GPS

January 6, 2008

Russia’s Home-Grown GLONASS-GPS Receiver

What may be the first domestically produced, consumer-oriented GLONASS-GPS receiver, sold out shortly after their introduction in Russia’s Ion retail stores.

The Glospace SGK-70 features a 12-channel GLONASS receiver and a 20-channel GPS receiver, which can reportedly use either or both systems simultaneously. Designed primarily for in-vehicle use, the 7.4×4.7×1.2-inch unit incorporates Samsung components has an SD/MMC slot and comes with a 512MB card that includes detailed maps of the Moscow area.

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By Glen Gibbons
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January 3, 2008

India’s GAGAN Passes Its Final Test

The Raytheon Company has announced that it successfully completed the final system acceptance test to augment standard GPS signals over India.

GAGAN stands for GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation-Technology Demonstration System. It monitors GPS satellite signals for errors and then generates correction messages to improve positioning accuracy for users.

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By Glen Gibbons

DoD Issues ‘Roadmap’ for Unmanned Systems

A 25-year (2007-2032) U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) roadmap for unmanned systems reflects the critical contribution of GPS technology in a growth area for tactical military systems that are simultaneously seeking a compatible place in civil applications and the national air space.

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By Glen Gibbons
December 21, 2007

NXP Semiconductors to Buy GloNav

NXP Semiconductors has announced plans to acquire GloNav Inc., a US-based fabless GNSS semiconductor company, for $85 million in cash. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008, subject to regulatory approvals.

According to NXP, the company plans on integrating GloNav’s GPS technology with NXP’s expertise in Bluetooth, FM radio, and USB “to offer a broader connectivity suite to the mobile phone market.”

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By Glen Gibbons
December 19, 2007

Additional GPS IIR-M Satellite Launched, Quickly Begins Transmitting

The U.S. Air Force launched the fifth modernized GPS Block II Replenishment (IIR-M) satellite at 3:04 p.m. EST (20:04 UTC) December 20 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, (December 20) aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. Air Force controllers set the spacecraft to "healthy" status on January 2, in what is probably a record time of 13 days.

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By Glen Gibbons
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GPS Wing Exercises MUE Contract Options

The U.S. Air Force has exercised new options on contracts with three companies for development of GPS Modernized User Equipment (MUE) for future military applications.

Under the new awards, Raytheon will receive $65 million; Rockwell Collins, $50.7 million; and L-3/Interstate Electronics Corporation, $36 million. All options were awarded on or about October 19.

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By Glen Gibbons
December 14, 2007

Atheros Communications Buys u-Nav

Continuing a trend of GPS technology acquisitions designed to facilitate mixed technology wireless products, Atheros Communications has announced a definitive agreement to buy the assets of u-Nav Microelectronics, an Irvine, California–based fabless GPS semiconductor company.

Atheros, with headquarters in Santa Clara, California, is a nine-year-old developer of wireless semiconductor products, including 802.11 standard-based wireless local area network (WLAN), Bluetooth, and personal handy-phone system (PHS) equipment.

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By Glen Gibbons
December 7, 2007

GNSS, the Book

SpringerGeosciences has announced release of the latest book by Bernhard Hofmann-Wellenhof: GNSS — Global Navigation Satellite Systems: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo & More. Coauthors are Herbert Lichtenegger and Elmar Wasle.

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By Inside GNSS
November 26, 2007

Trimble Snares USCG DGPS Contract; NDGPS Imperiled

Even as the fate of the inland portions of the Nationwide Differential GPS (NDGPS) reference network hangs in the balance, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has awarded a contract to Trimble for up to 400 high-accuracy GPS reference receivers.

The Trimble NetRS reference receivers will be installed over the next three years as part of the coast guard’s modernization of the Maritime DGPS Service, which is not part of the NDGPS elements that being considered for termination.

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By Glen Gibbons
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