INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY | LBS | GNSS | GIS | IMAGING | GALILEO UPDATE

NavCom introduces StarFire Rapid Recovery

NavCom Technology, Inc has announced the release of new software for its Sapphire-based receivers, including the SF-3050, SF-3040, and LANDPAK. The multi-frequency GNSS (GPS+GLONASS) receivers are now capable of supporting NavCom’s new StarFire Rapid Recovery feature, which allows users to quickly regain StarFire accuracy after short GNSS signal blockages caused by shading, bridges or other similar constraints. Other new features include support for proprietary GLONASS RTK correction messages from third party base stations and a new web server interface for the SF-3050.

NavCom’s StarFire Network, a Global Satellite Based Augmentation System, provides five centimeter horizontal accuracy worldwide and the freedom and flexibility that a DGPS solution offers. It offers 99.999% uptime, a seven satellite constellation, and StarFire over IP (SFoIP) delivery for redundancy to ensure system availability and position accuracy. www.NavComTech.com

European Secured Navigation arrives with First Galileo PRS-only Positioning

QinetiQ and Septentrio have announced jointly that another major milestone in the Galileo European Navigation Satellite System’s development and deployment programme has been achieved. On the 12th March 2013, staff at the European Space Agency at ESTEC, Noordwijk, The Netherlands, achieved the first ever navigation solution using only the encrypted Galileo Public Regulated Service (PRS) signals broadcast by the four Galileo In-Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites launched in 2011 and 2012. Septentrio and QinetiQ working in close partnership developed one of the two PRS test user receivers used in this historic first test. Positioning accuracy of ~10 m was achieved, excellent for a first test so early in the system’s deployment. The TUR-P now continues to be used as part of the campaigns running during the GALILEO In Orbit Validation Phase. www.septentrio.com

Spirent launches Multi-Frequency GNSS Testing System

Spirent Communications has launch a new multi-frequency GNSS record and playback (RPS) test system, GSS6425. It provides customers with RF recordings for several constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS) and frequencies (L1, L2, L5), as well as wider bandwidth (30MHz). This self-contained and portable system allows users to record and playback data in the field without the need for an additional PC or external power. It is also capable of recording additional sources including inertial and dead reckoning sensor outputs and vehicle CAN bus data. www.Spirent.com

Hemisphere GNSS New Crescent Vector GNSS Compass Module

Hemisphere GNSS has launched its new Crescent Vector H200 GNSS compass module, a high-performance receiver for heading, positioning, heave, and attitude. It is designed for professional marine, navigation, and land applications in challenging and dynamic environments. It processes L1 GPS and GLONASS signals to deliver precise heading, greater positioning reliability, and better performance in challenging environments.

Through using two separate antennas, Hemisphere GNSS’ patented Vector technology computes the heading and pitch or roll angle while stationary or in motion. It can compute heading accuracy to 0.02 degrees using a 5-meter antenna separation.

Lockheed Martin… GPS III tests are successful

A Lockheed Martin led industry team has completed successful functional integration tests of the spacecraft bus and network communications equipment on the first satellite of the next generation Global Positioning System, known as GPS III. The recent testing of GPS III space vehicle 1 (SV 1) bus—the portion of the space vehicle that carries mission payloads and hosts them in —assured that all bus subsystems are functioning normally and ready for final integration with the satellite’s navigation payload. Systems tested included: guidance, navigation and control; command and data handling; on-board computer and flight software; environmental controls; and electrical power regulation. The SV 1 satellite’s network communication equipment subsystem that interfaces with the ground control segment and distributes data throughout the space vehicle also passed all tests as expected. www.satnews.com

CSR launches SiRFstarV 5e GNSS engine

CSR have introduced their SiRFstarV 5e GNSS engine, a new solution optimized for indoor positioning on smartphones, cameras and health devices. It supports concurrent GPS, GLONASS, SBAS and QZSS signals to provide a fast TTFF and the first commercial implementation of this new engine comes from wireless solutions specialist Telit Communications in the form of their Jupiter SE868-V2 module. www.CSR.com

TerraStar GNSS Positioning for African Aerial Surveys

Johannesburg-based GeoDuster Technologies has commissioned TerraStar GNSS’s TerraStar-D Precise Point Positioning (PPP) service for a series of aerial geophysical, exploration and environmental surveys being carried out in Africa by Terrascan Airborne of Germany aboard a specially-equipped light aircraft.

Using a combination of GPS and GLONASS satellite signals, the highprecision service is being deployed in conjunction with Septentrio dualfrequency AsteRx2eL GNSS receivers for geo-referencing high-density magnetic gradient radiometric measurements, often acquired in remote locations and difficult environments. www.terrastar.net

Trimble’s new UAS targets big survey, geospatial projects

Trimble Navigation Ltd. has unveiled new Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) – the UX5 aerial imaging rover with the Trimble Access aerial imaging application – for large, geospatial and survey projects.

The UX5 and the imaging app are being sold to the surveying, oil and gas, mining, environmental services, and agriculture sectors in markets where UAS commercial operations are allowed, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and Africa. But not the U.S. market, as FAA regulations continue to restrict their use.

Nexteq Navigation offers platform for accelerating GNSS receiver development

Nexteq Navigation has launched accelGRx, a platform for accelerating professional-grade GNSS receiver development. The platform provides open and production-ready hardware and software building blocks for GNSS receivers. accelGRx is designed for organizations looking to research and develop new techniques and algorithms requiring deep in-receiver integreation or quickly produce a small, high-performance receiver.

accelGRx supports GPS L1 and Beidou B1, and the hardware is GLONASS and Galileo ready. It pairs a compact form factor and industry standard pin layout with a code and phase precision of 4 cm and 0.4 mm respectively for both GPS L1 and Beidou B1. It incorporates an array of software development tools, including the ability to record and play back digitized signals.

Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation

Leica Nova MS50 MultiStation is the world’s first instrument that combines total station technology with 3D laser scanning, imaging and GNSS positioning in one easy-to-use solution. It puts powerful laser scanning capabilities in the hands of land surveyors, plant surveyors, construction managers, BIM professionals, public safety professionals and a broad range of other users who have never before worked with rich point clouds or 3D datasets. It provides users with a complete, streamlined workflow that allows users to capture, create, manage and use 3D object-based spatial data directly in the field as part of a survey workflow for better decision making. www.leica-geosystems.com

USAF to integrate Locata’s non-GPS based positioning system

Locata Corporation has announced that the US Air Force 746th Test Squadron (746 TS) recently awarded New Mexico, USA based TMC Design Corporation a contract to install and integrate the Locata Non-GPS Based Positioning System (NGBPS) on White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). The Locata system will give the 746 TS an entirely new and enhanced capability, allowing them to evaluate the operations of mobile and airborne position, navigation, and timing (PNT) equipment in GPS-denied environments. The operational installation of the NGBPS system will consist of both fixed and mobile Command and Control (C2) nodes, and a network of LocataLite transceivers deployed on WSMR. www.locatacorp.com

GPS-challenged navigation and georegistration solution for USAF

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a phase two inertial navigation system-related contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to continue improving geo-registration accuracy for positioning and pointing applications, even in GPS-denied conditions.

Geo-registration of data is critical for accurate interaction between systems, such as locating targets and handing off coordinates to another aircraft. Having successfully demonstrated a prototype system in phase one, Northrop Grumman will flight-test the integrated system in phase two as well as incorporate additional improvements such as highly detailed 3-D map generation in the algorithm. www.northropgrumman.com

iOne infrastructure Metric Mapping System

Visual Intelligence has unveiled its new geoimaging solution, iOne Infrastructure Metric Mapping System (iOne IMS), which is a major technological milestone for infrastructure metric mapping and surveying. It allows aerial imaging companies to capture more imagery and data at a fraction of the upfront investment and operating cost of competing products. When installed on aircraft, the iOne IMS collects ortho, stereo, forward and backward oblique, multispectral 4-band and point cloud product generation—all in a single pass. www.visualintell.com

Paragon Software Systems announces National Street Level Routing in China

Paragon Software Systems, Inc. has launched national street level mapping for routing vehicles in mainland China. The mapping allows users of the Paragon software to create optimized routes and schedules for their transport operations in China using accurate data. This follows Paragon’s recent announcement about implementing Simplified Chinese language into its software. Its software is Unicode compliant, which makes it possible to translate it into any language and enables its use anywhere in the world. www.paragonrouting.com

Esri Joins Global In- Location Alliance

Esri has joined the worldwide In- Location Alliance. Esri joins a growing number of companies that have come together to drive innovation and market adoption of high-accuracy indoor positioning and related services. Esri will help to define standards for indoor mapping and logistics across many industries including health care, higher education, finance, government, and retail. www.esri.com