Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
After a four-year delay the Federal Communications Commission is set to vote on whether signals from Europe’s Galileo satellite navigation system can officially be used in the United States.
By Dee Ann Divis
A proposed frequency change that could create interference with GPS receivers has picked up a new and powerful group of opponents. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents the country’s largest automobile makers and 70 percent of all the car and light truck sales in the U.S., filed a letter opposing a request by Ligado Networks (formerly LightSquared) to allow satellite-only frequencies near the satellite navigation band to also be used for terrestrial broadband services.
By Dee Ann Divis
By allowing the customer’s own equipment to power the RF over fiber receiver, ViaLite Communications’ new RF Connector is designed to further simplify the installation of ViaLiteHDRF over fiber links. Available on the Blue OEM for applications in the Broadcast and GPS/GNSS sectors, the connector removes the need to use a separate power supply unit (PSU).
By Inside GNSS
A recent General Accountability Office (GAO) report is highly critical of the cyber security, or lack thereof, in U.S. weapons systems. One of the examples of cyber-attacks it lists is GPS spoofing.
The report, published this month, goes on to say:
“…weapon systems are dependent on external systems, such as positioning and navigation systems and command and control systems in order to carry out their missions—and their missions can be compromised by attacks on those other systems. A successful attack on one of the systems the weapon depends on can potentially limit the weapon’s effectiveness, prevent it from achieving its mission, or even cause physical damage and loss of life.”
By Inside GNSS
In emergency situations, robotic systems play a key role in providing rescue teams with remote access to an emergency site. The European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency’s (GSA) ERL Emergency Local Tournament 2019 aims to foster advanced developments of autonomous capabilities and seamless navigation for emergency robotic systems. The deadline for the tourney has been extended to Oct. 29, 2018.
By Inside GNSS
In the framework of GNSS cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Japan, a test was recently conducted of a GNSS-based global Emergency Warning Service using Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), which delivered impressive results.
By Inside GNSS
China sent twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 12:23 p.m. Monday.
By Inside GNSS
Some good news has been reported and some nice progress has been made by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) this year.
The successful launch of the PSLV-C41 rocket carrying India’s eighth navigation satellite IRNSS-1I from Sriharikota put smiles back on the faces of scientists of the ISRO in April amid tough times as the space agency was struggling to restore the snapped link with its recently launched communication satellite Gsat-6A.
By Stan Goff
The recently concluded Arab Institute of Navigation biennial conference in Cairo, “GNSS, the Key to Innovation,” featured a wide variety of presentations of interest to navigators and technologists alike.
Presenters ranged from representatives of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, to those from a transportation company that uses GNSS-enabled tracking while transporting priceless ancient artifacts to the under-construction Grand Egyptian Museum.
By Inside GNSS
The European Commission (EC) is on track to mandate that smart phones in the European Union (EU) be capable of using signals from the Galileo satellite navigation system as well as other systems including GPS.
The move is part of a broad space strategy launched in October 2016 to strengthen the EU’s space program and maximize its benefits.
By Dee Ann Divis
ViaLite Communications, which designs and manufactures RF over fiber links and systems, showcased its products last week at ION GNSS+ in Miami, Fla., and is now preparing for the Satellite Innovation Symposium, Oct. 9-11, in San Francisco, Calif.
ViaLite will be at Booth #34 at the Symposium and is offering a 30% discount off conference tickets, using code: vialite_client. For more details on the event, visit: https://satelliteinnovation.com
By Inside GNSS
While threats to American defense satellites were climbing sharply, the costs and schedules of U.S. military space programs were on the same unsustainable trajectory — prompting lawmakers last year to begin trying to reorganize Air Force’s military space programs by creating a Space Corps. A move that, so far, has failed.
By Dee Ann Divis
LabSat by Racelogic is looking forward to sharing news on technology developments and product launches at ION GNSS+ in Miami, Sept. 26-28.
After a year’s development, the company is announcing a major update of its SatGen simulation software for use with LabSat 3 Wideband. SatGen software allows you to create a GNSS RF I&Q or IF data file that can be replayed on a LabSat which is based on a user-generated trajectory file. This allows you to simulate almost any kind of test, at a set time and date, anywhere in the world, according to the company.
By Inside GNSS
