EdgeBeam’s broadcast‑first model — branded by the company as  “Enhanced GPS” or  “eGPS” — is best understood simply as hybrid RTK with broadcast as the primary downlink. While this hybrid approach does require some additional hardware to receive the broadcast, pricing is already very competitive to cellular because these chips will be found in every television set in the country. Moreover, EdgeBeam already has products available for end users that want to leverage a hybrid network without having to do any development work.

    Broadcast RTK: A New Network Layer at the Edge

    Broadcast RTK uses ATSC 3.0 to distribute GNSS correction data over the last mile. This creates a new edge network layer that can support both GNSS and other data applications, including:

    • High‑precision GNSS corrections
    • Multicast distribution of positioning data
    • Offloading of appropriate high‑volume traffic (e.g., video) from cellular networks
    • Enterprise‑grade reliability for industrial and transportation systems

    By shifting the heavy downlink load to broadcast, cellular networks are freed to handle uplink messaging and mobility support — a more efficient division of labor.

    This hybrid architecture is not just about improving individual device accuracy. It enables something more powerful.

    A New Generation of Shared Situational Truth

    When many devices operate on the same centimeter‑accurate reference frame at the same time, a new capability emerges: Shared Situational Truth (also known as shared situational awareness).

    This refers to a consistent, real‑time understanding of location and timing across a fleet, system, or environment. Hybrid RTK enables this by delivering synchronized, high‑precision PNT to large numbers of devices simultaneously. By offloading RTK delivery to a broadcast network, cellular and other communication networks can then be used to share a device’s position and other data with other local devices.

    What is being shared?

    • Precise location
    • Precise timing

    Who is sharing it?

    • Vehicles
    • Fleets
    • Drones
    • Industrial robots
    • Infrastructure sensors
    • Emergency services
    • Insurance and logistics platforms

    What does it enable?

    Examples include:

    • Safer ADAS/ADS through lane‑level awareness
    • Collision avoidance for drones and autonomous systems
    • Fleet optimization using precise, time‑aligned movement history
    • Improved insurance models through reliable behavior measurement
    • Faster accident resolution with time-synchronized location records
    • Infrastructure‑to‑vehicle coordination for road hazards or construction zones

    In transportation alone, EdgeBeam’s hybrid RTK solution could make entire traffic systems safer and more predictable — not just individual vehicles.  And importantly, this can be done far more efficiently than via just a cellular-based solution.

    Conclusion: A Foundational Shift in PNT Delivery

    The convergence of IoT growth, accuracy demands, and GNSS vulnerabilities is forcing a rethinking of how high‑precision positioning is delivered. Hybrid RTK — with broadcast as the primary downlink and cellular as a complementary path — offers a scalable, resilient, and cost‑effective solution.

    For industries ranging from automotive to logistics to public safety, the shift from “nice‑to‑have” to “must‑have” high‑precision PNT is already underway. As hybrid RTK networks expand, the ability to deliver centimeter‑level accuracy at scale will unlock new applications, new efficiencies, and new expectations for how devices understand and interact with the world.

    EdgeBeam Wireless is building this new correction layer — one designed for the billions of devices that will depend on precise, reliable positioning in the years ahead.

  • Thank you for registering

    Thank you for registering for the upcoming webinar, Geospatial Transformation: Bridging the Gap from Field to 2030sponsored by Trimble.

    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 at 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday, March 26. A recording will also be sent to you the following day so you can watch it on-demand.

    Audience members may arrive 15 minutes prior to live time. If you have any questions, please contact event producer Alicia LoPresti  at [email protected].

  • Advanced Navigation raises $110M Series C to usher new era of autonomous systems

    Advanced Navigation raises $110M Series C to usher new era of autonomous systems

    Advanced Navigation has raised $110 million in a Series C funding round aimed at expanding its positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technology portfolio.

    Airtree Ventures led the round, with participation from Quadrant Private Equity and the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC). Existing investors — including Main Sequence, KKR, In-Q-Tel, Alpha Intelligence Capital, Malcolm Turnbull and OIF Ventures — also participated.

    The Sydney-based company develops alternative positioning, navigation and timing, or PNT, systems designed to function when GPS signals are degraded or unavailable. Its products are used across defense, energy, maritime and space applications.

    Chris Shaw, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Navigation
    Chris Shaw, CEO and co-founder of Advanced Navigation

    Chris Shaw, chief executive and co-founder, said demand for GPS-independent navigation has grown as threats such as signal jamming, spoofing and infrastructure-denied environments have become more common.

    “As autonomous vehicles scale into contested and high-stakes frontiers, the world’s reliance on any single navigation technology has evolved from a technical limitation into a systemic vulnerability,” Shaw said.

    The company’s customers include Anduril, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hanwha, BHP, Rheinmetall and Intuitive Machines. Advanced Navigation reported triple-digit revenue growth over the past year, with more than 80% of revenue generated in the United States and Europe.

    The company said it plans to use the funds to establish what it calls PNT Centers of Excellence in the U.S. and European markets, embedding engineering teams in key regions to support local operations and supply chains. The investment will also support technology acquisitions in robotics, photonics, computer vision, artificial intelligence and quantum sensing.

    At the center of Advanced Navigation’s product architecture is a software fusion engine called AdNav Intelligence, which combines data from multiple sensors in real time to maintain navigation accuracy when GPS is unavailable.

    The company has deployed more than 100,000 systems across multiple countries.

  • L3Harris M-code receiver deliveries surpass 100,000 units

    L3Harris M-code receiver deliveries surpass 100,000 units

    Modernized GPS is strengthening operational assurance and signaling a new era of assured positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) for U.S. and allied forces

    L3 Harris has reached a milestone with the delivery of the 100,000th next-generation military-code (M-code) GPS receiver to the United States and allied partners through the Modernized GPS User Equipment (MGUE) Increment 1 program.

    M-code receivers are designed to deliver secure, jam-resistant PNT capabilities that are essential as military operations grow more distributed, joint and technologically complex. Unlike legacy systems, M-code-enabled receivers provide enhanced security features and increased resistance to interference, allowing forces to maintain trusted GPS access when signals may otherwise be degraded or denied.

    “As the global threat environment continues to evolve, secure and resilient PNT has never been more critical to ensuring operational advantage,” said Quinlan Lyte, president, Advanced Effects, Missile Solutions, L3Harris. “Reaching this delivery milestone reflects our team’s sustained commitment to equipping the warfighter with reliable technology designed to perform in the most contested environments.”

    Beyond the milestone itself, the scale of fielded MGUE Increment 1 receivers underscores a broader shift toward modernized, mission-ready GPS capability across U.S. and allied platforms. From air and ground systems to maritime and joint operations, M-code technology is helping commanders operate with greater confidence in environments where GPS reliability can no longer be assumed.

    Onto the next phase

    L3Harris is building on the momentum from MGUE Increment 1 as the company advances the next phase of GPS modernization through MGUE Increment 2. Ongoing development includes a new M-code-enabled application-specific integrated circuit and the TruTrak-M Type II receiver, technologies designed to further improve size, weight, power and cost efficiencies while maintaining robust security and performance. These advancements will enable greater integration and flexibility, as well as broader adoption across future platforms.

  • GNSS, INS and neural networks combine for Arctic navigation

    GNSS, INS and neural networks combine for Arctic navigation

    GNSS receivers combined with inertial navigation systems (INS) have been widely applied to various mobile platforms.

    However, in Arctic regions, GNSS positioning accuracy is severely degraded from low satellite elevation angles, frequent ionospheric disturbances, and insufficient visible satellites.

    Moreover, the limited validation of existing onboard navigation systems further exacerbates the challenges of Arctic navigation.

    To address these issues, a new research paper describes a hybrid neural network model based on temporal convolutional networks (TCN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. The hybrid solution has been tested in the Artic with successful results.

    The paper, “Robust GNSS/INS Integrated Navigation in Arctic GNSS-Challenged Environments Based on TCN-LSTM and MDAREKF,” is authored by Wei Liu, Tengfei Qi, Yuan Hu, Kaiwei Zhu, Tsung-Hsuan Hsieh and Shengzheng Wang of Shanghai Maritime University (DOI 10.1088/1361-6501/ae5279).

    The proposal combines the pseudo-measurement information of GNSS predicted by the model with INS for integrated navigation to compensate for the interruption of GNSS and correct the error of INS.

    Considering the potential bias in predicted pseudomeasurements, an adaptive robust extended Kalman filter (AREKF) algorithm based on Mahalanobis distance is further developed to dynamically adjust the innovation covariance matrix, thereby enhancing filter robustness.

    Field experiments conducted on an Arctic survey vessel demonstrate that the proposed TCN-LSTM combined with AREKF significantly improves both the robustness and accuracy of integrated navigation under GNSS-constrained environments. In particular, during GNSS outages of 50 seconds, 140 seconds and 400 seconds, the proposed method reduces the horizontal root mean square error (RMSE) by 47%, 38% and 76% respectively.

  • India’s IRNSS-1F satellite fails after atomic clock malfunction

    India’s IRNSS-1F satellite fails after atomic clock malfunction

    One of India’s four navigation satellites has failed, a setback for the NAVIC network. Satellite IRNSS-1F was lost after its atomic clock stopped functioning.

    Only three satellites — IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1L and NVS-01 — remain operational for providng positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services across the Indian subcontinent. The loss of one degrades location services provided by the NavIC system, a regional navigation satellite system designed to augment global systems (an SBAS).

    “IRNSS-1F satellite launched in March 2016 has completed its design mission life of 10 years on 10th March 2026,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced. “On 13th March 2026, [the] procured on-board atomic clock stopped functioning. However, the satellite will continue to function in-orbit for various societal applications to provide one-way broadcast messaging services.”

    Since July 2013, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has launched 11 satellites. Since then, six have failed, largely due to defective imported atomic clocks in the initial phase and, in some recent cases, because of orbital complications.

    In 2025, the government stated that only four of the 11 satellites deployed for the NavIC system were fully operational for PNT services, while the remaining spacecraft were being utilized in a limited or sub-optimal capacity.