Retired GIOVE-A Satellite Helps Demonstrate High-Altitude GPS Navigation Fix

An experimental GPS receiver, built by Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), has successfully achieved a GPS position fix at a 23,300-kilometer altitude — the first position fix above the GPS constellation on a civilian satellite, according to the company.

SSTL’s SGR-GEO receiver is collecting data that could help the company to develop a receiver to navigate spacecraft in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) or even in deep space.

GNSS IC Sales Approach $3 Billion Mark

Global sales of the smallest GNSS form factor — the integrated circuit (IC) — will exceed $3 billion next year, driven in large part by incorporation of position/location capabilities in smartphones, according to a leading research organization.

Hemisphere GPS Seeks to Spin Off OEM GNSS Business, Move HQ to Kansas

[Updated November 17, 2012] Hemisphere GPS, the latest incarnation of a home-grown Canadian company, has announced plans to close its Calgary, Alberta, headquarters and exit the OEM GNSS business, and is currently seeking a buyer for its Precision Products and R&D assets.

Precision GPS Landing System Receives DoD Recognition

A U.S. Navy program that uses technology developed by a Raytheon-led team to land aircraft in harsh weather has been recognized with a Department of Defense (DoD) engineering award.

The Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) Increment 1A ship system received the Systems Engineering Top 5 Programs Award for "successful implementation of systems engineering best practices resulting in program success," according to the DoD.

Trimble Reports Half-Billion in Q3 Revenue

Trimble on Thursday (November 1, 2012) announced third-quarter revenue of $504.8 million, up 21 percent as compared to the third quarter (Q3) of 2011.

GAAP operating income for the third quarter of 2012 was $63.5 million, up 96 percent from the year-earlier period. GAAP net income for Q3 2012 was $53.4 million, up 91 percent from Q3 2011. Diluted earnings per share in the third quarter of 2012 were $0.42 as compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.22 a year ago.

Explore Hurricane Sandy Impact Maps on ESRI website

ESRI, major supplier of geographical information system (GIS) software, features a number of maps and apps on Hurricane Sandy on its website.

These include FEMA, Red Cross, various municipal and state maps and social networking apps on many aspects of the storm and its effects, from power outages to demographic information. 

U.S. Naval Office Looks for Methods to Strengthen, Alternatives to GPS

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (ONRBAA13-002) seeking proposals from industry and academia for methods to mitigate the denial of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services to U.S. naval forces.

The BAA invitation reflects anxiety about the vulnerability of GPS and overreliance of U.S. military personnel and systems on the space-based system.

u-blox Acquires Fastrax

u-blox, of Thalwil, Switzerland, has announced the acquisition of privately owned Fastrax Oy, a company that specializes in a broad range of GNSS positioning and antenna modules.

The company brings additional products to u-blox’ portfolio, including software GNSS solutions used for consumer and industrial applications, and advanced GNSS modules that include integrated antenna. Based in Espoo, Finland, Fastrax makes modules based on chips from CSR, MediaTek, STMicroelectronics, and Intel and also owns the full IP for a GNSS receiver, in both hardware and software.

Sensonor Launches Tactical Grade Miniature IMU

Horten, Norway–based Sensonor AS has introduced the STIM300, a small, lightweight and low-power high performance inertial measurement unit (IMU).

Navy Seeks Spoofing Solution from Rockwell Collins

The Office of Naval Research has awarded Rockwell Collins a contract to develop technology to locate and classify an adversary’s attempts to interfere with GPS signals and disrupt military operations.

“This program will help assure that essential high accuracy navigation and timekeeping services are available to weapons platforms and military users while enabling warfighters to identify potential threats,” said John Borghese, vice-president of the Rockwell Collins Advanced Technology Center.