GPS World articles from November 2005

GPS World archives from November 2005

More of the right stuff.(global navigation satellite system)
November 1, 2005... Not a week goes by in my office without receiving a phone call from a North American or European navigation company desperately seeking experts in specific areas to fill vacated, or newly created, positions. The GNSS industry is expanding at an...

Robot on the run: Stanford's Stanley takes DARPA Grand Challenge prize.(Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Stanford University for Volkswagen Touareg )
November 1, 2005... Stanley, the robotic Volkswagen Touareg from Stanford University, won the 2005 Grand Challenge mounted by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA). With no one at the wheel, Stanley covered the 131-mile Mojave Desert course in 6...

Nobel prize has GPS implications.(Nobel Institute awarded John L. Hall, Theodor W. Hansch and Roy J. Glauber )(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... The Nobel Institute awarded its 2005 Prize in Physics to John L. Hall (shown above), a senior research associate at the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) at the University of Colorado and the National Institute of Standards and...

L1C project collects signal input.(designing global positioning system)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... The L1C Project Team is now scheduling interviews with stakeholders and technical experts on proposed designs for the L1C civil signal (see "Position," page 52 in this issue, for details). Upon completion of the interview stage, the project...

General Dynamics studies ground control.(General Dynamics C4 Systems contract with U.S. Air Force )(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... General Dynamics C4 Systems has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to study hardware, software, and technology options to deliver an advanced GPS satellite control segment architecture. The contract is valued at $1.4 million. This...

Clarification.(Correction notice)
November 1, 2005... In an August story, "Melee in the Mojave," we identified another GPS receiver and differential service for Stanley. Sometime during the summer, the Stanford team made a change to those listed here.

Steep-slope monitoring: GPS multiple-antenna system at Xiaowan dam.(SURVEYING & MAPPING)
November 1, 2005... Although an effective tool for deformation monitoring of large structures and high-risk slopes, GPS can also entail a high-cost disadvantage in large projects. A remote-controlled monitoring system using an electronic switching device for a...

Early results are in testing a prototype Galileo receiver.(SYSTEM DESIGN)
November 1, 2005... The Galileo Test Receiver includes a new L1/E5a receiver card integrated into a modified version of a WAAS ground reference receiver. Its modular nature will enable developers to add other frequencies and services to the unit in the future. A...

Getting into pockets and purses: antenna counters sensitivity loss in consumer devices.(TRACKING & WIRELESS)
November 1, 2005... Add one more to the list of challenges faced by consumer GPS-enabled devices: the human hand that holds them. Body loading significantly degrades receiver sensitivity. A dielectrically loaded quadrifilar helix antenna can ameliorate this...

Map-aided GPS navigation: linking vehicles and maps to support location-based services.(INNOVATION)
November 1, 2005... INSTALLED GPS NAVIGATION SYSTEMS ARE BECOMING POPULAR OPTIONS FOR NEW CAR BUYERS. AND many aftermarket, portable, and PDA- or cell phone--based systems are available in the marketplace. A basic GPS navigation system can provide continuous,...

Topcon announces Paradigm-G3: Signal Tracking of GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellites.(Topcon Positioning Systems Inc.. global positioning system)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc., of Livermore, California, introduced the Paradigm-G3 GPS chip, featuring Universal Signal Tracking of GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo satellites. Topcon developed the chip to provide access to the 30 planned Galileo...

Trimble prepares future GNSS tech.(Trimble Navigation Ltd.)
November 1, 2005... Trimble announced that it has developed a software-based technology supporting GNSS to maximize flexibility and minimize cost in end-user positioning products that will use a variety of existing and planned satellite-based systems. ...

Sokkia Bluetooth L1/L2 system.(GSR2700 IS in collaboration with Point Inc., and NovAtel Inc.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Sokkia has released its GSR2700 IS integrated L1/L2 system with Bluetooth wireless technology for cable-free surveying. The system was developed in collaboration with Point, Inc. (Olathe, Kansas) and NovAtel, Inc. (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)....

NovAtel acquires Waypoint Consulting.(SURVEYING & MAPPING)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... NovAtel Inc. has acquired Waypoint Consulting Inc. for approximately CDN$ 3.2 million in cash. Both companies are based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Waypoint is a developer of real-time and postprocessing position determination software that...

Applanix debuts airborne POS.(POSTrack position and orientation system)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Applanix Corp. of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, and a Trimble subsidiary, announced the POSTrack position and orientation system (POS), designed to perform streamlined airborne direct georeferencing and in-flight task automation. Developed in...

Remote Dynamics in limo location.(Remote Dynamics REDIview Fleet system is used by Savoya)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Serving notice that GPS tracking is not only for everyone, but for the wealthy and wannabe, too, Savoya of Dallas, Texas, will equip its fleet of chauffeured vehicles with the REDIview Fleet system from Remote Dynamics, Inc., of Richardson,...

iSECUREtrac lands GSA contract.(TRACKING & WIRELESS)
November 1, 2005... The General Services Administration (GSA) awarded a five-year contract to iSECUREtrac Corp. of Omaha, Nebraska, Under its terms, U.S. federal agencies--including the Justice Department, the State Department, the Bureau of Prisons, Departments...

GPS blows alibi.(TRACKING & WIRELESS)(CSI Wireless)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Law enforcement officials in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and representatives of CSI Wireless (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) used GPS technology to solve a homicide case. Jimmy "Crush" Davis pleaded guilty to third-degree homicide and other...

Navman's new Jupiter module.(Navman USA Jupiter 21 global positioning system receiver )(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Navman USA Inc. of Foothill Ranch, California, introduced the Jupiter 21 GPS receiver module, Equipped with a SiRFstarlle/LP chipset, the receiver is available in a standard configuration for general navigation in low GPS-signal situations and...

Javad will roll out tri-system navigation.(Javad Navigation Systems)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Javad Navigation Systems announced it will release products based on its GeNiuSS technology, a 72-channel receiver for GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo, in late 2005. As part of the terms of an agreement in the July 2000 purchase by Topcon of the...

Fastrax new OEM receivers.(iTrax03-02 family of global positioning system receivers)(original equipment manufacturer)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... The iTrax03-02 family of OEM GPS receivers from Fastrax Ltd. of Helsinki, Finland, uses 30 mW less power than the company's earlier models. Fastrax designed the modules so that they could be used to upgrade equipment with the company's iTrax02...

China data to come from NAVTEQ.(Nav2 provides China map services to Nokia Corp.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Nav2 (Shanghai, China), a Chinese joint venture of NAVTEQ (Chicago, Illinois), is providing Greater China map data for Nokia's Wireless GPS LD-1W module. Currently, the map database covers 195 mainland cities in 31 provinces as well as Hong...

Fujitsu adds AGPS/GPS module.(Fujitsu Media Devices and Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Fujitsu Media Devices and Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe (Frankfurt, Germany) have introduced a compact assisted GPS (AGPS)/GPS module for European mobile telephones. The device measures 109 X 9.1 X 1.4 millimeters, has a power consumption of...

Agilent ultra-low for E911.(Agilent Technologies Inc. introduced ALM-1106 noise amplifier)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Agilent Technologies Inc. (Palo Alto, California) reports that its new ALM-1106 ultra-low-noise amplifier (ultra-LNA) module has a 0.9-3.5 GHz monolithic microwave integrated circuit. Designed for use in mobile telephone handsets, the ultra-LNA...

Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS.(Microsoft Corp. introduced Streets & Trips 2006)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Microsoft of Redmond, Washington, announced the 2006 version of Streets & Trips with GPS mapping and travel planning software for the United States and Canada. The updated software adds hands-free voice-prompted directions that provide...

u-Nav files counter to SiRF suit.(SiRF Technology Inc. (San Jose, California) accused u-Nav Microelectronics for patent infringement)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... u-Nav Microelectronics Corp. of Irvine, California, filed an answer and counterclaim to the patent infringement complaint filed by SiRF Technology, Inc. (San Jose, California) in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Russ...

GPS artillery exceeds goals.(global positioning system)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... In tests conducted at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, the Excalibur GPS-guided artillery projectile successfully hit a representative target with accuracy better than 10 meters circular air probability. The Excalibur system was developed by...

Sarantel Ltd.(INDUSTRY BYTES)
November 1, 2005... Wellingborough, United Kingdom-based Sarantel Ltd. has appointed Per Enge, former Institute of Navigation president, an intellectual property and technical advisor.

Rockwell Collins.(supplied 4,000 Defense Advanced GPS Receivers to United States. Army)(Brief article)
November 1, 2005... Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Rockwell Collins has delivered 40,000 Defense Advanced GPS Receivers (DAGRs) to the U.S. military services, Primarily used by U.S. Army personnel, the DAGR provides precise timing to synchronizing tactical radios for...

Stock tracker.(GPS INSIDE)
November 1, 2005... Note: GPS World's STOCK TRACKER is designed to detail general trends in the GPS community and key capital markets. The companies listed here are publicly traded and represent GPS "pure play" enterprises that derive most of their income from...

Vehicle navigation system.(NAVIGATION & GUIDANCE)
November 1, 2005... The Magellan RoadMate 800 portable vehicle navigation system from Thales Navigation is preloaded with maps for the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The multimedia unit has a 20-MB hard drive and a 3.5-inch...

Data-acquisition and recording.(NAVIGATION & GUIDANCE)
November 1, 2005... Heim Data Systems' D7000 airborne data-acquisition and recording system has an integral time-code generator that can synchronize to external GPS and inertial reference integrating gyro time sources. The recording system has a 256-Mbit per...

GPS datalogger.(NAVIGATION & GUIDANCE)
November 1, 2005... The MK2 from DataGrid is a 20 x 8.5 x 3.5-centimeter, 1-pound, 5-ounce GPS datalogger that can automatically merge GPS data with GIS information to create instantly georeferenced data sets. The 12-channel L1 GPS receiver has stated...

Pocket-sized GPS.(NAVIGATION & GUIDANCE)
November 1, 2005... The iCN 520 pocket-sized portable navigation device from Navman includes a 256-MB memory card that is preloaded with a U.S. base map and a CD-ROM with the latest Tele Atlas street-level map data for the United States and Canada. The unit has a...

GPS receiver.(SURVEYING & MAPPING)
November 1, 2005... The GSR2700 IS GPS receiver from Sokkia uses Bluetooth wireless technology to enable cable-free surveying applications. The dual-frequency L1/L2 receiver includes an integrated data link, an antenna, memory storage, and batteries in a magnesium...

Trimble EPOCH 10 L1 GPS system.(SURVEYING & MAPPING)
November 1, 2005... Trimble and its subsidiary Spectra Precision announce the EPOCH 10 handheld survey system integrating a survey-grade L1 GPS receiver with the Spectra Precision Recon data collector, an ultra-rugged product designed especially for tough...

Future navigation needs your input.(GPS L1C navigation satellite)(global positioning system)
November 1, 2005... The first modernized GPS satellite has been launched, providing L2C, the first of three new civilian signals, as L5 and L1C wait in the wings. L1C availability will complete GPS signal modernization, while being compatible with all legacy GPS...