The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is conducting a free online course on GNSS for students and professionals Sept. 13-24.
The course is the 87th outreach program conducted by the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), an ISRO division.
The GNSS course provides an introduction to GPS and GNSS, receivers, processing methods, errors and accuracy.
Courses are also available on geographic information systems and remote sensing.
Learn more at the website.
Greg Turetsky
“The connectivity options that widespread 5G offer will accelerate multiple GNSS benefits. The high bandwidth is starting to encourage many into the RTK domain, but I think the bigger opportunity may come from the low power versions that enable IoT applications. The combination of the ubiquity of cellular connectivity with the low power of NB-IoT could truly accelerate the real time asset management sector all the way down to the package/pallet level.”
— Greg Turetzky
Allison Brown
“Widespread deployment and adoption of 5G is likely to continue to increase the demand for spectrum as broadband access continues to expand. The recent FCC decision allowing Ligado to operate terrestrial networks in bands near GPS is likely not the last decision that will result from this increasing demand. It is not clear to me that 5G deployment will ‘benefit’ GNSS and chipset vendors may need to prioritize developing products that have improved robustness in the presence of nearby interference.”
— Alison Brown
Miguel Amor
“The benefit of 5G will be seen in the long term, when 5G ranging capability is available. Hybrid positioning algorithms using both 5G and GNSS observations will provide significant positioning benefits in challenging urban environments and seamless navigation between indoor and outdoor environments. Applications across markets will see the benefits of hybrid 5G and GNSS navigation, but the real advantage lies in how this hybrid will enable the future of autonomous mobility. We will see both technologies working closer together to deliver a seamless and ubiquitous positioning solution.”
— Miguel Amor
Mitch Narins
“Like communications, the ability to precisely and securely position and navigate is an essential part of 21st century life. Together they must support both critical and non-critical operations. This requires finding a common understanding of spectrum needs and how to have the best of both. In the long run, end runs by either side may achieve myopic goals but will damage society. The problem is crying out for an enterprise-level systems engineering leadership that can plot our future spectrum course. Else, the push for spectrum will continue, fueled by ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ and often a lack of understanding of the importance of other spectrum uses.”
— Mitch Narins
Image:
KENGKAT/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
A roundup of recent products in the GNSS and inertial positioning industry from the August 2021 issue of GPS World magazine.
GNSS board
Photo: Javad GNSS
With GLONASS dynamic calibration
The TRE-3S GNSS board measures 100 x 80 mm, weighs 87 g and tracks 874 channels with all-in-view satellite tracking. It includes numerous features to protect against interference and improve signal output: spectrum data output, spoofing detection, advanced multipath reduction, in-band interference rejection, GLONASS 0.2-mm dynamic calibration, heading determination, attitude determination and fast acquisition channels. The TRE-3S receives GPS L1/L2/L2C/L5; Galileo E1/E5A/E5B/AltBoc/E6; GLONASS L1/L2/L3; BeiDou B1/B1C/B2/B3; QZSS L1/L2/L5/L6 (L61/L62); and SBAS L1/L5. It has a 20-Hz update and real-time kinematic (RTK) rate for real-time positioning and raw data (code and carrier). Optional features include tracking QZSS L6 (LEX) and IRNSS L5/S-band, and a data update rate and RTK rate of 100 Hz.
Javad GNSS, javad.com
For high-precision applications with L-band corrections
Photo: Maxtena
The M9HCT-A-SMA is a patented helix antenna for GNSS plus L-band corrections services, suitable for high-precision and autonomous multi-frequency applications. It provides simultaneous GNSS reception in a rugged, compact form factor. The M9HCT-A-SMA is suitable for high-precision applications such as the UAV market, where high performance and low weight are driving features in antenna selection. The active helix design features Maxtena’s patented compact and lightweight Helicore technology, which provides excellent pattern control, polarization purity and high efficiency in a compact form factor.
Maxtena, maxtena.com
Series now provides extended filtering
The TW3967-XF antenna. (Photo: Tallysman)
New eXtended Filtering (XF) is now employed in the TW3900 series of Accuntena precision antennas. The XF feature mitigates interference from all near-band signals and ensures the antenna provides the purest possible GNSS signals. The custom XF filtering has been tested to mitigate new (in Europe and Japan) and existing LTE signals, enabling the XF antennas to produce clean and pure GNSS radio frequency data. The XF models are TW3972XF, TW3972EXF, TW3972LGXF, TW3967XF and TW3967LGXF. All are triple-band antennas that support GPS/QZSS (L1/L2/L5), GLONASS (G1/G2/G3), Galileo (E1/E5ab), BeiDou (B1/B2/B2a), NavIC L5 and L-band correction services.
Tallysman Wireless, www.tallysman.com
Provides 72 hours of continuous tracking
Photo: iGPSPORT
The iGS320 cycling computer builds on the u-blox M10 positioning platform, leveraging the M10’s ultra-low power consumption, compact size, and ability to track all four GNSS to offer endurance athletes a superior user experience. Adopting the M10 in its iGS320 cycling computer brought iGPSPORT an 80 percent increase in the power autonomy to deliver 72 hours of continuous tracking, up from 40 hours in their previous device. Concurrent reception of up to four GNSS constellations increases coverage and accuracy in otherwise challenging signal environments.
iGPSPORT, igpsport.com; u-blox, www.u-blox.com
For facility management and construction projects
Photo: 3i
The Beamo 3D mapping platform enables surveyors to scan a project site and immediately collaborate with teams in the field without lengthy delays or cumbersome equipment. The digital twin created in the platform provides a single and secure source of truth for teams without requiring highly technical knowledge. With a 360-degree camera, surveyor teams can create detailed digital environments that remote teams can use to track progress, collaborate with coworkers, and take accurate measurements without having to physically visit the site.
3i, www.3i.ai
Multi-constellation for surveyors and geodesists
Photo: Javad GNSS
The Triumph-3 receiver tracks efficiently even in difficult conditions. It can track all current signals and is ready for future satellites. The Triumph-3 can operate as a base together with Triumph-LS and Triumph-LS Plus to efficiently accomplish any geodetic job. Its RTK system communicates via integrated UHF, 4G/LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth channels, and eliminates the need to subscribe to a real-time network for corrections. A powerful and reliable receiver for high-precision navigation systems, the Triumph-3 is based on the Javad GNSS 874-channel chip. It is equipped with an internal 4G/LTE/3G card and secure and accessible microSD and microSIM cards. It also supports Javad’s lift-and-tilt technology.
Javad GNSS, javad.com
Enables connectivity for legacy equipment
Photo: Eos Positioning
Eos Bridge enables almost any instrument to become iOS Bluetooth compatible. The pocket-sized device connects to instruments via Bluetooth Classic or serial port, and then transmits data to any Apple iOS device, such as iPhone or iPad, Android device or Windows mobile device. Instruments equipped with non-iOS Bluetooth can connect to Apple iOS devices using the Eos Bridge, including laser rangefinders and utility-locating instruments. Instruments whose only connectivity option is a serial port also can connect, such as any instrument or sensor with an RS-232 serial port. The Eos Bridge is lightweight, at approximately 150 grams (about 5.3 ounces). It can be worn clipped to a belt, stored in a pocket, or mounted to an instrument or sensor. The battery lasts 48 to 72 hours.
Eos Positioning Systems, www.eos-gnss.com
Provides analyses of ‘ocean neighborhoods’
Screenshot: NOAA
The OceanReports web tool provides users with specialized “ocean neighborhood analyses,” including maps and graphics, by analyzing more than 100 ocean datasets instantaneously. Reporting data includes information about habitats and species, industries in the area, potential hazards (such as undersea cables or shipwrecks), the economic value of ocean commerce, and other detailed oceanographic information. The web-based interactive tool for ocean mapping and planning, created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, provides professional users and the general public with opportunities to explore the ocean from their own computer.
NOAA, https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/ort.html
Improves city transport operations
Screenshot: Hexagon AB
HxGN Mass Transit is a geospatial transportation infrastructure management system with 3D and AI capabilities for visualizing and analyzing transit and rail assets and operations. Built on Hexagon’s M.App Enterprise, HxGN Mass Transit provides an advanced digital twin of a city’s entire public transportation network — including tracks, stops, switches, construction sites, ticket machines, benches and garbage cans. It integrates asset and spatial data so operators can visualize and analyze an entire network with accurate and up-to-date information.
Hexagon Geospatial, hexagongeospatial.com
Counters interference in marine environments
The GAJT-410MS provides anti-jamming to marine vessels. (Image: NovAtel)
The GAJT-410MS provides NovAtel’s GPS Anti-Jam Technology (GAJT) for the commercial and defense marine markets. The low SWaP variant protects civil and military operations from interference and jamming, with jammer direction-finding capabilities for enhanced situational awareness in the marine environment. The GAJT-410MS provides dynamic protection on both GPS L1 and L2 bands, as well as Galileo E1, QZSS L1 and L2, and SBAS L1 to combat intentional and unintentional interference.
Hexagon | NovAtel, novatel.com
Indicates position in emergencies
Photo: ACR Electronics
The ACR 2830 GlobalFix V4 EPIRB marine distress beacon has multiple built-in redundancies to increase chances of survival in an emergency situation. The internal GPS receiver pinpoints the user’s location, which is then transmitted on the 406-MHz distress signal. In the absence of GPS-derived coordinates, the signal can be used to triangulate the position. The beacon’s 121.5 MHz homing signal will bring local search-and-rescue forces directly to the position; an LED strobe light allows them to see the position in low light. A Category 1 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), the GlobalFix V4 is a float-free device that will automatically activate when submerged in water. Two self-tests monitor transmission, power and battery performance as well as GPS acquisition.
ACR Electronics, acrartex.com
Connected portal being deployed on Spanish trains
Photo: OUIGO Spain
A new connected platform for rail passengers with Wi-Fi, information and entertainment content is being installed on OUIGO Spain trains through the OUIFUN portal. Passengers can connect via smartphones, tablets or PCs, access the internet on board to check email or browse the web, and enjoy entertainment content. Passengers also will be able to get travel status information in real time via an interactive map, access tourist guides or consult a menu for on-board catering. The service, provided by Moment, launched on May 10 on OUIGO’s first high-speed line in Spain connecting Madrid to Barcelona, and will gradually be extended to the whole high-speed OUIGO network.
Ouigo Spain, www.ouigo.com/es/; Moment, www.moment.tech
Provides strong data link to operator
Photo: Parrot
The ANAFI Ai UAV uses 4G as its main data link between the drone and the operator. The 4G link improves data transmission and enables precise control at any distance. For BVLOS flights, it stays connected even behind obstacles. The 4G link between the drone and the user’s phone is encrypted, with a secure element protecting both software integrity and data privacy. A software development kit enables creation of custom code for flights and gives access to all sensors, including obstacle-avoidance sensors, occupancy grid and internet access.
Parrot, parrot.com
Can be equipped with alpha mirrorless camera
Photo: Sony Electronics
An introductory model in Sony’s new Airpeak line, the small S1 drone can be equipped with the company’s full-size mirrorless interchangeable-lens Alpha camera. Its proprietary motor, propeller, control system and sensing technology allow it to fly at high speed (a maximum speed of 55 mph) with stable wind resistance. Propulsion technology using a combination of devices developed by Sony provides wind resistance in strong wind speeds up to 44.7 mph. The Airpeak S1 includes obstacle detection, automatic flight control via sensing, and increased safety via cloud management of the aircraft.
Sony Electronics, electronics.sony.com
For unmanned aircraft systems
Photo: uAvionix
At 80 grams, George is a low SWaP certifiable solution for enterprise operations and those wishing to type certify their UAS. Built around the open-source autopilot Cube from CubePilot, George combines Cube with Design Assurance Level C (DAL-C) hardware and safety and sensor monitoring, enabling customers to meet the type certification and safety case requirements for BVLOS operations. Its triple-redundant IMU includes three accelerometers, three gyroscopes, three magnetometers and three barometers. The hardware platform is designed and built to RTCA DO-254 DAL-C and meets rigorous DO-160G and MIL-810H power and environmental qualifications.
UAvionix, uavionix.com
Additional Loyal Wingman jet-powered drones are being developed. Plus, quadcopters are helping calibrate and maintain aviation ground navigation systems.
I’ve previously discussed the Loyal Wingman project. Companies in the United States and Australia are developing unmanned full-scale jet-powered drones t0 fly alongside frontline fighters, and perhaps take on riskier missions.
The Loyal Wingman drones are powered with artificial intelligence developed for the U.S. Air Force Skyborg program.
Programs in other parts of the world are also developing technology for the same fly-along objectives. The United Kingdom has launched the Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) program, and India is working on the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) Warrior project.
The UK usually takes its time progressing with new aviation concepts, but has now awarded a £30 million concept contract to Spirit Aerosystems in Belfast to develop and fly a demonstrator drone by the end of 2023.
Meanwhile, Kratos in the United States and Boeing Australia both have Loyal Wingman UAVs well into flight test programs as part of the Skyborg program. (The first test flight of the Loyal Wingman was successfully completed in February.) Nevertheless, the LANCA schedule should mesh with that of the UK’s next-generation fighter program, known as Tempest, which is just getting started.
Computer rendering of the United Kingdom’s Mosquito drone concept. (Credit: UK Defense Department)
Spirit Belfast is the Irish subsidiary of Spirit AeroSystems (Wichita, Kansas), previously owned by Bombardier (Montreal, Canada) and, before that, Shorts Brothers, Belfast. Spirit was previously involved in manufacturing aerostructures and will apply its unique composite resin transfer-infusion technology to build a high-speed capable, lightweight fuselage for the aircraft.
Spirit has formed Team Mosquito, joining Northrop Grumman UK and Intrepid Minds for flight controls and avionics. An engine supplier and developer has yet to be announced.
On the other side of the world, Indian state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has apparently invested significantly since at least 2019 in a program to develop another Loyal Wingman concept, known as the HAL Combat Teaming System Warrior (HAL CATS Warrior). A mockup of the CATS Warrior was on display at Aero India 2021.
While still in the early phase of development, the program appears to be well into the major undertaking by HAL and its partner Newspace R&D. HAL has been the indigenous aircraft manufacturer for the Indian Air Force since the late 1940s, with facilities in Bangalore and with more than 25,000 employees.
The design goals for the Warrior drone appear to mirror those of the programs in the United States and the United Kingdom — to create an independent, autonomous, unmanned vehicle that can be teamed alongside frontline fighter aircraft as an expendable force multiplier.
While we’re on the topic of aviation, let’s pull back to more current unmanned applications. News has emerged of a drone being used to inspect a landing-aid system in Russia. Aviation authorities in many countries spend lots of time and money on verifying and calibrating new and existing ground-based landing and navigation aids, to the point of equipping general aviation aircraft with extensive instrumentation and dedicating them to regularly checking key airport and en-route systems.
This is an expensive and lengthy task — all the way from buying, maintaining and operating aircraft to equipping each flying laboratory and maintaining complex onboard equipment, as well as training and employing skilled pilots and equipment operators.
The Cursir nav-aid inspection drone. (Photo: Cursir)
Cursir in Russia has installed a specialized radio receiver on a commercial drone and used it to pre-configure a newly installed instrument landing system (ILS) at the Ulyanovsk-Vostochny airport, where difficult terrain makes the initial set-up of the ILS quite complex.
However, by using this calibration drone, set-up time was significantly reduced and adequate preparations were made for subsequent control flights by a fully equipped flight inspection aircraft. Even though these formal flights were still required, calibration of the ILS was less involved and fewer flights were necessary.
In the future, maintenance checks using only the calibration drone may be possible. Drones have also been in use for complete NAVAID inspection for some time, with companies including Canard in Spain and Colibrex in Germany.
Canard’s drones undertake flight inspection of runway lighting, ILS and other airport NAVAIDS. It uses a database of airports, runways and systems for flight planning, autonomous drone operations and analysis/reporting of collected data. Canard was founded in 2015, and its first flight inspection contract was in 2017 for seven European airports.
The Canard flight inspection drone. (Photo: Canard)
Colibrex built its own COL-X8 NavAidDrone in order to better integrate its in-house flight inspection receivers and antennas. The requirement for flight inspection is to accurately evaluate the signal-in-space being transmitted by the NAVAID, so Colibrex invested heavily in the development of its on-board RF reception and in-house results analysis systems. Early trials were first run in 2012, through many different measurement campaigns around the world; Colibrex has now established an extensive drone flight inspection capability.
The Colibrex NAVAID drone. (Photo: Colibrex)
To sum up, more Loyal Wingman jet-powered drones are in development, and perhaps we now have a little insight into how quadcopters are being used to calibrate and maintain aviation ground navigation systems. These are just a couple more innovative applications for unmanned aircraft.
Tony Murfin
GNSS Aerospace
Photo: SkyTraq
SkyTraq Technology Inc. has launched a GNSS/inertial measurement unit (IMU) suitable for both automotive pre-installation and aftermarket.
The robust PX1120D dead-reckoning module integrates a 6-axis IMU and a concurrent quad-GNSS chipset, forming a sensor-fusion solution that maximizes positioning accuracy even in challenging environments. The PX1120D receives concurrent GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/Beidou/QZSS signals.
For automotive pre-installation applications where vehicle wheel-tick signals are available, the PX1120D provides wheel-tick sensor fusion with automotive dead-reckoning. In aftermarket applications where wheel-tick signals are unavailable, the PX1120D provides an untethered dead-reckoning sensor-fusion solution.
A single PX1120D module provides both automotive and untethered dead-reckoning functionality, simplifying logistics. The PX1120D provides 100% position coverage. It is suitable for infotainment systems, telematics control units, vehicle tracking, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) applications that require the highest performance and reliability, as well as uninterrupted positioning.
The PX1120D supports flexible mounting in any orientation. Its auto-calibration feature simplifies the installation procedure.
The 12 x 16 mm PX1120D offers continuous navigation in tunnels and underground parking lots. It can output attitude, gyroscope and accelerometer sensor data, making it useful for black-box driver behavior monitoring and insurance accident reconstruction.
The PX1120D uses an AEC-Q100 qualified chipset and is manufactured in ISO/TS-16949 certified plants. An engineering sample, evaluation kit and datasheet will be available by the end of August. Volume delivery to customers begins in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G platform accelerates and scales development for drone manufacturers to deliver powerful enterprise and industrial 5G drones
Qualcomm Technologies has unveiling a drone platform and reference design that offers both 5G and artificial intelligence capabilities.
The Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G platform is designed to accelerate development of commercial, enterprise and industrial drones. Powered by the Qualcomm QRB5165 processor, it builds upon Qualcomm Technologies’ latest offerings for the internet of things, delivering a solution that will drive the next generation of high-performance, low-power, 5G drones, the company said.
As a primary driver of global 5G proliferation, Qualcomm Technologies has enabled 5G to scale for both the drone and robotics industries. The new 5G platform condenses multiple complex technologies into a tightly integrated drone system. Use cases include mapping, inspection, film and entertainment, defense, security and emergency response, and delivery.
Photo: Qualcomm
The Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G Platform’s high-performance and heterogeneous computing at ultra-low power consumption provides power efficient inferencing at the edge for AI and machine learning (ML), enabling fully autonomous drones, the company said. New camera capabilities deliver premium image capabilities and performance.
With 5G and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, this platform enhances critical flying abilities beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) to support safer, more reliable flight. In addition, safety controls alone can no longer assure industrial and commercial drone safety, especially when scaling to Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations.
The Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G platform is equipped with a Qualcomm Secure Processing Unit to support modern drone demands for cybersecurity protections as a key enabler of data-protection and safety requirements.
Partners. Qualcomm Technologies is working with Verizon to complete network testing of the Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G Platform for the Verizon 5G network, and expects the platform, which is 5G mmWave capable, will be offered via the Verizon Thingspace Marketplace.
The Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G drone reference design is available now for pre-sale through ModalAI. A development kit is expected to be available this year in the fourth quarter.
“We have continued to engage many leading drone companies, enabling 200+ global robotics and drone ecosystem members in addition to consistently driving and promoting worldwide drone standardization and transformative 5G capabilities in organizations such as 3GPP, GSMA, the Global UTM Alliance, the Aerial Connectivity Joint Initiative (ACJA) and ASTM,” said Dev Singh, senior director, Qualcomm Technologies.
In addition, global carriers and IoT ecosystem who have validated or expressed support for the drone platform include Asia Pacific Telecom, AT&T, China Unicom, Everguard.ai, FlightOps, Juganu, KT Corporation, LG Uplus, MITRE, ModalAI, Taiwan Mobile, TDK, Veea, Verizon Skyward and Zyter.
Photo: Konstik/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
Accurate and reliable positioning, timing and navigation (PNT) technologies, such as GPS, have become “invisible utilities” that enable many critical applications, including the electric grid, telecommunications, agriculture and port operations. These systems, however, are vulnerable to accident and attack, including cyber threats and jamming.
Therefore, the Science and Technology Directorate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Risk Management Center of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency have been working in collaboration with industry and government stakeholders to develop the Resilient PNT Conformance Framework, which provides a common framework for defining resilient PNT systems and addresses strategic risks to U.S. national critical infrastructure. This work is now transitioning to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) as the Standards Working Group for Resilient PNT User Equipment (P1952) and will help serve as starting resources for the refinement and development of a standard.
By creating common definitions for different levels of resilient PNT systems, this new standard will enable vendors to differentiate their products from non-resilient PNT systems, as well as enable end-users to make deliberate, risk-informed decisions as to which systems are most appropriate for their applications and needs. The development of this voluntary standard will help influence the future design, acquisition and deployment of resilient PNT systems within our national critical infrastructure.
The IEEE standards process is an inclusive one, designed to gather many stakeholders interested in resilient PNT. If you would like to participate in the standards working group, just notify the group’s chair (Shelby Savage at ssavage@mitre.org) or its secretary (Patricia Larkoski at plarkoski@mitre.org). Voting membership requires sufficient participation in work group meetings.
The development of this voluntary standard will help influence the future design, acquisition and deployment of resilient PNT systems.
After the standards working group votes to approve the draft standard, it will be submitted to the membership of the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) for final approval. The IEEE Standards Balloting Center will then send an invitation to any SA members it knows to be interested in the subject matter of the proposed standard, and anyone answering the invitation affirmatively will have a right to vote on the final standard.
Compared to the early days of GPS, PNT systems have become highly sophisticated pieces of equipment with a multitude of components, both hardware and software, along with associated vulnerabilities. Additionally, with a wide array of stakeholders and a variety of ideas on what PNT resilience means, getting consensus and developing such a standard would be challenging without an established process.
To help address this challenge, DHS developed the Resilient PNT Conformance Framework with input from industry stakeholders to establish baseline concepts on the definition of resilience and necessary behaviors within resilient PNT systems. DHS designed this framework to be outcome-based and non-prescriptive, to encourage industry innovation.
“To address security and resilience, GPS and PNT receivers need to be treated more like computers rather than radios,” said Ernest Wong, technical manager for the Science and Technology Directorate. “The refinement of the Resilient PNT Conformance Framework into industry standards will help to ensure that future PNT receivers are resilient and designed to withstand and recover from threats.”
Editor’s Note: This article does not represent a formal position of P1952 Working Group, Communications Society Standards Committee, IEEE, or IEEE SA.
Photo: IBM
An autonomous ship designed to recreate the Mayflower’s historic journey across the Atlantic 400 years ago returned to the UK after developing a mechanical problem. IBM’s Mayflower Autonomous Ship (MAS) set sail on June 15 on its 3,500-mile journey from Plymouth in the UK to Massachusetts in the United States. The voyage is expected to take about three weeks, and includes collections of data on marine life and sampling for plastic waste. The 50-foot long, solar-powered trimaran is capable of speeds of up to 10 knots (18 km/h) and is being navigated by on-board artificial intelligence (AI) with information from six cameras and 50 sensors. Project leaders say the AI worked perfectly. The ship navigates with precision GNSS, inertial measurement units, radar, weather station, SATCOM and the automatic identification system.
Photo: Lt.j.g. Alexander Fairbanks/U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy sailors aboard mine-countermeasures ship USS Patriot used celestial navigation to navigate an 1,100-mile voyage back to port on the western coast of Japan in July 2020. The voyage allowed the crew to improve their mariner skills as they used sextants to find their latitude and longitude and compasses to determine their heading. The exercise wasn’t entirely old school. The sailors entered the celestial measurements into a computer to pinpoint their position using the System to Estimate Latitude and Longitude Astronomically (STELLA). The combination of repeatedly inputting sextant measurements, the course and speed of the ship, and time into STELLA, provided an accurate fix of the ship’s position. For backup, Combat Information Center (CIC) watch standers followed the ship’s course with GPS. Training in celestial navigation returned to the Navy as a core competency in 2016, 17 years after the U.S. Naval Academy stopped requiring midshipmen to learn the technique.
Photo: Lt.j.g. Alexander Fairbanks/U.S. Navy
A creative technologist spent his COVID-19 downtime creating a device that uses a GNSS receiver to compute time relative to sunrise and sunset. “Since it derives time from the satellite signal, it never needs to be set, or ever adjusted for daylight saving time,” explains creator James Wilson on his webpage. The device uses satellite navigation and astronomy to show time as a progress bar measuring the percentage of the day elapsed since sunrise. A second indicator marks the time to sunset in blue.
A team with Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) is keeping tabs on activity at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility using BlackSky’s geospatial imagery and burst collection technology. BlackSky’s satellites provide intraday revisit capabilities, allowing CISAC’s research team to receive multiple images a day, throughout the day, rather than just one image collected at roughly the same time each day. The satellites also can capture a sequence of 20 images within minutes (burst collection) and splice them together to generate a moving sequence of activity. With BlackSky’s assistance, the research team was able to witness trucks emerging from the facility’s underground tunnels.
Photo: Catapult
Catapult, a sports performance technology company, says that it helped athletes at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo win 24 medals. Catapult athletes took part in rugby, football and rowing, representing various countries. Among athletes using Catapult were members of the Canadian women’s football team, who helped Canada win gold for the first time in the sport.
“We strive every day to find the improvements that unleash the full potential of all our athletes and teams, and we’re proud to see our customers’ hard work pay off on the world stage,” said Will Lopes, CEO of Catapult. “Following an unprecedented year of delayed and disrupted training, athletes were able to use our technology to continue to compete at the highest level and perform at their best.”
The athletes were wearing the Vector system, which provides data to aid decisions on performance, risk and return to play. The Vector GNSS/LPS device combines advanced GNSS capability with Catapult’s ClearSky LPS to deliver tracking data both indoors and outdoors.
The trial for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security showcases the precise, resilient timing capabilities of NextNav’s TerraPoiNT service in the event GPS is unavailable.
NextNav has successfully demonstrated the timing precision and resilience of its terrestrial positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system, TerraPoiNT, in a recent evaluation by the Science & Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS S&T).
The trial tested the timing redundancy of the TerraPoiNT system in a number of scenarios, including instances of GPS outages, spoofing and jamming. It validates TerraPoiNT’s capabilities as a terrestrial, GPS-free network capable of powering critical national infrastructure in the event of GPS failure.
During a simulated 72-hour GPS outage, the TerraPoiNT service was able to deliver a timing accuracy better than 50 nanosecond in urban and semi-urban environments, successfully meeting timing requirements for various applications including 5G networks, the synchronization of the power grid, and more.
In addition, TerraPoiNT provided precise timing and redundancy utilizing two alternate absolute timing sources — atomic clock (Cesium/Rb) and LEO satellite (Satelles).
“GPS is critical infrastructure, but it has its limitations,” said Ganesh Pattabiraman, co-founder and CEO of NextNav. “In working with DHS S&T, we’ve validated that TerraPoiNT can serve as an important backup to GPS and ensure the resilience and continuity of our nation’s most critical systems, including next-generation telecommunications networks, financial services, and power grids.”
STL from Satelles was one of two alternate absolute timing sources for the trial. Available today on a global basis, STL is a service that provides alternative PNT independent of GPS, supporting PNT-reliant applications such as 5G communications networks, high-frequency trading in financial markets, and electrical grids throughout the United States and around the world.
“Satelles applauds NextNav for conducting a successful field demonstration of its resilient PNT service, and we were delighted to have played an instrumental part in the exhibition,” said Christina Riley, vice president of Commercial PNT.
NextNav’s selection of STL to help demonstrate their own technology’s operation in the absence of GPS was a natural fit. That’s because earlier this year the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) confirmed STL as an accurate and reliable source for the wide-area delivery of Coordinated Universal Time independent of GPS/GNSS.
The successful trial builds on recent evaluations of TerraPoiNT conducted by independent bodies. Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation (DOT) evaluated 11 alternate PNT solutions, in which each was rigorously tested across applications and scenarios. As a result of the evaluation, the DOT named TerraPoiNT the best and only performing solution across all PNT categories.
Spartacus. In June, NextNav entered into a definitive merger agreement with Spartacus Acquisition Corporation in a transaction that would result in NextNav being listed on the Nasdaq. The transaction is expected to close late in the third quarter of 2021 or early in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Image: kanawatvector/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images