MIT, Draper Research Team Equips UAV with Vision for GNSS-Denied Navigation

In an effort to offset problems caused by loss of GNSS signals — a potentially dangerous situation for first responders among others — a team from Draper Laboratory and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed advanced vision-aided navigation techniques for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that do not rely on external infrastructure, such as GNSS, detailed maps of the environment or motion capture systems.

Air Force Weighs Shorter Lived GPS Satellites

The U. S. Air Force is weighing shortening the design life of the GPS satellites it buys after it finishes filling out the constellation with the final tranche of GPS III spacecraft.

Space Command reached out to the industry late last month asking for feedback on the ramifications of scaling back on the elements that make the GPS space vehicles (SVs) the “Energizer Bunnies” of space — the satellites that just go and go and go.

PCTEL Launches Multi-Band LTE/Wi-Fi/GNSS Antenna with Sub-Inch Profile

PCTEL, Inc., a Bloomingdale, Illinois-based manufacturer of Performance Critical TELecom solutions, announced today (August 14, 2017) its new multi-band LTE/Wi-Fi/GNSS antenna with a sub-inch profile. The antenna combines PCTEL's high rejection multi-GNSS technology for precision timing and location tracking with high performance multi-band data connectivity, according to the company. The antenna is also designed to be rugged and easy to install, making it ideal for covert public safety operations, precision agriculture, and the Industrial internet of things (IoT).

NASA Statement, Website, Address How Total Eclipse May Impact GNSS

By now, we’ve all heard plenty about the upcoming eclipse of the sun. On Monday, August 21, all of North America will be treated to an eclipse of the sun, and the rare event is creating quite a buzz, so much so that NASA developed a website to offer guidance and has issued a statement about its effect on GNSS users.

Harris Corp. Delivers Navigation Payload for Third Lockheed Martin GPS III Satellite

Harris Corporation has delivered the third of 10 advanced navigation payloads to Lockheed Martin, which will increase accuracy, signal power and jamming resistance for U.S. Air Force GPS III satellites.

Hexagon Mining Introduces HxGN Dynamic Haulage

Hexagon introduces HxGN Dynamic Haulage for optimized truck movement. As part of the MineSight Schedule Optimizer (MSSO) platform, Dynamic Haulage ensures the best, most efficient path to destinations, regardless of changes in haul roads and routes between operational phases and between schedule runs. It’s the closest thing to real-time “best path” from cut-to-mill or dump and back again, according to the company.

DHS hosts 2017 First Responder Electronic Jamming Exercise; Chronos Technology Selected to Participate

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is resolute in making first responders safer and more aware of jamming and its potential impact to their communications, safety and ability to execute their mission. S&T is combatting jamming threats by evaluating the threat, developing and testing mitigation technologies, working with public safety agencies to update training procedures, and raising awareness of jamming threats and characteristics.

GNSS Hotspots

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Turn NextGen into ThisGen

The Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) is setting no records in government efficiency or speed. So, it’s time for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Congress, and partner agencies to change the verb tense and transform NextGen into an operational ThisGen.