GNSS

STMicroelectronics and Allystar partnership

STMicroelectronics is working with Allystar to develop and market GNSS solutions for automotive products and other applications. Allystar is a spin-off from CEC Huada Electronic Design Co. Ltd. and a Chinese GNSS chip designer. ST and Allystar are already co-marketing products for the automotive market and cost-competitive products for the consumer market.

Glonass delivered to Armenia

GLONASS has been delivered to Armenia, Armenia’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology said. Armenian specialists from the ministry of transport, communications and information technology, the Crisis Management Center of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Byurakan Observatory and Yerevan State University and Russian space agency Roskosmos will soon discuss the system’s installation in Armenia. http://asbarez.com

Gatwick Airport now has 2,000 beacons for indoor navigation

The UK’s second busiest airport, Gatwick, has opted to power an indoor navigation system it’s launching as part of a wider, multi-year transformation program.

It’s now finished kitting out its two terminals with around 2,000 batterypowered beacons so that digital map users will get a more accurate blue dot as they wander around. The beacon system will also be used to power an augmented reality wayfinding tool— so that mobile users will be able to be guided to specific locations within the terminals via on-screen arrows. The beacon system is slated as supporting positioning with +/-3m accuracy.

Gatwick is planning to integrate indoor positioning into some of its apps, and says it’s in discussions with airlines to tap into it for their own apps and services — giving example of them being able to send push notifications to warn passengers if they’re running late, or even make a decision on whether or not to wait or offload luggage so an aircraft can take off on time.

Retailers and other third parties will also be able to use the system for proximity detection of potential shoppers and push marketing messages and offers — at least to those who have opted in to receive them. https://techcrunch.com

China launches advanced satellite navigation positioning system

China has launched national satellite navigation and positioning system. It is the largest in the country and boasts the widest coverage. Li Weisen, deputy director of the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping and Geoinformation, said that the system consists of 2,700 base stations, a national database center and 30 provincial level database centers.

The system, featuring faster speed, higher accuracy and wider coverage, will be compatible with other satellite navigation systems, such as the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and GPS. According to the administration, the system is able to provide positioning service to transportation, emergency medical rescue and city planning and management. www.shanghaidaily.com

Japan mulls sevensatellite QZSS system

The Japanese government is considering adding an additional three satellites to the country’s domestic navigation system in order to ensure that it would work with or without the U.S.’s GPS system.

Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, or QZSS, currently calls for four satellites, of which only one is in orbit.

Colonel Shinichiro Tsui, a counsellor in Japan’s Cabinet Office, said \ that the next three QZSS satellites are all scheduled to launch this year, followed by service activation in 2018. Those satellites, provided by manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric, would augment GPS signals,

Tsui said, honing their positioning accuracy from sub-meter to centimeters. Tsui said Japan’s goal would be to have a seven-satellite system in orbit by 2023. http://spacenews.com

One satellite to be launched for GLONASS system by end 2017

At least one navigation satellite for the GLONASS system will be launched into orbit before the end of this year, Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems CEO Nikolay Testoyedov told TASS in an interview.

At present, there are 27 satellites in the GLONASS group, 24 of which are functioning for their intended purposes, one is being studied by the chief engineer, another is being held in reserve, while one other satellite is still in the flight testing phase. It should be noted that more than half of the operating satellites’ warranty have past their deadline. http://tass.com/science/946052

The UK driving test will soon include a GPS navigation section

The UK is changing its driver’s license testing, and the process is getting a technological update for the modern era. As part of the practical exams given to new drivers starting in December 2017, potential licensees will have to prove that they are capable of navigating by GPS.

According to the government announcement on the changes to the test, most would-be drivers will be required to follow directions from a satellite navigation device during their test. This “independent driving” portion of the test will last 20 minutes, about half the total amount of time of the exam. Not everyone will be subject to the GPS test, though; one out of every five students will be asked to navigate based on traffic signs instead. The new exam procedure will debut on December 4, 2017. http://mentalfloss.com