LiDAR Archives - Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design

December 13, 2021

INS Technology Advances LiDAR Surveying Capabilities

Join Adam Barnes, Head of Product at Advanced Navigation, and Ashley Cox, Chief Operating Officer at Cordel, to find out how the latest LiDAR and navigation technologies are revolutionizing surveying.

In this webinar, Adam and Ashley will deep-dive into LiDAR surveying and explain how Cordel leveraged innovative technology to push the boundaries of the industry. They will cover the challenges in UAV-based surveying, in balancing cost and altitude restrictions, with LiDAR point density and INS accuracy to achieve the best overall solution.

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By Inside GNSS
March 6, 2020

Rescue Satellite Makes Space Navigation History

In late February, Northrop Grumman’s Mission Extension Vehicle MEV-1 autonomously docked with another satellite in geostationary orbit in space, making navigation history.  It simultaneously took the next step in satellite operation by extending Intelsat 901’s lifetime beyond its original plan. The so-called “rescue satellite,” built by Northrop Grumman subsidiary Space Logistics, used a combination of traditional ranging, optical orbit determination from ground, and on-board sensors (visible, infrared, and LiDAR)  for relative navigation in space to make its ultra-precise rendezvous 35,786 km above Earth.

The successful operation means a potential sea change in satellite operation: their lifetimes can be extended, and defunct satellites can be moved to safer orbit even after their fuel supplies are exhausted.

The complex series of maneuvers to bring the two satellites together began with an October 2019 launch of the MEV-1. Northrop Grumman controllers undertook a series of engine burns to raise MEV-1’s orbit from its highly elliptical geostationary transfer orbit up to a circular orbit 300 km above the geosynchronous belt. Shortly thereafter, Intelsat decommissioned its satellite 901, and it used the last of its propellant to move into the GEO graveyard orbit.

MEV-1 approached.

For 19 days, MEV-1 advanced upon and withdrew from Intelsat 901, calibrating its navigation sensors: optical cameras, infrared cameras and side-scanning LiDAR to orient and position itself relative to Intelsat 901.

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Images courtesy Northrop Grumman.

For the final delicate and very precise maneuver, on February 25 MEV-1 autonomously flew to 20-meter distance, pausing before resuming travel to the critical 1-meter docking position. It autonomously extended a docking probe, engaging an engine nozzle aboard Intelsat 901. A nozzle, by the way, that was never designed for docking purposes.

MEV-1 then extended a group of internal grippers to anchor the two satellites together.

The satellite duo are now jointly performing stack on-orbit checkouts. Later this month, MEV-1 will relocating the two of them to a GEO spot over the central Atlantic, where Intelsat 901 will take over services for another Intelsat satellite, providing C-band service in the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

MEV-1 will then, like the Lone Ranger, bid farewell to Intelsat 901 and move on to a new mission.

By Inside GNSS
March 19, 2019

March 21 Webinar: Scanning Ahead with Unmanned Waveform LiDAR

LiDAR has introduced pulsed-light precision and project-specific flexibility across sectors from agriculture to line inspection. Maximizing its deployment can yield benefits from improved detection to canopy penetration, greater safety to reduced cost. This upcoming free webinar will explore LiDAR’s technical capacity, product lines and use cases alike. The 90-minute event will take place on Thursday, March 21, 2019 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM EDT.

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By Inside GNSS
December 21, 2018

LiDARUSA Works With Allegiant Partners for U.S. Leasing

LiDARUSA has announced they now offer leasing options to qualifying U.S. buyers with Allegiant Partners, Inc.

Allegiant Partners, now doing business as AP Equipment Financing, was founded in 1998 to serve small businesses by lessening the burden of obtaining equipment financing which is typically difficult with more conventional lenders. Having funded nearly 18,000 clients, AP Equipment Financing has the necessary industry experience to provide the financing needed for new equipment, so work can begin.

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By Inside GNSS
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