Galileo Gains 8 Satellites; Navigation Constellation Reaches Completion

The European Space Agency (ESA) signed a contract Thursday with a German-British consortium to build eight additional satellites for its Galileo navigation constellation.

The deal, which brings the Galileo navigation constellation to completion, was signed at the International Paris Air Show with German company OHB System AG as the prime contractor, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. overseeing the navigation platforms.

Septentrio’s 4.2 Firmware Designed to Deliver Performance, Security and Functionality

Septentrio has released 4.2 firmware for the AsteRx4, AsteRx-U and the newly launched AsteRx-m2 OEM receiver boards. The 4.2 firmware brings higher output rates, low and constant latency, support for TerraStar-C and a built-in NTRIP caster, according to the company.

Tourmaline Labs Incorporates Context-Aware Intelligence into its Driving Behavior Solution

Tourmaline Labs showcased TL BEHAVIOR at TU-Automotive Detroit earlier this month. TL BEHAVIOR contextual analytics are designed to promote safety, lower risks and costs across a broad range of industry use-cases.

At the show, Dr. Lukas Kuhn of San Diego, California-based Tourmaline Labs participated on the panel titled Consumer Acceptance of Automation to discuss the importance of analyzing driving behavior.

Spirent Supporting EU TREASURE GNSS Accuracy Project

Spirent Communications’ GNSS testing solutions are being used by the European Union (EU) TREASURE project — Training, REsearch and Applications network to Support the Ultimate Real time high accuracy EGNSS. The project is designed to advance multi-GNSS development uses.

New Reports on Performance Standards Confirm GPS’s “Gold Standard” Status for PNT

The U.S. Air Force last week released two technical reports demonstrating that GPS continues to deliver exceptional performance to civilian users around the world. The 2014 and 2015 performance reports confirm that the GPS Standard Positioning Service (SPS) satisfied nearly all measurable performance commitments documented in the GPS SPS Performance Standard, furthering the status of GPS as the “Gold Standard” for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT).

UK Study Indicates Just How Costly a GNSS Disruption Can Be

With so much of today’s society reliant on GNSS technology, any extended disruption of service could cause quite an uproar. Several of these potential problems are described in great detail in a government report commissioned by Innovate UK along with the UK Space Agency and the Royal Institute of Navigation.

Leica Geosystems’ GNSS Networks Now Support Galileo, QZSS

Leica Geosystems has released Leica Spider v7.0 software suite, which supports Galileo and QZSS constellations as well as the GPS-L5 signal for improved network RTK correction services.

Septentrio Honors KU Leuven Ecochallenge Team for Innovative Use of High Precision GNSS Positioning

Septentrio recently awarded the KU Leuven Ecochallenge team – the winners of the Galileo Masters (Flanders Challenge) of the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) – a special prize of an AsteRx-m UAS receiver for their proposal to use high-precision, high-reliability Galileo receivers to modernize inland waterway transport by introducing autonomous technology for the vessels.

New Book, Basic GIS Coordinates, Third Edition, Now Available

CRC Press has released a new book Basic GIS Coordinates, Third Edition by Jan Van Sickle.