GPS World articles from December 2006

GPS World archives from December 2006

Dragon awakes, shakes.(China planning for navigation satellites)
December 1, 2006... Now that China has made more substantive noise of a full-fledged GNSS--the new Beidou--let's assess the situation and prospects. First, by canvassing outside experts. Taking historical precedence, Napoleon Bonaparte: "When the sleeping dragon...

Need clear vision.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... Well done on the editorial this month ("Skies Cloudy All Day," October). I totally agree with you regarding the lack of clear vision for our GPS future. And I'm not saying there is not vision at the Air Force, but the GPS programs must be...

NDGPS killer app.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... This is in response to the October 2006 letter "NDGPS Budget" by Tim Smith and the reply by Erik Gakstatter. There will be a killer application for NDGPS, for ground vehicles to know their position precisely to the meter, especially in the...

WAAS in the East.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2006... Could you please tell me when WAAS will be up and running in Eastern Canada? --Kenneth Lewis, Government of New Brunswick

Editor's reply.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)
December 1, 2006... There have been some changes due to geo-stationary satellite repositioning. See the web page of the University of New Brunswick's Wide Area Augmentation System Monitoring Station, found at http://gauss.gge.unb.ca/WAAS/UNB.WAAS.html, and the...

China wants one of its very own.(geostationary satellites)
December 1, 2006... China has started to expand its current Beidou GNSS, already operational and providing coverage of the People's Republic of China. The enhanced system will cover China and parts of neighboring countries by 2008 before developing into a global...

Now we are three.(Boeing Co.'s GPS Block IIR-M satellite )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... A Boeing Delta booster rocket pushed up the third GPS Block IIR-M satellite on November 17 at approximately 14:12 EST. SVN58/PRN12 will go into slot B4. The satellite currently in slot B4, SVN35/PRN05 (launched in 1993) will move to slot...

Russia, India bond over GLONASS.(THE SYSTEM)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Under an agreement drafted in 2004 and recently approved by the Russian parliament and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch upcoming Russian GLONASS-M satellites on Indian...

LORAN lives to another day.(THE SYSTEM)
December 1, 2006... The U.S. House and Senate Conference Committee has reportedly once more blocked efforts to cut off air to the LORAN system, owned and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), overseeing the Coast Guard, had...

Galileo Operations Center.(being constructed in Germany)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Construction of the new Galileo ground control centre at Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich in southern Germany, began on November 7. German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said at a foundation-stone ceremony that Germany would thus become the...

Opportunity, innovation--and choice.(Global Navigation Satellite System)
December 1, 2006... In 2007, we will witness an early glimpse of the magnitude of GNSS promise with satellite launches in GPS, GLONASS, Galileo GIOVE-B, and Compass. Today, customers all over the world understand the benefits of GNSS innovation. When they choose...

Does your cell phone know where your are? Explosion predicted for GPS-enabled handsets.(global positioning systems)
December 1, 2006... Move over, cameras--to be really high-tech, a cell phone needs GPS. Several signs indicate the GPS handset market is on the brink of a tipping point, leading to popular adoption by the average consumer via cell phones. In October,...

Symmetricom acquires Timing Solutions Corp.(UTILTIES & COMMUNICATIONS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Timing and frequency company Symmetricom acquired Timing Solutions Corporation on October 5. Timing Solutions Corporation, a privately held company based in Boulder, Colorado, and founded in 1991, specializes in precision optical...

GPS-guided airdrop system tested in Afghanistan.(MILITARY & GOVERNMENT)
December 1, 2006... Field-testing has begun on a GPS-guided military airdrop system in Afghanistan. Development of the system was first reported in GPS World in August 2003. On August 31, a C-130 Hercules from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped...

Rockwell Collins delivers 10,000th GPS engine for GB-GRAM program.(MILITARY & GOVERNMENT)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Rockwell Collins has delivered the 10,000th GPS engine for the U.S. Army's GPS ground-based receiver application module (GB-GRAM) program. Rockwell Collins received the $30 million contract for this program in 2003. GB-GRAM is a Navstar...

Raytheon tracks live satellite M-code.(MILITARY & GOVERNMENT)
December 1, 2006... For the first time, Raytheon Company of El Segundo, California, successfully acquired and tracked the new M-code military signal transmitted by the latest-generation GPS satellite, the company announced November 6. The signal acquisition marks...

Fenton honored with ION's Johannes Kepler Award.(Patrick Fenton, Institute of Navigation )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Patrick Fenton, Nov-Atel's vice president and chief technology officer, was honored with the Johannes Kepler Award from the Institute of Navigation (ION) at ION GNSS 2006 in Fort Worth, Texas. The ION selects award winners to honor an...

Garmin opens Chicago retail store.(LOCATION-BASED SERVICES)
December 1, 2006... Garmin is hoping customers navigate their way to what is considered the world's first-ever dedicated GPS retail store. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story retail outlet at 663 N. Michigan on Chicago's Magnificent Mile opened November 11 with...

Records tumble again in Q3.(NovAtel Inc.'s earnings)
December 1, 2006... Third-quarter results for NovAtel Inc. (NASDAQ:NGPS) showed revenues of $16.9 million (all figures U.S. dollars) compared to $11.8 million in Q3 2005. The company reported net quarterly income of $5.0 million or US $0.56 per share (diluted)...

Dual-constellation antennae.(RECEIVER TECHNOLOGY)
December 1, 2006... The GPS-701-GG and GPS-702-GG antennas offer combined GPS + GLONASS signal reception at the same performance as GPS-only antennas. This enables customers to use the same antenna for GPS-only or dual constellation applications, deriving...

OEM receiver.(RECEIVER TECHNOLOGY)
December 1, 2006... The Furuno GM-83 is a miniature high-sensitivity, low-power GPS/AGPS receiver that combines a hardware measurement platform (MP) with navigation software designed to run on a host microprocessor. The GM83 employs novel decoding algorithms,...

Field Data Logger.(RECEIVER TECHNOLOGY)
December 1, 2006... The PolaRx2e Field Data Logger (PolaRx2eFDL) provides the performance and flexibility of the Septentrio PolaRx2e product line in a rugged metal enclosure together with a durable controller device, a mounting kit and all required cables. Using...

Space receiver.(RECEIVER TECHNOLOGY)
December 1, 2006... Surrey Satellite's SGR-GEO, a 24-channel L1 C/A receiver, is designed for use in medium (MEO) or geostationary (GEO) orbits. The prototype has been flown on the European Space Agency's GIOVE-A spacecraft and has successfully tracked several...

RF SAW filter.(RECEIVER TECHNOLOGY)
December 1, 2006... Temex has launched a new RF SAW filter for GPS receivers suited to marine navigation, automotive, and recreational applications. Designed for standard GPS applications, TMX W007 offers competitive insertion loss/rejection trade-offs and a...

Miniaturized module.(RECEIVER TECHNOLOGY)
December 1, 2006... The Tyco A1037A measures 19 x 16.24 x 3.0 millimeters and weighs 1 gram. A miniaturized tape-and-reel NMEA GPS receiver, single-sided SMD module with WAAS and EGNOS capability, it tracks in 12 parallel channels on L1, with -153 dBm tracking...

The State of the industry: GPS World's leadership dinner and discussion.(Global Positioning System)(Industry overview)
December 1, 2006... In late September, 140 industry executives and agency directors from the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia gathered for dinner and discussion of such questions as: * Do GPS constellation health and modernization schedule fulfill...

Big Mo, Huge Mo, and No Mo.(Survey & Construction)
December 1, 2006... Momentum is a powerful phenomenon. When thought of in terms of a moving object, its mass and velocity can be measured. In other respects, it's immeasurable. Feelings of confidence, trust, and faith can't be hard-coded--but can make the...

Network Adjustment Software.(SURVEY CONSTRUCTION)
December 1, 2006... Columbus Network Adjustment Software Version 3.6 includes major enhancements such as OPUS and coordinate file import tools; adjusted state plane coordinates and inverses; and additional numerical results in the State Plane/UTM to-from Geodetic...

Receiver with display.(SURVEY CONSTRUCTION)
December 1, 2006... Hemisphere GPS' Crescent VS100 offers precise heading and submeter positioning for machine control and navigation applications at low cost. The Crescent VS100 receiver with its display and user interface can be installed near the operator. The...

Network Centric Positioning Unit.(SURVEY CONSTRUCTION)
December 1, 2006... Geodetics' Epoch-by-Epoch Network Centric Positioning Unit (ENPU) offers low-cost modular hardware that can be configured for GPS-only or coupled GPS/IMU operations. This unit provides submeter positioning accuracies for users in dynamic...

Rugged handheld computer.(SURVEY CONSTRUCTION)
December 1, 2006... The TDS Recon X-Series rugged handheld computer features optional embedded Bluetooth and 802.11g wireless. In addition, it has two CompactFlash slots to add memory cards or other CF devices, such as GPS. The waterproof Recon weighs 17 ounces;...

Choke-ring antenna with GNSS support.(SURVEY CONSTRUCTION)
December 1, 2006... The Leica AT504 GG is a new version of the AT504 choke-ring antenna for permanent reference stations and networks. This new antenna tracks GNSS observations, supplying high-quality GPS and GLONASS data when used in conjunction with Leica's...

Geospatial data management.(SURVEY CONSTRUCTION)
December 1, 2006... DataDoors is a system designed to manage geospatial data assets. Data and automatically derived value-added products are rapidly created and distributed to application specialists. With DataDoors, a user can quickly search via secure Internet...

Dual-frequency receiver with LCD.(SURVEY CONSTRUCTION)
December 1, 2006... The OmniSTAR 8200 HP is an easy-to-operate dual-frequency receiver with an LCD display. The device is suitable for use in a wide range of applications, such as agriculture, surveying, construction and aviation. Combined with an OmniSTAR HP+...

Modular surveying and targeting platform.(SURVEY CONSTRUCTION)
December 1, 2006... The GI-Eye system is a software platform that integrates GPS, inertial, and digital camera data. It is designed for collecting high-resolution imagery to be used for precise visual navigation or accurate geolocation of target coordinates. The...

Through a glass, darkly.(Global Navigation Satellite System)
December 1, 2006... When peering into the future, a critical question is often whether civilian or military glasses perch upon the nose. Perspectives differ greatly regarding the genesis and intent of most major GNSSs as related to the military rather than the...

Suite of software tools.(MILITARY & GOVERNEMNT)
December 1, 2006... Three updates from Analytical Graphics, Inc. (AGI) create a suite of commercial off-the-shelf software tools for the GPS space, control, and user segments. Users can model a satellite's performance (orbital mechanics, maneuvers, and...

Geospatial resource registry.(MILITARY & GOVERNEMNT)
December 1, 2006... Indicio is an XML-based web service product that implements the ebRIM profiles of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) catalog specifications, enabling users to store, manage, and retrieve geospatial data regardless of type or location. Indico...

Modernizing, expanding GNSS use.(Global Navigation Satellite System)
December 1, 2006... The most important development I see with regards to transportation in the next 10 to 15 years is the reliance of the transportation industry on the use of satellite navigation using the GNSS. This assumes, of course that the GNSS is...

Remote sensor.(AVIONICS & TRANSPORTATION)
December 1, 2006... The GIT G2010 sensor series for geospatial data acquisition and processing is the size of a small suitcase at 44 pounds. The G2010IMU model incorporates a highly accurate inertial measurement unit coupled to GPS. The frames are just under 8,000...

Stabilized camera gimbal.(AVIONICS & TRANSPORTATION)
December 1, 2006... The TASE stabilized camera gimbal is a compact, off-the-shelf, lightweight, and low-cost stabilized pan-tilt-zoom unit designed for use in unmanned vehicle systems. The gimbal stabilization uses the core GPS/Inertial Navigation System...

GPS WAAS SBAS landing system receiver.(AVIONICS & TRANSPORTATION)
December 1, 2006... The high-performance IntegriFlight CMA-5024 aviation GPS receiver--for business, regional, commercial air-transport and helicopter aircraft--incorporates Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) technology, providing Space-Based Augmentation System...

Hazardous goods surveillance.(AVIONICS & TRANSPORTATION)
December 1, 2006... The Ulys-Ex2 beacon is a standalone tracking unit providing worldwide location-based alerts for up to six years for monitoring of unpowered mobile assets in potentially explosive atmospheres. The Ulys-Ex2 beacon, with a u-blox Antaris 4 or 5...

Fleet tracking antenna.(AVIONICS & TRANSPORTATION)
December 1, 2006... PCTEL Antenna Products Group's Antenna Specialists brand AST8001900GPS Silhouette antenna is designed for transit vehicle installations including buses, police vehicles, fire-fighting engines, and more. The low profile multi-band antenna...

Automotive in-car navigator.(AVIONICS & TRANSPORTATION)
December 1, 2006... The NAV 550 Professional Navigator features a SiRFStarlll chip with 20-channel all-in-view tracking. It operates with signals down to -159 dBm. It features a high-performance embedded antenna design, high-capacity rechargeable lithium-ion...

GPS/AGPS PVT module.(AVIONICS & TRANSPORTATION)
December 1, 2006... Suited for navigation, telematics, and tracking applications, the Fujitsu GPS/AGPS chipset 1-inch-square module can drop-fit into existing GPS system designs. The module can acquire and track signals down to -157.5 dBm in diverse environments...

As navigation goes, so goes LBS.(Location-Based Services)
December 1, 2006... For nearly two decades, enthusiasts of LBS--location-based-services--have proclaimed that the year of LBS was "just over the horizon." Maybe next year, maybe within five years. In all those years, my own fervent hope--that someone would come...

End-to-end assisted GPS.(LOCATION-BASED SERVICES)
December 1, 2006... AssistNow is u-blox' end-to-end assisted GPS (A-GPS) solution. It boosts GPS acquisition performance by providing data such as ephemeris, almanac, accurate time, and satellite status within seconds, even under bad signal conditions. AssistNow...

Multi-function emergency phone.(LOCATION-BASED SERVICES)
December 1, 2006... The Personal Securer mobile phone is designed for emergency calls, with a speed dialing feature for two-way voice communication. It can be used by children, elderly people, or anyone in distress. A special "stealth" operation mode provides for...

GPS OSD module.(GeoVision)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... GeoVision is a Bluetooth-enabled GPS location capture tool. The miniaturized video throughput device overlays hardwired RS-232 or wireless Bluetooth GPS receiver data onto any incoming video source or camera, and can simultaneously convert the...

Real-time fleet tracking.(LOCATION-BASED SERVICES)
December 1, 2006... Public safety officials can view the location of their fleet online with AccuGlobe Mobile Command Center, designed by Digital Data Technologies, Inc. (DDTI). By viewing one screenshot, a dispatcher can locate all available units and determine...

Real-time traffic navigator.(LOCATION-BASED SERVICES)
December 1, 2006... The Nav One 2500 navigator provides turn-by-turn directions, millions of points of interest, and optional up-to-the-minute traffic information for major U.S. cities. Utilizing a SiRF chipset, the Nav One has iASAP technology, which provides for...

GPS timecode processor board.(UTILITIES & COMMUNICATIONS)
December 1, 2006... The TSAT-PCI-U from Spectracom is a complete GPS synchronized timecode reader/generator system package that includes the Trimble Acutime Gold GPS receiver/antenna (housed in a common enclosure) and a circuit card assembly for the PCI bus. The...

GPS engine series.(UTILITIES & COMMUNICATIONS)
December 1, 2006... Wi-Sys Communications Inc. announced its new WS5000 GPS engine series and three new receiver products: the WS5011 magnet or screw mount GPS receiver and antenna; and the WS5021 and WS5121 receiver and antenna OEM modules. The WS5000 Series...

Rubidium frequency standard.(UTILITIES & COMMUNICATIONS)
December 1, 2006... Pendulum Instruments introduces the GPS-12R, a GPS-controlled rubidium frequency standard that uses the Trimble Resolution GPS receiver. The GPS-12R is suited for applications such as: portable battery-operated 2.048 MHz telecom clock (1.544...

Field data collection.(AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES)
December 1, 2006... The Trimble Recon GPS XB system is designed for field data collection and mobile GIS. The system combines a rugged 200 MHz Trimble Recon handheld with the Bluetooth-enabled GPS Pathfinder XB receiver. It offers reliable 2 to 5 meter GPS...

Dual-frequency receiver.(AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES)
December 1, 2006... The Phoenix 300 GPS receiver combines Raven receiver technology with a Novatel OEM engine to offer a dual-frequency (L1/L2), high-performance receiver capable of using multiple frequencies and differential correction modes. The Phoenix 300 is...

Orbit data and resources on active GNSS satellites.(THE ALMANAC)
December 1, 2006... GPS SATELLITE & SYSTEM INFORMATION United States and Canada Canadian Space Geodesy Forum http://gauss.gge.unb.ca/CANSPACE.html This University of New Brunswick service presents daily GPS constellation status reports and...

Munich satellite navigation summit 2007.(EVENTS)
December 1, 2006... March 6-8, 2007 Residenz Munchen, Munich, Germany www.munich-satellite-navigation-summit.org Speakers from industry, science, and governments around the globe meet to discuss the directions of satellite navigation at the fifth...

European Navigation Conference (TimeNav CE07).(EVENTS)
December 1, 2006... May 29-June 1, 2007 Geneva International Conference Center, Switzerland www.timenav07.org/enc-gnss/index.php TimeNav CE07 combines the European Frequency and Time Forum and the Frequency Control Symposium with the 11th annual...

Heineken brews up GPS shipping project.(Global Positioning System)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Do You Know Where Your Beer Is? Soon, Dutch beer manufacturer Heineken will know exactly where its international cargo shipments are, thanks to GPS. In a pilot project dubbed Beer Living Lab, GPS will be used to track cargo shipments of...

When moose and cars collide.(alerting motor vehicle drivers using global positioning system to prevent the collisions)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Moose/car collisions are a problem in New England, driving scientists to GPS tracking technology in an effort to learn migration patterns and warn motorists in risky areas, reports the Boston Herald. So far, 29 moose/car collisions have been...

Geocaching: giving naturalists headaches.(GNSS technologies in the popular media)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Parkland managers are worried about the impact on sites from geocaching, according to a Bloomberg article. "If it's done right, it's actually a pretty good tool to introduce people to hiking and learning navigational skills," said Gary Walker,...