Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
GNSS signals are vulnerable to interference due to being extremely weak when received on Earth’s surface. Therefore, even a low-power interference signal can easily disrupt the operation of commercial GNSS receivers within a range of several kilometers.
By Inside GNSS
Trends for marine accidents show rising numbers and costs that are mainly associated with collisions and groundings. Research indicates that about 60 percent of these accidents are caused by human error. The majority of them could have been avoided by providing suitable input to the navigation decision-making process, according to a 2008 report by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Safety Committee. (See IMO 2008 in Additional Resources section near the end of this article.).
By Günter W. Hein
The results from the GPS receiver testing sponsored by would-be wireless broadband provider Ligado are in. A review of the nearly 600 pages of data and analysis suggests that a number of GPS receivers can — by the firm’s chosen, but somewhat controversial technical standard — operate in the presence of the company’s proposed wireless signals.
By Inside GNSS
NovAtel Inc. announced today (May 17, 2016) a new corporate initiative to develop functionally safe GNSS positioning technology for fully autonomous applications.
A provider of high-precision GNSS products for more than 20 years, NovAtel is leveraging its extensive experience developing safety-critical systems for the aviation industry to meet the future safety thresholds required for driverless cars and autonomous applications in agriculture, mining, and other government, military and commercial markets.
By Inside GNSS
The Senate Armed Services Committee zeroed out the Pentagon’s $393 funding request for the new GPS ground control system during its May 11 markup, asserting that the program’s cost overruns — with a total cost that may reach $5.3 billion, up from an original $1.5 billion — had breached the Nunn-McCurdy Act.
Under the act, such a breach could result in termination of the Next Generation Operational Control System or OCX unless the Secretary of Defense goes through an in-depth review of the program and personally certifies its critical importance.
By Inside GNSS
Gaylord National Resort and Convention CenterThe National Space-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) Advisory Board is comprised of experts from outside government that are tasked with developing recommendations for the PNT EXCOM to consider in making GPS services more effective and accessible to users in all domains and sectors. Attendance is open to the public.
By Inside GNSS
The USAF Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) announced today (May 5, 2016) the award of three contracts to support companies in preparing for the competition to build additional GPS Block III space vehicles (SVs).
The SMC’s GPS Directorate at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, will award one GPS III Phase 1 Production Readiness Feasibility Assessment contract to each of the following companies: Boeing Network and Space Systems, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, and Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
By Inside GNSS
Trimble MB-Two moduleTrimble has introduced its dual-antenna MB-Two GNSS module, which delivers GNSS-based heading plus pitch or roll in an industry-standard form factor for system integrators.
According to Trimble, the module’s embedded Z-Blade GNSS technology uses all available dual-frequency GNSS signals equally, without any constellation preference, to deliver fast and stable centimeter-accurate position and heading information. The MB-Two is designed as a solution for a variety of applications such as unmanned, agriculture, automotive, marine, and military systems.
By Inside GNSS
In this photo, the red illumination represents light moving through the FOG’s optical circuit of coiled fiber; this circuit is the FOG’s sensing unit and can be mounted with power and processing electronics within a driverless car to provide precise data for the car’s navigation systems. KVH photoKVH Industries, Inc., says that it is developing a fiber optic gyro (FOG)–based, low-cost inertial sensor for self-driving cars, based on its successes in autonomous vehicle prototype programs and a wide range of unmanned applications.
The Middletown, Rhode Island–based company also announced that it has introduced a developer’s kit to support integration and testing of FOG-based inertial measurement units (IMUs) for driverless cars.
By Inside GNSS
The Air Force announced today (April 27, 2016) the award to Space Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) of an $82.7-million contract for GPS III Launch Services.
The Air Force characterized the contract as “the first competitively sourced National Security Space (NSS) launch services contract in more than a decade.” However, a decision last November by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed, not to compete for this GPS III launch effectively left SpaceX as the only bidder.
By Inside GNSS
NovAtel Inc. has announced the launch of its TerraStar-L, a new 40 centimeter precise point positioning (PPP) correction service. TerraStar-L is a subscription based correction service that delivers GNSS correction data via satellite to users of precision navigation systems.
The company says that position accuracy of 40 centimeters makes TerraStar-L ideal for broad accuracy applications such as agriculture, GIS or unmanned vehicle navigation, particularly where tree lines, buildings and other obstructions can be an impediment to continuous positioning.
HX-DU1603D datalink radioHarxon Corporation has launched the HX-DU1603D, a high-speed, Bluetooth-enabled, wireless data link designed for GNSS/RTK surveying and precise positioning.
The HX-DU1603D is a lightweight, ruggedized UHF receiver designed for digital radio communications between 410 and 470 MHz in the radio frequency spectrum using either 12.5- or 25-kilohertz channels.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced today (April 20, 2016) the successful demonstration of Enhanced Loran (eLoran) for precision timing of financial transactions at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
The demonstration at the NYSE was hosted by Juniper Networks on April 19 and presented to technical representatives from the financial services, energy, and communication sectors.
By Inside GNSS
