GPS

INDUSTRY | LBS | GPS | GIS | REMOTE SENSING | GALILEO UPDATE

Space Wing installs large software sustainment release

The 50th Space Wing’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron installed a major software release containing 104 fixes to the GPS Ground Segment. This is the largest sustainment release to the GPS ground segment since transitioning to the Architecture Evolution Plan system in 2007. Since 2007, the GPS Directorate has been concentrating on delivering new capability software to the ground segment for the IIF satellite, increasing navigation signal strength and anti-spoof capability.

Dr Gary McGraw wins Kepler award The Institute of Navigation’s (ION) Satellite Division awarded Dr. Gary McGraw its Johannes Kepler Award September 23, 2011 at the ION GNSS Conference (Portland, Oregon) for his contributions to GPS in the areas of high accuracy, high integrity and highly survivable precision guidance and control of aircraft. He has made significant contributions to the field of satellite navigation and has become a central figure in a number of navigation technology development efforts. Dr Shivaramaiah wins Parkinson award The Institute of Navigation’s (ION) Satellite Division awarded Dr. Nagaraj Channarayapatna Shivaramaiah of The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia its Bradford W. Parkinson Award September 23, 2011 at the ION GNSS Conference (Portland, Oregon). Dr. Shivaramaiah was recognized for graduate student excellence in Global Navigation Satellite Systems in his thesis Enhanced Receiver Techniques for Galileo E5AltBOC Signal. In his thesis Nagaraj introduced a number of algorithms specific to E5, the most sophisticated GNSS signal, including a patented multipath technique. He is now responsible for developing a spacecapable multi-GNSS (L1/E1/L5/E5) version of UNSW’s Namuru receiver.

nOAA’s VDatum a Vital GIS tool for Safe navigational Products

NOAA’s just-completed first edition of Vertical Datum Transformation tool – VDatum that will allow users to combine and transform geospatial data from different sources onto a single vertical reference surface, removing the largest obstacle GIS users face when creating products that enable safe navigation and serve other vital purposes for coastal communities. It allows users to produce a set of consistent geospatial data over coastal and interior areas of the contiguous U.S., removing the differences between the vertical reference systems of land- and water-based data.

http://vdatum.noaa.gov

OlivePad 2 to feature GlOnASS

OlivePad2 scheduled to be launched this september according to the news source, will feature GLONASS signal receiving capability in additiont to GPS signals. It will feature a more powerful processor from Qualcomm, along with Android 2.3 operating system.

www.themobileindian.com

Proton-M launched after string of failures

A Proton-M rocket carrying a military satellite was successfully launched from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome. It was the first launch of the Proton-M — Russia’s main rocket for carrying satellites — since Aug. 18, when a malfunction in the rocket’s booster stage sent a $265 million communications satellite into the wrong orbit.

www.themoscowtimes.com

JAVAD lightSquared partnership

“LightSquared not only can coexist with GPS, it complements it.” Says Dr. Javad of of JAVAD GNSS on the occasion of JAVAD GNSS partnering with broadband company LightSquared.
LightSquared’s proposal to build a broadband network has come under fire from users of high-precision GNSS over possible interference issues. JAVAD GNSS is promoting its latest receiver, the TRIUMPH-LS (LightSquared). “TRIUMPH-LS can benefit from LightSquared communication channels for receiving RTK corrections,” Dr. Javad said. “LightSquared communication channels are much faster and less expensive than conventional channels for RTK correction transmissions.”

LightSquared issued a press release stating the partnership will “develop a system that will eliminate related interference issues for high-precision GPS devices.” LightSquared said the system can be adapted to work with highprecision GPS devices including those already in the agriculture, surveying, construction and defense industries.

Javad GNSS has completed the design, made prototypes, and tested those prototypes, LightSquared said. Preproduction units will be released for public tests in October, followed by mass production. High-precision receivers for positioning applications are expected to go to market by November 2011 and precision timing devices by March 2012.

www.javad.com

Petri Rebuts lightSquared Ad

In a letter to the chairman and CEO of LightSquared, House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (RWI) sought to set the record straight following the company’s ad in the Wall Street Journal the day before. In his letter, Petri objected to LightSquared’s ad which placed the blame for the controversy on the manufacturers of GPS equipment. Petri responded: “This ignores the fact that GPS was located on this part of the spectrum long before LightSquared devised its plan to employ a terrestrial network within the Satellite band of radio spectrum. In fact, your spectrum was purchased at bargain prices because it was not intended for terrestrial operations.”