Point One Navigation’s Polaris Precise Positioning Network now covers all of Great Britian, providing precision location for applications such as advanced driver assistance (ADAS), robotics, mapping, delivery and infrastructure inspection.

Ordnance Survey (OS net) base stations have been integrated into the Polaris Network, according to a news release, providing advanced positioning capabilities to this new coverage area. Polaris is an RTK corrections network that enables centimeter-level accuracy and also covers the United States, EU, Australia and Canada. Existing Polaris customers can use the UK integration immediately at no additional cost.

Point One’s integrated location platform is complemented by FusionEngine software, which further integrates inertial measurement, wheel odometry and other sensors to achieve the level of precision required—even when there are no satellite signals.

The localization service features a robust GraphQL-based API that makes it easy to integrate Polaris RTK into developer-built applications. By early next year, Point One will be able to support State Space Representation (SSR) corrections delivered by L-band, even without cellular networks or in bandwidth constrained applications.

“Point One Navigation wants precise location to be available everywhere,” Point One CEO and co-founder Aaron Nathan said, according to the release. “We are committed to bringing our Polaris RTK network to new markets and sectors, to enable existing and new applications that demand the most accurate, reliable and current location data possible. The expansion to the UK is another significant step in realizing this goal.”

Point One also recently introduced Atlas, an affordable inertial navigation system (INS) that offers high accuracy for autonomous vehicles, mapping and other applications. Atlas, designed for deployment in large fleets, provides ground-truth level accuracy in real time, simplifying engineering workflows, reducing costs and enhancing operational efficiency.

“We envision a future where businesses, researchers and automotive companies can harness the power of centimeter-level, real-time accuracy without the complexities and cost associated with post-processing,” Nathan said.

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Industry veteran Mariam Sorond has taken over as the CEO of NextNav.

NextNav Co-Founder Ganesh Pattabiraman has decided to step away from his role as CEO and Board of Directors member to spend more time with his family. Sorond joins NextNav with more than 28 years of technical and strategy experience in the telecommunications industry.

“Mariam’s extensive spectrum expertise and proven track record of evolving telecommunication technology and strategy align perfectly with the ongoing development of NextNav’s broad spectrum portfolio and industry-leading 3D geolocation and GPS resiliency capabilities,” said Gary Parsons, NextNav’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, according to a news release. “In recent years, Mariam led technology efforts at both VMware and CableLabs and was instrumental in architecting DISH’s wireless spectrum and network. Her deep skill set, and vast technical acumen will be invaluable to the team as it drives toward the next phase of its growth.”

Sorond most recently served as chief technology officer, SEBU for VMWare, where she helped to “define and evangelize its technical strategy as well as lead its digital transformation.” As the chief research and development officer at CableLabs, she focused on the future of converged connectivity of broadband cable and mobile networks.

Before joining the cable industry, Sorond served in several senior positions, including chief wireless architect of DISH, where she led the company’s entry into the wireless market. She also was responsible for spectrum technology and strategy, end-to-end technology development, and creating the next generation of network architecture and standards development. She currently serves as a member of the NTIA Commerce Spectrum Management Advisory Committee and the FCC Technological Advisory Council.

“Having devoted my career to advancing and commercializing innovation in technology, I am thrilled to continue this journey at the helm of NextNav,” Sorond said, according to the release. “I am deeply committed to realizing the full value of NextNav’s spectrum asset and next-generation 3D PNT technology to drive growth and deliver long-term shareholder value.”

Pattabiraman “was instrumental” in Sorond’s recruitment, Parsons said, according to the release. He will continue to support the company as a senior advisor.

“Sixteen years ago, we had a vision for the next generation of GPS,” Pattabiraman said, according to the release. “With the roll out and adoption of the Pinnacle service nationwide for E911 and Public Safety, and recent steps by the Federal Government toward enabling resilient PNT in national critical infrastructure, I believe we are not only realizing that vision, but positioning NextNav as a global leader in next generation resilient PNT. With the company on strong foundational footing and a clear growth strategy in place, I feel confident this is the right time to hand over leadership to such an impressive and experienced executive as Mariam, while continuing to support the company’s key strategic initiatives.”

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San Jose, California, USA, November 30, 2023 – JAVAD GNSS announced that its industry-leading receivers are successfully tracking the NavIC L1 signal broadcast from the first of its second-generation navigation satellites, launched May 29, 2023.

As additional satellites with L1 frequency (1575.42 MHz) capability are launched, JAVAD will include their measurements into the navigation solution through firmware updates. The NavIC L1 capability is available on all TRIUMPH-2 ASIC and TRIUMPH-3 ASIC- based receivers, ensuring seamless availability for customers through firmware.

Simon Baksh, Vice President of Product Development at JAVAD GNSS, commented, “With the expansion of regional satellite navigation systems worldwide, JAVAD has strategically invested in research and development to stay at the forefront with capabilities to utilize regional satellite systems like NavIC for diverse applications in their service footprint. JAVAD’s distinguished history as a leader in satellite signal
acquisition allows us to apply our advanced technology to integrate signals from NavIC effectively.”

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The Eurofighter Typhoon is set to become the first international platform to receive the Digital GPS Anti-jam Receiver (DIGAR™) from BAE Systems, giving the aircraft more protection against signal jamming, spoofing and radio frequency (RF) interference.

DIGAR has been selected to move into the next phase of the Phase 4 Enhancements (P4E) capability program for the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, according to a news release. With DIGAR, pilots will be able to execute missions in heavily contested RF environments.

DIGAR leverages advanced antenna electronics, high-performance signal processing and digital beamforming to deliver improved GPS signal reception and optimal jamming immunity. These capabilities increase GPS jamming protection and are critical for combat aircraft as they maneuver through contested battlespace. DIGAR is also compatible with advanced M-Code, providing additional security for warfighters.

The Typhoon will also receive BAE Systems’ GEMVII-6 airborne digital GPS receiver. When combined with the DIGAR antenna electronics unit, the receiver enables the platform to conduct high-capability digital beamforming anti-jamming.

“Modern fighters require accurate positioning and navigation data for mission success in GPS contested environments,” said Luke Bishop, director of Navigation and Sensor Systems at BAE Systems, according to the release. “Our DIGAR antenna electronics and GEM VII GPS receivers are trusted to protect these vital platforms in GPS challenged environments to support mission success.”

The fighter is the “backbone of combat air defense” for the UK and many of its European and international allies. It is in service with nine nations and provides 24/7, 365 days a year air security. The Typhoon is used in frontline operations, including ongoing NATO air policing across Eastern Europe.

Last year, BAE Systems received a $13 million contract to protect U.S. F-15E aircraft from GPS signal jamming and spoofing with DIGAR, making it the second U.S. aircraft to receive the upgrade. The F-16 Fighting Falcon was the first. DIGAR also has been installed on other special-purpose aircraft in the U.S. such as air interdiction and force protection platforms, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles.

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The u-blox MAYA-W3 brings the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 and the 6 GHz band to industrial applications, preventing network congestion and ensuring power efficiency.

u-blox, a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies and services, has announced the MAYA–W3 family, a series of compact dual-mode Bluetooth LE 5.4 modules with LE Audio. The modules also support Wi-Fi 6/E and are designed for demanding industrial applications, including healthcare, industrial automation and monitoring, asset tracking and management, and smart home applications.

MAYA-W3 is available in several variants, offering Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6/E, tri-band, dual-band, and single-band configurations. It can be combined with various antennas, such as antenna pin(s) or U.FL connectors, and comes equipped with an LTE filter to coexist with other technologies. The choice of variant depends on the desired performance.

According to TSR* (Techno Systems Research CO. LTD.), Wi-Fi 6 adoption is expected to increase steadily, reaching almost 50% of the market by 2028, with IoT devices beginning adoption as early as 2024. The u-blox MAYA-W3 series aligns with this trend, bringing the latest benefits of Wi-Fi 6 and the 6 GHz band to a wealth of industrial applications. It alleviates network congestion, enhances power efficiency, and can operate in temperatures ranging from -40 ºC to +85 ºC.

The new modules also support designers’ efforts to scale solutions for current and future market trends. Maintaining the same compact dimensions as its predecessors (10 x 14 x 1.9 mm) simplifies migration across generations.

MAYA-W3 includes Bluetooth LE Audio for point-to-point voice communication and voice broadcasting. All module variants hold global certifications for both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

“MAYA-W3 incorporates the latest wireless technologies, Wi-Fi 6/E and LE Audio. It is a fast time-to-market solution within a compact, cost-efficient and globally certified module. Its versatility makes it an asset for various applications, including assisted living, power tools, container tracking, and solar inverters, to name a few. Additionally, the u-blox technical support team can assist with fast implementation,” says Sebastian Schreiber, Senior Product Manager for Short Range Radio, u-blox.

MAYA-W3 is based on Infineon chipsets with a tri-band, dual-band, and single-band variant.

“We are thrilled to expand our long-term partnership with u-blox with the integration of our ultra-low power AIROCTM CYW55513 Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth® 5.4 chipset into the MAYA W3 module. CYW55513 goes beyond the Wi-Fi 6/6E standards to deliver robust connectivity in all types of environments enabling the MAYA-W3 to be used in a variety of industrial applications like remote monitoring and control, industrial automation, asset tracking, solar infrastructure and EV charging, etc.,” said Sivaram Trikutam, Vice President of Wi-Fi Products, Infineon Technologies.

Samples are available now, with volume production scheduled for Q3-2024.

*TSR is a global business analyst group headquartered in Japan.

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The last projected GPS III missions and the first follow-on missions are part of Space Systems Command (SSC)’s 21 new mission assignments, all of which are expected to launch within the next two to three years.

The GPS III-9 and GPS III-10 missions will be launched by United Launch Alliance (ULA), according to an SSC news release, with the follow-on GPS III satellite, GPS IIIF-1, launching with SpaceX. The GPS Block IIIF satellites introduce several improvements and novel capabilities compared to previous GPS satellite blocks.

Lockheed Martin is building up to 32 next-generation GPS III/IIIF satellites to modernize GPS, according to the company, and is currently contracted for 10. The satellites provide up to three times better accuracy, up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities, a new L1C civil signal that is compatible with international GNSS systems, and a modular design that allows for future on-orbit technology and capability enhancements.

During his presentation at Stanford University’s PNT Symposim on Thursday, U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Robert Wray, 2nd Space Operations Squadron commander, said the first GPS IIIF satellites will launch toward the end of 2026. Launches will then be slated every four months after that to “get more satellites on orbit that can provide more capability” rather than just staying ahead of the curve as satellites retire. Because the components work so well, satellites typically have a lifespan of 25 years or more, and usually are put out of commission because of atomic clock failure.

Once in orbit, GPS IIIF satellites will provide regional military protection (RMP) for a boosted M-code signal, more M-code power and resiliency in disadvantaged areas and a search and rescue (SAR) payload. By the end of this decade, Wray said, they’ll be able to update satellites while they’re still in orbit, pushing modernization forward with the ability for much faster updates.

SpaceX launched the GPS III Space Vehicle 06 (GPS III SV06) aboard the Falcon 9 Rocket earlier this year. The GPS III SV07 mission is on target to launch in 2024, and SV08 in 2025.

“We have four satellites that are built and ready to launch out of Cape Canaveral, with the next one set to launch in June 2024,” Wray said. “We’re trying to balance how to modernize GPS and take care of the current systems. Now the limiting factor is launch vehicles. Next June will be our 80th launch, a huge milestone. By 2026 we will have launched all of our GPS III satellites.”

All 21 of SSC’s launch service missions are part of the FY24 National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contract following completion of the NSSL Mission Assignment Board’s assignment process for FY24 launch service awards. This is the fifth, and last, order year in the Phase 2 contract.

ULA received 11 mission assignments and SpaceX received 10. The launches focus on a variety of mission areas including delivering resilient missile warning, tracking, and defense in a highly contested and congested space domain; providing assured, resilient, low-latency military data and connectivity worldwide to the full range of warfighter platforms; evaluating the ability of various Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared sensor designs to meet missile tracking requirements; and, of course, GPS modernization.

“Over the five-year Phase 2 contract, we will have ordered a total of 48 missions, a significant increase over the 34 missions originally estimated leading up to Phase 2,” said Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, program executive officer, Assured Access to Space, according to the release. “The increase in launch tempo is a clear reminder of how vital space-based capabilities are in providing our warfighters and our nation’s decision-makers with the information needed to stay ahead of and to deter adversarial forces.”

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Join us November 15, 2023, to hear our expert panel discuss how tactical-grade miniature MEMS inertial sensors address the challenges of navigation, positioning and motion control applications.

Manufacturers of tactical-grade IMU and INS require highly stable and robust inertial sensors to meet the accuracy requirements of dynamic applications operating in constrained environments with high vibration and temperature variations. Traditional high-performance, analog open-loop MEMS inertial sensors often suffer limited performance while exposed to shocks and vibrations, and require complex and costly system integration techniques to maintain their key performances.

Experts from Tronics Microsystems will present how a closed-loop, digital and miniature MEMS inertial sensor architecture bring high stability and repeatability figures to demanding motion control, positioning and navigation applications, while significantly reducing the integration effort and bill of materials cost at the system level.

Rounding out the webinar, Parker Aerospace will provide a customer testimonial on the added value of incorporating tactical-grade digital MEMS sensors into demanding systems.

Join us for this in-depth technical webinar on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM EST.

The panelists:

Raphaël Lattion, Engineering Director, Parker Aerospace
Raphaël Lattion is Engineering Director at Parker Aerospace in France. He has been working in the aerospace industry for 28 years. Raphaël has an electrical hardware background on sensing conditioning for harsh environment and safety applications (Primary Flight Controls for aerospace). He has been exploiting inertial MEMS technology for 25 years.

Vincent Gaff, Director of Sales & Marketing, Tronics Microsystems, a TDK Group Company
Vincent Gaff is Director of Marketing & Business Development at Tronics Microsystems and has 25 years of experience in the MEMS and inertial sensor industry. He oversees the sales and marketing activities for Tronics’ inertial MEMS sensors and foundry services. Vincent received a graduate degree from École Centrale Paris.

Pierre Gazull, Product Marketing Manager, Tronics Microsystems, a TDK Group Company
Pierre Gazull is Product Marketing Manager for High-Performance MEMS inertial sensors at Tronics Microsystems. Prior to joining Tronics, he worked at STMicroelectronics in SoC and ASIC HW design, then he joined Dolphin Design as a Product Marketing Manager for ultra-low power IP. Pierre holds a MSEE and a Master’s Degree in Management of Technology and Innovation.

Dr. Antoine Filipe, CTO, Tronics Microsystems, a TDK Group Company
Dr. Antoine Filipe is C.T.O. at Tronic’s and has 30 years of experience in the semiconductor and MEMS industry. Dr. Filipe holds a Master of Science from Ecole Polytechnique and a Ph. D in Solid State Physics completed within the group of Dr. Albert Fert, Nobel Prize in Physics.

Sponsored by:

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SpaceX recently signed an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to launch four Galileo satellites on its Falcon 9 rocket next year.

Through the deal, SpaceX will send two rockets into orbit with each one carrying two Galileo satellites, ESA Director of Navigation Javier Benedicto said, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal. The European Commission (EC) and European Union (EU) member states are expected to grant final approval for the deal by the end of the year.

The ESA had to look to alternatives to launch its Galileo satellites after continued delays with European options. Earlier this year, Politico reported that the EC was looking to work with American space companies, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to complete satellite launches as delays to local rocket systems continue.

The Ariane 6, for example, was supposed to make its debut in 2023, but after delays to the short hotfire of the Vulcain 2.1 engine and a long-duration static-fire test was pushed back from October to late November, that first launch is now slated for 2024.

Another local option, the Vega-C, has been delayed until late 2024, according to the ESA. The rocket experienced a failure during its launch last December, after its Zefiro40 second stage engine ignited. In June, a static firing test of the modified Zefiro40 engine caused significant damage to the motor. Recommendations to address the issue include improving the nozzle design of the Zefiro40 motor, calibrating numerical models to predict behavior and conducting two more firing tests to verify performance.

Soyuz, Russia’s rocket, was once an option, but the ongoing war in Ukraine changed that.

So, Galileo satellites will be launched from U.S. territory next year, which is a first. All others have been launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, via Soyuz rockets and the Ariane 5, the Ariane 6’s predecessor that was recently retired. The launches will also mark the first time SpaceX has sent EU satellites containing classified equipment into space. The satellites can produce encrypted navigation communications for European military uses.

There are other European options in the works, however, with startups looking to provide solutions to the ongoing launch issues, according to an article on the Payload website. For instance, Spanish launch startup PLD Space recently flew its Miura-1 suborbital rocket. Skyrora, Orbex, Rocket Factory Augsburg, HyImpulse and Isar are among other startups that could help fill the need moving forward.

For now, though, the plan is to work with SpaceX to get more Galileo satellites into orbit, with two launches on the books for 2024.

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VectorNav is expanding its lineup of tactical GNSS/INS solutions with the VN-210-S and VN-310-S, bringing all-new GNSS capabilities and improved performance to operations in GNSS-contested environments.

VectorNav Technologies, a global leader in Inertial Navigation solutions, announced the development of two new products, the VN-210-S and VN-310-S, to expand the company’s tactical series of GNSS-aided Inertial Navigation Systems (INS).

The VN-210-S GNSS/INS combines VectorNav’s tactical-grade IMU comprised of a 3-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer with an all-new triple-frequency GNSS receiver. The integrated 448-channel GNSS receiver by Septentrio adds several new capabilities, including L5 frequencies, Moving Baseline RTK with centimeter-level accuracy, along with support for OSNMA message authentication and robust interference mitigation. Together, these capabilities and high-quality hardware deliver significantly improved positioning performance in RF-congested and GNSS-denied environments.

The VN-310-S Dual GNSS/INS leverages VectorNav’s tactical-grade IMU and integrates two 448-channel GNSS receivers to enable GNSS-compassing for accurate heading estimations in stationary and low-dynamic operations. The VN-310-S also gains support for OSNMA message authentication and robust interference mitigation, offering more reliable position data across a variety of applications and environments.

The VN-210-S and VN-310-S are packaged in a precision milled, anodized aluminum enclosure designed to MIL standards and are IP68-rated. For ultra-low SWaP applications, VectorNav has introduced L5 capabilities to the VN-210E (Embedded) when using an externally integrated L5-band GNSS receiver.

VectorNav VN-210-S Overview:

• 0.05-0.1° heading; 0.015° pitch & roll
• 0.6 m horizontal and 0.8 m vertical position accuracy
• 1 cm RTK positioning accuracy
• < 1°/hr gyro in-run bias; < 10 μg accel in-run bias
• 448 channel Tri-band GNSS receiver
• High update rates (800 Hz IMU; 400 Hz Nav)

VectorNav VN-310-S Overview:

• 0.05-0.1° heading; 0.015° pitch & roll
• 0.6 m horizontal and 0.8 m vertical position accuracy
• 1 cm RTK positioning accuracy
• < 1°/hr gyro in-run bias; < 10 μg accel in-run bias
• 448 channel, Dual-band GNSS receiver
• High update rates (800 Hz IMU; 400 Hz Nav)

The VN-210-S and VN-310-S development kits are available for immediate purchase in low quantity, with full production and additional capabilities expected to be announced in early Q1 2024. For additional information, contact VectorNav at: sales@vectornav.com; +1-512-772-3615; www.vectornav.com.

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LITEF has received ETSO certification from EASA for its LCR-110 GNSS-aided Inertial Reference System (GIRS).

The certification of the LCR-110 includes the ETSO-C201 for the AHRS functionality and – as an essential component and for the first time for LITEF – the ETSO-C196a. The latter allows the user to perform so-called RNP (Required Navigation Performance) procedures, for which the LCR-110 monitors the horizontal position and provides the user with information about the trustworthiness of the navigation data.

“We are very pleased that we have now received ETSO certification from EASA. This is a great achievement for the whole project team and for LITEF. Another milestone has been reached and we can now extend our product portfolio with a cost-effective inertial reference system”, says Klaus Blatter, Product Manager Commercial Aviation at LITEF.

LCR-110: The ideal solution for Performance Based Navigation

The LITEF LCR-110 is a low cost, small size, low weight inertial reference system based on MEMS accelerometers and fiber optic gyroscopes. In addition to heading, attitude and navigation data for use in fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, it provides a navigation solution based on Kalman filtering of raw inertial and satellite navigation data that facilitates improved integrity monitoring of the GNSS information (Aircraft Autonomous Integrity Monitoring – AAIM). Based on its high-class inertial sensors the LCR-110 continues navigation and integrity monitoring even after loss of GNSS information. It is therefore the ideal solution for executing cost and time-optimized flight paths as part of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) with enhanced reliability, worldwide and at any time.

With its low cost and weight saving design the LITEF LCR-110 is the ideal alternative to classic IRS/INS and it therefore facilitates more reliable NextGen and SESAR operations of aircraft that are usually not equipped with such systems.

The LCR-110 IRS satisfies the certification requirements defined in FAA AC 90-101A and EASA AMC 20-26 for performing RNP-AR flight procedures (RNP <0.3 nm) and has been certified according to ETSO/TSO-C201 and ETSO/TSO-C196a.

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