INDUSTRY

Non-GPS Navigation for GPS denied environments

Scientific Systems has announced that it is continuing development of ImageNav™, the company’s non-GPS, image-based, precision navigation software. The company has recently extended and demonstrated its image based solution during flight operations ranging from 25,000 feet down to 200 feet.

For many air vehicle flights, the military relies on the GPS for navigation, risking exposure to electronic jamming in contested environments. ImageNav software computes both absolute and relative navigation position updates by fusing the output of three different algorithms: stereo terrain correlation, image-based feature matching, and feature-based velocity estimation. www.ssci.com

Iridium to expand as a Global Alternative PNT

Iridium Communications Inc. has announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire Satelles, Inc., that complement and protect GPS and other GNSS-reliant systems. The service, named Satellite Time and Location (STL), is an easy-to-adopt, highly secure solution that increases the efficiency and reliability of timing systems for digital infrastructure like 5G base stations, data centers, and other critical infrastructure and protects against GNSS vulnerabilities using low-cost hardware that doesn’t require outdoor antennas. This acquisition continues Iridium’s philosophy of investing in differentiating technologies uniquely suited to its network that significantly outperform competing solutions. www.iridium.com

SECO launches Qualcomm based SOM-SMARC modules

SECO has released its first Smart Mobility Architecture (SMARC) System on Modules (SoMs) based on Qualcomm QCS6490 and Qualcomm QCS5430 application processors. These new modules are the first results of SECO’s strategic collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies. The SOM-SMARC QCS6490 is designed to simplify the use of the Qualcomm QCS6490 processor. The chipset offers support for artificial intelligence (AI) and computing, robust performance at low power and expanded interfaces and peripherals catering to diverse industrial use cases. www.seco.com

Enhancing U.S. Navy’s MQ-25A UAS

BAE Systems has been selected by Boeing to upgrade and modernize the vehicle management system computer (VMSC) for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 unmanned aerial refueling system. The technology refresh will increase computing power and address obsolescence issues, providing the unmanned aerial tanker with an integrated solution that improves aircraft performance and allows for future capability growth. www.baesystems.com

Leica Geosystems launches TerrainMapper-3

Leica Geosystems has introduced the Leica TerrainMapper-3 airborne lidar sensor. It features new scan pattern reconfigurability to support a variety of applications and requirements in a single system.

The system offers three scan patterns, which allow users to customize the sensor’s performance to fit specific applications. Its circle scan patterns are designed to improve 3D modeling of urban areas or steep terrains. The ellipse scan patterns use data capture for more traditional mapping applications. Skew ellipse scan patterns are aimed at improving point density for infrastructures and corridor mapping applications. leica-geosystems.com

Stonex launches hybrid mobile mapping solution

Stonex has launched the X70GO SLAM laser scanner. It combines mobile scanning with a stationary mode to scan with high resolution to enhance overall surveying capabilities. It is a real-time 3D model reconstruction device that integrates an inertial navigation module, high-performance computer and storage system. It is equipped with a 360° rotating head, which, combined with the SLAM algorithm, can generate high-precision point cloud data. The system comes with a hybrid scanning capability. The X-Whizz mode combines the advantages of SLAM mode with the resolution of a static scan, which eliminates the need for multiple scan stations. www.stonex.it

Fairview Microwave announces military-grade antennas

Fairview Microwave has announced the launch of its advanced military grade antennas. The new products include ruggedized GPS, manpack omni, and vehicle omni antennas designed to excel in mission-critical applications such as vehicle navigation, personnel communications, vehicle communications, electronic warfare and jamming. www.fairviewmicrowave.com

GMV improves airport navigation performance

The European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EuroControl) has awarded GMV a contract for the evolution of AUGUR, a free service for pilots, airspace users and air navigation service providers.

AUGUR is a web-based service that makes it possible to predict the availability of the GPS and receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) navigation solution for a wide range of air operations. The RAIM processing algorithm, which is standardized and incorporated into most aeronautical GPS receivers, allows operators to check the integrity of GPS satellite signals by exploiting the redundancy of measurements offered by the current constellation.

Although only four satellites in view are needed to calculate the position and time of the aircraft, the current GPS constellation has 31 active satellites, meaning that the receivers are getting signals from more than four satellites much of the time. The RAIM technique takes advantage of these additional measurements to check the integrity of the satellites and ensure the position obtained is correct within the alarm limits established for each operation.

The improvements made to the AUGUR include RAIM GPS availability displayed on a map and the integration of the planned Navigation Integrity Category (NIC), which measures the quality of the aircraft navigation position transmitted via automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B). It also issues space weather warnings such as solar flares, geomagnetic storms and coronal mass ejections (CME) and has options to import or export geographic data in industry-standard formats. www.gmv.com

CHC Navigation Unveils RS10

CHC Navigation has launched the RS10, handheld SLAM LiDAR laser scanner integrated with a full RTK GNSS receiver. Designed to improve the efficiency across a wide range of mapping and surveying applications, it provides professionals with a versatile, all-in-one tool for capturing rich 3D geospatial data in both outdoor and indoor environments. By combining survey-grade GNSS RTK receiver with the handheld LiDAR SLAM system, the RS10 simplifies workflows without compromising accuracy or flexibility.

First UltraCam Osprey 4.1 in the Middle East

The Centre for Geographic Information Systems (CGIS), the State of Qatar’s official geospatial agency under the Ministry of Municipality, acquired the very first UltraCam Osprey 4.1 photogrammetric nadir and oblique aerial camera system in the region. The advanced mapping and survey equipment solution purchased by CGIS goes beyond the UltraCam Osprey 4.1 system, encompassing the entire UltraMap processing suite, which includes five modules. Additionally, CGIS acquired a RIEGL laser scanner 780II-S and a RIEGL 880-GII bathymetric sensor for installation in a new DA62 MPP Survey Star from Diamond Aircraft.

ESA-JRC opens registration for GNSS summer school

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) are collaborating to host the 15th edition of the International Summer School on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The course is scheduled to take place in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, from July 15 to 26, 2024.

The summer school invites graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, postdoctoral researchers, engineers and academics from both the industry and agencies to attend. The wide range of attendees offers a dynamic environment conducive to learning and networking. www.esa-jrc-summerschool.org

Geely launches LEO satellites

Chinese automaker, Geely has launched its second set of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites in its effort to enhance navigation capabilities for autonomous vehicles. The 11 satellites were launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, China province.

1Spatial bags contract in Belgium

1Spatial have secured a three-year contract with a leading Distribution System Operator for electricity and gas networks in Belgium, following a competitive tender. The project will enable the utility company to carry out a wide range of activities including distribution network management, connection works and repairs, in a more efficient, cost-effective manner, ensuring the safety of its team and customers. 1spatial.com