INDUSTRY

NovAtel News New Antennas by Novatel AG-STAR GNSS antenna is costeffective L1 GPS+GLONASS receiver plus antenna system is housed in a single, low profile, rugged enclosure. It is ideal for manual guidance and auto steer installations. Its design interface maximizes flexibility with two NMEA 0183 compatible RS-232 serial ports and a NMEA2000 compatible CAN port. One PPS output, an event mark input and three daylight readable status LEDs are also provided. The SMART6 antenna integrates NovAtel’s powerful OEM6® GNSS receiver engine with its high performance Pinwheel® antenna technology. Tracking L1 and L2 GPS + GLONASS signals, and E1 Galileo and BeiDou B1 ready, it delivers scalable performance, from single-frequency positioning to centimetre-level accuracy using dual-frequency RTK tracking. OEM638™ GNSS receiver card and the ProPak6™ enclosure NovAtel has added OEM638™ GNSS receiver card and the ProPak6™ enclosure to its OEM6 family of high precision positioning products. The most advanced card within NovAtel’s OEM6 GNSS receiver family, the OEM638 tracks all existing and planned constellations including GPS, Beidou, GLONASS, Galileo and QZSS. The ProPak6 is NovAtel’s most sophisticated GNSS enclosure product, offering metre-level to centimetre-level positioning in an extremely rugged, water resistant IP67 housing. Standardized software and hardware connections, including multiple RS-232/RS-422 serial ports, CAN Bus, USB host and device, as well as Bluetooth®, Wi-fiand optional cellular radio, speeds time to market and maximizes user capabilities.

TI Asahi Co., Ltd. & Zoller + Froehlich GmbH Sign OEM Agreement

TI Asahi Co., Ltd. and Zoller + Froehlich GmbH have signed OEM agreement for exclusive distribution worldwide of PENTAX branded 3D scanners by TI Asahi Co., Ltd. Under the agreement, Zoller + Froehlich GmbH will OEMsupply PENTAX branded high-precision, state of art 3D and 2D scanners to TI Asahi Co., Ltd, and TI Asahi Co., Ltd. will distribute them through its wellestablished sales channels of their world’s distributors together with software for specific application which will make 3D scanners incorporated in various solution oriented systems, serving the needs of a variety of industries which require highly accurate 3D and 2D scanned data. Products to be OEM-supplied are PENTAX S-3180V, S-3180, S-3080 3D scanners and S2100 2D scanner. www.tiasahi.com

RTCM Issues an Amendment of its Standard for differential Global Navigation Satellite Systems

The Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM ) Special Committee 104 has just completed an amendment to RTCM 10403.2, the widelyused “Version 3” standard for Differential Global Navigation Satellite System Services (DGNSS). RTCM’s standard supports very high accuracy navigation and positioning through a broadcast from a reference station to mobile receivers. Looking forward to the use of new satellite positioning systems from Europe and China, the amendment introduces an ephemeris message for the Galileo Open Service (F/ NAV), and also a set of BeiDou messages in the new Multiple Signal Message (MSM) format. The amended standard is available from RTCM at its secure online publication store. www.rtcm.org

Rohde & Schwarz adds simulated satellite system to vector signal generator

A new option on the SMBV100A vector signal generator from Rohde & Schwarz is a GNSS simulator aimed at developers of satellite-based navigation instruments. The new SMBV-K101 option allows developers to test GNSS receivers for specific effects such as obscuration and multipath propagation. Buildings, tunnels and bridges as well as reflections from concrete and glass surfaces affect the GNSS signal, regardless of whether the receiver is stationary or in motion, and this option makes it easy to configure these kinds of scenarios.

If the GNSS receiver of a navigation instrument or smartphone is located inside a vehicle, testing must also take into account the obscuring effect of the vehicle’s metal body. The R&S SMBV-K102 option can simulate this obscuration and, if required, also the additional antenna pattern. www.rohde-schwarz.com

Premium services for ArcGIS Online Users by DigitalGlobe and Esri

Esri ArcGIS Online users will now have access to DigitalGlobe’s Premium Services. The new offering brings expanded geospatial products and solutions to select users of ArcGIS Online on a subscription basis. With this exciting partnership, DigitalGlobe’s Global Basemap, FirstLook, and Multispectral Premium Services can now be seamlessly integrated into the workflow of ArcGIS users, allowing them to access the most current imagery and information available directly from the source! www.digitalglobeblog.com

New Inertial system to SBG Systems, Ekinox Series

With integrated Dual Antenna GPS + GLONASS receiver, the Ekinox-D is a ready-to-use Survey Grade inertial navigation system which provides consistent true heading (0.05°). It is a high performance inertial navigation system which embeds a Dual Antenna L1/L2 GNSS receiver to deliver more robust heading and position, while increasing satellite reception availability. GNSS data and inertial information are fused by an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to improve data integrity. www.sbg-systems.com

New FARO® CAM2® SmartInspect software

FARO Technologies, Inc.has announced the new FARO CAM2 SmartInspect measurement software. The new software is highly suited to take measurements without CAD data. In developing the software, the focus was on – Simple, Intuitive operation and A Short learning phase. This means that even users with minimal background knowledge of 3D measurement technology can achieve very good measuring results within a short period of time. www.faroasia.com

Lockheed Martin GPS III Satellite prototype

Lockheed Martin recently delivered a fullsized, functional prototype of the nextgeneration GPS satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to test facilities and pre-launch processes in advance of the arrival of the first GPS III flight satellite.

The GPS III Non-Flight SatelliteTestbed (GNST) arrived at the Cape on July 19 to begin to dry run launch base space vehicle processing activities and other testing that future flight GPS III satellites will undergo. www.lockheedmartin.com/gps

Field-ready RF recorder captures wideband multi-GNSS signals

AVERNA RP-5300 RF Recorder is specifically adapted for all GNSS applications, including Galileo, GPS, GLONASS, and Compass. System has two 50-MHz wide channels that can be tuned on any frequencies from 330 MHz to 2500 MHz. http://www.averna.com

Cm level accuracy for Mobile GIS Applications by Septentrio

Septentrio has joined forces with Esri BeLux in Belgium and Luxembourg to offer a user friendly mobile solution that is accurate up to 1 centimeter. This mobile solution combines the use of Esri ArcGIS for Mobile with a highly accurate GNSS device called AsteRx-m™ GeoPod. The combination of Esri software and the AsteRx-m™ GeoPod operates seamlessly using standard, open interfaces on any professional tablet. www.septentrio.com/geopod

New TruPulse Laser rangefinders by Laser Technology

Laser Technology, Inc. has released two new TruPulse laser rangefinders, the 200X and 200L. Both measure slope distances and degree of inclination allowing the unit to calculate horizontal and vertical distances, height and 2D missing line values. The new TruPulse 200L is designed for the cost-conscious professional while the new TruPulse 200X caters to those who require a much higher degree of accuracy and overall durability.

Integrated GIS, Mapping receiver by Topcon

Topcon Positioning Systems (TPS), HiPer SR for GIS is a compact, integrated GNSS receiver with submeter accuracy. Additional, scalable options are available via OAF (Options Authorization File) upgrades, delivering accuracy levels of subdecimeter and centimeter without the need for additional hardware. It can be paired with a Topcon controller and eGIS software, or used with Topcon’s eGPS utility software to use with a third-party device and application. www.topconpositioning.com

Intel to acquire STEricsson GNSS portfolio

Assuming that its deal to acquire STEricsson’s GNSS business closes soon, Intel Corporation will find itself with expanded opportunities – and competitive set – in the mobile location marketplace.

ST-Ericsson’s G1960 chip, built with 40-nanometer CMOS technology, provides GPS, GLONASS, Quasi- Zenith Satellite System (Japan’s QZSS), satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS), and assisted-GNSS functionality. A nascent BeiDou capability is reportedly also in the connectivity unit’s technology mix