Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
The Institute of Navigation (ION) has released volume seven of its Global Positioning Systems Redbook, a collection of technical papers on integrated systems including — but not exclusively limited to — GPS.
By Inside GNSS
Broadcom Corporation reports that for the first time it has been able to compute GNSS positions, using the first Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) spacecraft. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched the Quasi-Zenith Satellite–1 (nicknamed Michibiki) on September 11 and recently started transmitting the QZSS ephemeris (orbital location coordinates).
By Inside GNSS
The annual AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America conference and exhibition will take place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. from August 16 through 19 2011.
It features 100 technical panels and presentations, workshops and poster session on the state of the unmanned systems market. It covers military, civil and commercial applications for air, ground and maritime vehicles
The industry exhibition includes more than 450 companies.
By Inside GNSS
The U.S. Air Force will inactivate its GPS Wing at Los Angeles Air Force Base on Wednesday (November 10) and replace it with the Global Positioning Systems Directorate.
Reflecting mostly the taxonomy and naming conventions of military commands and organization, the new designation is expected to bring little change in the new organization’s leadership or scope of responsibilities, although the organization will no longer have headquarters status. Air Force Groups will become Divisions and Squadrons, Branches.
By Inside GNSS
Residenz entrance, familiar to Munich Satellite Navigation Summit attendees.The 2011 Munich Satellite Navigation Summit will take place from March 1 through 3 in Der Residenz, the palace of the old Bavarian royal family and now home to four museums.
The event features high-level discussions about all of the world’s navigation satellite systems. It is organized by the Institute of Geodesy and Navigation at University FAF Munich.
The technical program begines with a plenary presentation on "GNSS in Balance," followed by a Bavarian State Reception.
By Inside GNSS
Artist’s illustration of GPS III. Lockheed Martin imageThe Aerospace Corporation has completed acceptance testing on the GPS III Bus Real Time Simulator (BRTS) from the Lockheed Martin–led team developing the next-generation satellite program, keeping the initiative ahead of schedule.
The BRTS is a specialized piece of test equipment designed to reduce risk and ensure overall mission success for the lifecycle of the GPS III program. The simulator will enable Aerospace Corporation to independently validate GPS III bus flight software for the U.S. Air Force.
By Inside GNSS
The U.S. Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Executive Committee (ExCom) has issued a new set of tasks that it wants its advisory board to take up over the next 14 months with topics including civil and commercial GPS receivers that don’t comply with technical specifications, a national PNT architecture plan, and the effects of PNT outages particularly on the nations cyber networks.
By Inside GNSS
Thailand’s largest island and a popular tourist destinationThe 2nd Asia Oceania Regional Workshop on GNSS will be held in Melbourne, Australia, on November 21–22, in the two days before the Asia-Pacific Regional Space Agency Form (APRSAF) annual meeting in the city.
The free event will take place at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in Storey Hall at 342 Swanston Street. Registration is required on the event website.
By Inside GNSS
At European Space Policy Conference: From left, Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA Director General, Mercedes Bresso, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vittori Prodi, Member of the European Parliament. ESA photo – S. Corvaja, 2010Amid continuing debate over how to handle budgetary shortfalls in building a European GNSS, the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a €194 million ($270.5 million) contract on October 25 with Spaceopal to provide space- and ground-based services to operate the Galileo constellation once it has been fully deployed.
By Inside GNSS
ABI Research says that a recent survey revealed that, although portable navigation devices (PNDs) remain the most used form factor, the number of mobile phones with navigation software in the car is growing substantially in the United States, up to 24 percent this year from 19 percent in 2009.
By Inside GNSS
OlinkStar CC100-BG Beidou-GPS moduleDespite the absence of official published specifications for China’s Compass/Beidou-2, a number of GNSS companies have announced plans to build Compass-capable receivers — in some cases “future-proofing” their products so as to be upgradeable when a Beidou-2 Interface Control Document becomes available.
By Inside GNSS
Trimble has acquired the Terralite assets from Novariant, Inc., to expand the Sunnyvale, California–based company’s portfolio of positioning solutions.
By Inside GNSS
A new report on the GPS program from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds the situation considerably improved from last year, when its prediction of a significant risk of the satellite constellation falling below 24 satellites set off alarms in Congress and among the user community.
By Inside GNSS
