GPS

GLONASS constellation update

On November 30, the GLONASS-K1 satellite, GLONASS 701(K), which had been using broadcast almanac slot 3 and transmitting on frequency channel -5 while undergoing flight tests, ceased transmissions on its assigned channel and was removed from the almanac.GLONASS 744, launched with the other Block 44 satellites on 4 November 2011 and which achieved its orbital slot 3 in Plane 1 a few days ago, was activated and is transmitting on frequency channel 5. It is currently set unhealthy in both the almanac and the ephemeris while undergoing further commissioning.GLONASS 743 and 745 are still moving towards their designated orbit slots. It is not clear if they will immediately replace the satellites currently in those slots or be held in reserve until needed.According to the Roscosmos Information-Analytical Centre, GLONASS 746, launched, is destined for orbit slot 17 in Plane 3. This is the current location of GLONASS 714, the oldest currently functioning satellite in Plane 3, launched on December 25, 2005. Based on NORAD/ JSpOC tracking, GLONASS 746 is still drifting towards slot 17 and at its current speed will reach the slot in a few weeks.

Global GPS market to reach USD 26.67

The worldwide GPS market is expected to reach USD 26.67 billion by 2016 at a CAGR of 23.7 percent from 2011 to 2016, according to a new market research report by MarketsandMarkets. GPS application market is diversified into large number of segments. Even the automotive devices are heading towards maturity in North America and Europe; but it has a large scope in the APAC region; of which China and India will be taking the lead in the near future. The emerging markets like African and Arab countries will also seek the positive growth, the report said.
www.marketsandmarkets.com

Map-aided dead reckoning navigation system GPS

According to research carried out by Tampere University of Technology in Finland, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy and reliability of navigation systems by using digital road maps in addition to the main navigation system. For maximum reliability, a high performance gyroscope is needed.
www.vti.fi/en

GPS enabled fire ready app in Australia

The Country Fire Authority of Victoria have come up with the application for the iPhone, Blackberry and Android smart phone platforms which is called as “fireReady” apps.It updates with the information on bushfire warnings, current fires and Fire Danger Ratings for the state of Victoria.Users can automatically locate themselves using GPS and see any fire activity in their area. Along with this they can push notifications alert users of new bushfire warnings and planned burns.
www.abc.net.au

Police use of GPS questioned by U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court justices raised the specter of George Orwell’s novel “1984” as they questioned whether police officers should have unbridled freedom to place GPS devices on cars to track criminal suspects.Hearing arguments in Washington, the court voiced concern that the pervasive government surveillance envisioned by Orwell might become reality, as the justices debated whether police need a warrant before using GPS. The hourlong session produced no clear answer, other than a consensus that the decision could have far-reaching implications.The high court case concerns Antoine Jones, whom police in Washington tracked for more than a month in 2005 using a GPS device secretly placed on his Jeep Grand Cherokee.
www.businessweek.com

GPS group seeks partial ban on LightSquared

A group of GPS vendors and users has asked the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to permanently block LightSquared from using the upper band of its licensed radio spectrum for a cellular data network.LightSquared wants to build an LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network using frequencies near the band used by GPS. The FCC has said it can only do so if interference between the two systems is resolved. After tests showed strong interference in the upper 10MHz band of LightSquared’s frequencies, the carrier said it would start by operating on a lower band, which is also 10MHz wide. However, it holds out hope of using the upper band in the future.In a filing (PDF) to the FCC, the Coalition to Save Our GPS asked the agency to immediate.
www.pcworld.com

Faulty GPS units showed fire trucks in New York harbor

The Bloomberg administration spent millions of dollars to put custom-made GPS tracking units in fire and garbage trucks, only to have vehicles inexplicably show up on computer screens as if they had sunk to the bottom of Long Island Sound or New York Harbor, the city comptroller has found. Faulty devices, inaccurate locations, needless features and prices to make a vendor blush — as much as $56,000 for a single unit in a sanitation truck — characterized the two projects, according to two audits released. The Bloomberg administration acknowledged that it had mismanaged its major information-technology projects and vowed to improve oversight.
www.nytimes.com

Coal India will be using GPS to stop hijaking

Coal India Ltd (CIL) will use GPS to prevent shipment’s hijacking and amid a shortage that has hit supplies to thermal power projects across the country. This is being started by the government to curb theft in transit. The industry has had little success over the years in tackling organized crime in mining areas. www.livemint.com

Telstra inks deal with Navman Wireless in Australia

Navman Wireless has signed a deal with Telstra in Australia under which its GPS fleet management solution will be available to all Telstra customers on a monthly fee basis.
http://computerworld.co.nz