GPS World, August 2012

Industry news and developments GPS Galileo GLONASS BUSINESS THE PROFESSIONAL OEM System Tests Sensor Fusion for Indoor Positioning Spirent Communications has launched its SimSENSOR MEMS Micro Electro Mechanical Systems sensor simulation software SimSENSOR is targeted at the R D environment and enables performance testing of sensor fusion algorithms in navigation systems that include MEMS inertial sensors and multi GNSS SimSENSOR works in tandem with Spirents multi GNSS constellation simulators by simulating MEMS sensor outputs on a common trajectory with the simulated GNSS signals Trajectories that include representative human motion gestures such as arm movements are included with SimSENSOR The ability to test fusion algorithms that take inputs from a wide variety of sensors is supported including accelerometers gyroscope magnetometer digital compass and barometric height sensors Representative MEMS noise models and errors such as bias and drift are also included and are available under user control In 2007 Spirent launched SimINERTIAL to test inertial navigation systems involving high grade GPS inertial units suitable for military applications SimSENSOR benefits from the experience gained by Spirent in particular in relation to ensuring coherency and stability between GNSS and simulated sensor output streams the company said SURVEY MAPPING Geneq GNSS Receiver Uses GPS and GLONASS with SBAS Geneq Inc has announced the SXBlue II GNSS a GNSS receiver that uses both GPS and GLONASS with SBAS WAAS EGNOS MSAS GAGAN to attain 30 cm 1 foot RMS accuracy in real time using free SBAS corrections It connects wirelessly to any smartphone handheld tablet computer or notebook computer that is Bluetooth compliant New technology used in the SXBlue II GNSS allows it to use both GPS and GLONASS with SBAS enabling it to track and use nearly twice as many satellites compared to typical SBAS receiver technology the company said More satellites means more accurate positioning in tougher environments such as under tree canopy and near buildings said Jean Yves Lauture product engineer GLONASS has proven itself valuable for RTK and now we are bringing GLONASS to SBAS with impressive accuracy and tracking results The SXBlue II GNSS builds on the SXBlue II GPS that was designed to optimize SBAS performance under tree canopy and in rugged terrain With the ability to track 55 satellites 31 operational GPS 24 operational GLONASS the SXBlue II GNSS uses between 12 and 19 satellites in view at any time providing superior performance when working under and around tree canopy buildings and rugged terrain Geneq said The next generation SXBlue II GNSS is the same small palm sized unit as the SXBlue II GPS and uses a small 27 inch diameter GNSS antenna The unit is waterproof submersible dustproof and ruggedized with an IP 67 rating Its Class 1 long range Bluetooth 20 has a typical range of 250 meters The internal rechargeable field replaceable Li Ion battery has on board LEDs that let the user know how much battery life is left The operating temperature range of the SXBlue II GNSS is 40 C 40 F to 85 C 185 F It has a standard DE 9 RS 232 port and a USB Type B port with outputs fully programmable up to 10 Hz standard with a 20 Hz option Other optional features are L1 RTK for 2 cm real time accuracy and base station RTCM output There is no need for post processing or other sources of differential corrections as the SXBlue II GNSS uses WAAS North America EGNOS Europe MSAS Japan and GAGAN India satellite corrections Users receive realtime 30 cm 1 foot positioning all day long Geneq said The SXBlue II GNSS is targeted at GPS GIS mapping professionals in industries such as forestry utility agriculture and other natural resource industries in addition to local state and federal government users GPS World August 2012 www gpsworld com 16