INDUSTRY

Terra Office Workflow and ArcGIS Pro integration

Trimble has released Terra Office add-in for Esri ArcGIS Pro. It is a new product in Trimble’s Terra Office suite of desktop solutions for integrating Trimble TerraFlex® field data collection software with GIS systems of record.

With a streamlined user interface, the new add-in for ArcGIS Pro allows a customer to connect TerraFlex workflows directly to their ArcGIS environment from within ArcGIS Pro, Esri’s desktop GIS application. An ArcGIS Pro user can now create and manage TerraFlex geospatial data collection projects without leaving the ArcGIS environment. www.trimble.com

GMV tests lunar rover at unprecedented speeds

GMV is conducting field tests as part of RAPID (Robust and Semi-Autonomous Platform for Increased Distances), a space robotics project run by the European Space Agency (ESA).

The Moon has been and continues to be the next step in human exploration. Water, along with other volatile and lunar materials such as regolith, metals, and rare earth elements (REE), present potential resources that can sustain human and robotic exploration sustainably on the Moon, the Solar System, and beyond. The lunar poles, in particular, are of great interest for exploration but present harsh environmental conditions with very low temperatures (below 30K/- 243 degrees Celsius) and challenging lighting conditions. www.gmv.com

Rohde & Schwarz collaborates with Qualcomm

Rohde & Schwarz, in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies, will conduct a broad range of NB-IoT over NTN tests that address the many challenges inherent to satellite-based non-terrestrial networks that use geosynchronous orbit (GSO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) constellations. The test set covers time and frequency synchronization from prolonged delays and the Doppler effect, low signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), power saving mechanisms, satellite ephemerides, GNSS acquisition and more.

These tests will be a validation tool for Qualcomm Technologies’ latest NTN chips, the Qualcomm® 212S and Qualcomm® 9205S. R&S CMW500 Protocol Testing Framework scenarios and the R&S CMW 3GPP Release 17 NTN IoT protocol enabler on a single R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester will help engineers assess their NTN NB-IoT devices powered by Qualcomm Technologies’ NTN chips under realistic conditions. The R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester emulates GSO and GEO satellite base stations in combination with the R&S SMBV100B, which generates GNSS signals. Establishing a real-time, comprehensive connection with the simulated GSO/GEO satellite network lets engineers test relevant signaling and RF scenarios in line with 3GPP Release 17. www.rohde-schwarz.com

ComNav’s GNSS receiver

As a high-precision integrated GNSS positioning and heading receiver, the A200 can track all existing and planned constellations — including GPS, BSD, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and SBAS – providing high-precision positioning and heading data for users. It is equipped with a K823 GNSS module. It also features 1,226 channels. The A200’s third generation IMU delivers fast initialization and ensures the output of heading during temporary GNSS signal loss. The built-in data link has low power consumption and a long working range. It also can be upgraded to a super-longrange data link module. comnavtech.com

NextNav announces new European Commercial Testbed

NextNav has taken the first step toward providing a resilient 3D PNT capability in Europe, opening a new commercial testbed for its Pinnacle technology in France. This is the company’s first European testbed for the high-accuracy vertical location technology and will be located in the Paris area. Pinnacle offers precise floor-level vertical location—which is critical for emergency responders who need to quickly find victims. The terrestrial-based system provides accurate 3D PNT for emergency services, logistics, telecommunications and other sectors that rely on precise positioning and timing but are vulnerable to GPS interference. nextnav.com

U-blox releases two GNSS positioning modules

U-blox has released two modules based on the u-blox F9 high-precision GNSS platform. The low-power NEO-F9P supports precise navigation and automation of moving industrial machinery, and the ZED-F9P- 15B provides customers in the mobile robotics market with an L1/L5 option in addition to the L1/L2 bands.

Both the modules feature concurrent reception of GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou; multi-band L1/L5 real-time kinematic; short convergence times; and reliable performance. www.u-blox.com

Northrop Grumman’s new airborne navigation system

Northrop Grumman Corporation has conducted a successful flight test of its advanced airborne navigation solution, Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) / Inertial Navigation System (INS) Modernization, known as EGI-M. It is the first time that EGI-M, equipped with an M-Code capable receiver, has been tested in flight. northropgrumman.com

Leica Geosystems introduces Leica CountryMapper

Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon, introduces the Leica CountryMapper, extending the hybrid sensor portfolio with the most efficient solution for large area imaging and LiDAR mapping The CountryMapper collects foundational geospatial data simultaneously, enabling the generation of highly accurate data products to support a wide variety of customer applications. It makes full use of Leica Geosystems’ unique expertise in combining industry-leading imaging and LiDAR sensor modules into highly efficient hybrid airborne systems.

Spirent unveils Simulation Systems and PNT Testing Tools

Spirent Communications demonstrated its latest GNSS simulation solutions and positioning, navigation and timings (PNT) testing tools at the Spirent GNSS Connect 2023.

Spirent has been working with government, automotive, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) manufacturers, and military organizations to help understand the threats to GPS and other satellite navigation systems and address them through the use of sophisticated testing and measurement. www.spirent.com

RIEGL, Schiebel Cooperating on UAV-Based Airborne Scanning

RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems GmbH and Schiebel have completed the integration of a high-end laser scanning system, the RIEGL VQ-840-G topo-bathymetric LiDAR sensor, on the Schiebel CAMCOPTER® S-100 Unmanned Air System (UAS).

The compact topo-bathymetric laser scanner was designed for use in a variety of maritime and hydrographic environments. The LiDAR sensor payload system is controlled remotely via a data link, which is crucial for the integration into the S-100 system.

The scanner is controlled by using the onboard software “RiACQUIRE Embedded” via the available data link; data acquisition and laser safety are also monitored. Once the survey is completed, the raw data seamlessly integrates into the RIEGL data processing workflow. www.riegl.com