Shanghai, China-based ComNav Technology Ltd. announced this week that it has successfully been tracking and analyzing the BD-3 satellite signals to bring better high-precision positioning services in the near future.
Very accurate rubidium atomic clocks onboard two BeiDou-3 satellites launched into space on November 5 have greatly improved the accuracy of the system. China launched two BeiDou-3 satellites into space via a single carrier rocket to support its global navigation and positioning network in November. The satellites were aboard a Long March-3B carrier rocket which took off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan.
The latest launch marks the first two BeiDou-3 satellites launched by China, as its self-developed BeiDou Navigation Satellite System officially began to expand into a global network. China plans to build BeiDou into a global positioning and navigation system by around 2020.
As the world’s fourth navigation satellite system, the construction of BeiDou consists of three steps: experimental period from 2000 to 2003, regional coverage by 2012 and global reach by 2020. With the successful November launch of two third-generation BeiDou satellites, China has begun to upgrade BeiDou with global-coverage capabilities according to the China Satellite Navigation Office. The new-generation satellites feature better accuracy, stability and signal clarity thanks to improvements in laser communication devices, intersatellite links and atomic clocks. Additionally, 18 third-generation BeiDou satellites will be launched by the end of 2018 to cover all nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. By the end of 2020, worldwide high-precision GNSS users are able to benefit from global reach of the third-generation BeiDou system.
ComNav Technology develops and manufactures GNSS OEM boards and receivers for high-precision positioning demanded applications. The company takes the lead in tracking and analyzing the latest format BD-3 satellite signals: B1C & B2a from No.19 & No.20 satellites. The figure (above) shows BD-3 No.20 signal tracking through SinoGNSS K708 GNSS OEM board. With a strong R&D capability in high-precision GNSS, the company plans to grow with the third-generation BeiDou navigation system to bring better positioning services all the time.
