Industry

Astranis is the prime contractor for the U.S. Space Force

Astranis has been selected as a prime contractor for the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) new Resilient GPS (R-GPS) program. It is one of four awarded an agreement to produce design concepts for R-GPS’ Lite Evolving Augmented Proliferation program.‍ The R-GPS program was created by Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall to build and launch small, lowcost PNT (positioning, navigation, and timing) satellites to bolster the existing GPS fleet. The R-GPS satellites will include the latest GPS signals, including M-Code, for assured performance even in contested regions. USSF has asked contractors to prepare the first eight R-GPS satellites for launch by 2028, a fast turnaround that shows the importance of developing this new capability for America’s warfighters. www.astranis.com

Septentrio partnership with GNSS Store

Septentrio is collaborating with GNSS OEM Store. A variety of new evaluation boards, dongles, compact smart antennas and other plug-and-play systems have been developed by GNSS Store. These new products are based on the renowned mosaic GNSS module, including the mosaic-X5 positioning module, mosaic-H heading module and the mosaic-T timing module. www.septentrio.com

BAE Systems introduces M-code GNSS tracking technology

BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated M-code signal tracking using an Increment 2 GNSS receiver powered by its Next-Generation Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). This breakthrough is part of the Military GPS User Equipment Increment 2 Miniature Serial Interface program, which was awarded a $247 million contract from the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command in 2020. www.baesystems.com

ANELLO awarded Space Force laser gyro contract

SpaceWERX has awarded ANELLO Photonics a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract to develop a resonator laser gyroscope, which seeks to address critical challenges faced by the Department of the Air Force (DAF). By leveraging its expertise in integrated photonics and artificial intelligence (AI) based solutions, ANELLO aims to support the Space Force’s mission of providing capabilities to joint forces operating in GPS-challenged environments. spacewerx.us

Tronics launches MEMS Gyro Product

Tronics Microsystems has upgraded its GYPRO4000 product line, which consists of tactical-grade digital MEMS gyroscopes. The GYPRO4300 features a ±300 °/s input range, 200 Hz bandwidth and 1 ms latency, making it ideal for dynamic environments. With a bias instability of 0.4 °/h and an Angular Random Walk of 0.07 °/√h, the GYPRO4300 offers high-performance sensing in a compact, digital and low size, weight and power (SWaP) package. The GYPRO4050 is a specialized North-seeking gyro for lowdynamics applications. This derivative offers 2° azimuth accuracy and is currently in the customer sampling stage. www.tronics.tdk.com

Leica BLK2FLY Autonomous Indoor Scanning

Leica Geosystems has released upgrades for its BLK2FLY autonomous flying laser scanner. It is a semi-autonomous flying laser scanner ideal for architects, engineers and designers to capture the exterior features and dimensions of buildings and environments that would otherwise require a UAV with a lidar payload or a traditional photogrammetry UAV. To operate the BLK2FLY, a user makes a few simple taps on a tablet and it captures a structure’s complete external dimensions, such as rooftops and facades, in the form of colorized 3D point clouds. leica-geosystems.com

Expansion of Topnet Live coverage by Topcon

Topcon Positioning Systems has significantly expanded its Topnet Live reference station service, adding 180 full-wave geodetic reference stations across California, Hawaii, Oregon, Nevada, Utah and Washington. This expansion is designed to enhance network corrections, providing centimeter-level accuracy for various industries such as engineering, surveying, construction, and agriculture. The improved service can also benefit specialized applications, including automated mowing, line marking and UAV operations for mapping and delivery in sectors such as the turf industry. www.topconpositioning.com

Trimble expands collaboration with The HALO Trust on landmine clearance efforts

Trimble has expanded support for The HALO Trust, the world’s largest humanitarian landmine-clearance nonprofit organization. It is donating an additional 175 Trimble Catalyst GNSS systems, including Trimble DA2 GNSS receivers, to help The HALO Trust further its demining operations worldwide. The Catalyst GNSS system provides The HALO Trust with a solution for deploying precise mapping capabilities to large field teams across broad geographic areas. More field teams can now be equipped with the necessary tools to safely and efficiently clear landmines, thereby accelerating the pace of landmine clearance globally. www.trimble.com

u-blox unveils X20

u-blox new X20 is an all-band highprecision GNSS platform that raises the bar for accuracy, performance, and security. Building on the success of the company’s popular F9 high-precision GNSS platform, this new generation addresses the current high-precision GNSS needs around the world. X20 is an all-band (L1/L2/L5/L6) platform with an integrated L-band receiver. www.u-blox.com

CSU Professor Sandra Durán leads $299K NSF-funded project

Sandra Durán, an Assistant Professor in the Forest and Rangeland Stewardship Department, housed in the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University, is leading a groundbreaking research project funded by the National Science Foundation with a $299,551 grant.

Her project, “Linking functional biodiversity and airborne imaging to improve predictions of terrestrial ecosystem productivity across climatic gradients,” seeks to integrate multiple dimensions of plant biodiversity with airborne remote sensing as a basis for testing biodiversity-ecosystem functioning hypotheses at regional scales.

Biodiversity faces unprecedented threats from climate change, habitat loss, and other human-induced factors. In controlled experiments, the loss of plant biodiversity has been shown to reduce the productivity of terrestrial ecosystems.

Durán’s research addresses a crucial knowledge gap by examining the importance of biodiversity in naturally assembled communities. While controlled experiments provide valuable insights, understanding how biodiversity impacts the functioning of real-world ecosystems is essential for effective conservation and management strategies. warnercnr.source.colostate.edu

Inertial Labs unveils RESEPI Ultra LITE

Inertial Labs has launched the RESEPI Ultra LITE, the lightest complete payload to feature both LiDAR and camera technology. It offers ease of use, precision, and adaptability. It integrates the XT-32 LiDAR scanner, providing surveyors with top-tier data accuracy, a high point density, and the versatility to perform in various operational modes. inertiallabs.com