GPS World, March 2011

THE BUSINESS MACHIINE CONTROL AGRICULTURE NovAtels SMART MR15 for Agriculture Eliminates Need for Base Stations NovAtel Inc has launched the SMARTMR15 a GNSS receiver antenna with embedded cellular connectivity and NTRIP client software According to NovAtel the SMART MR15 enables users to easily obtain RTK corrections via the Internet eliminating the need to set up a local base station The SMART MR15 builds on last years launch of NovAtels SMART MR10 GNSS receiver antenna Ergonomically designed the SMART MR15 integrates an L1 L2 GPS GLONASS receiver antenna and cellular modem into a single compact enclosure the company said claiming that with a rugged metal housing and external cellular antenna the product ensures high performance even in the most challenging work environments and poor coverage areas By eliminating the need for a local base station the SMART MR15 provides precise positioning for on machine applications requiring sub inch accuracy according to NovAtel NovAtels GL1DE algorithm is integrated into every MR15 providing agricultural users with ultra smooth positions and excellent pass to pass accuracy in non RTK applications the company said TRANSPORTATION Department of Transportation Hosts Vehicle Connectivity Challenge The U S Department of Transportations Research and Innovative Technology Administration RITA has announced the Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge The new competition seeks industry ideas for using wireless connectivity between vehicles RITA through the competition is soliciting ideas for products or applications that use dedicated short range communications which will be the basis for a future system of connected vehicles that will communicate with each other as well as the surrounding infrastructure such as traffic signals work zones and toll booths According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report wireless vehicle to vehicle V2V and vehicle to infrastructure V2I communications EVENTS GITAs 2011 Geospatial Solutions Conference April 10 13 Grapevine Texas www gitaservices org GITA 2011 has been overhauled in response to feedback say organizers It aims to address the leading issues and bring together industry experts to deliver leading edge information to attendees IAG General Assembly at the IUGG 2011 June 28 July 7 2011 Melbourne Australia www iag aig org The next IAG General Assembly will be held as part of the major IUGG2011 international conference Earth on the Edge Science for a Sustainable Planet a multi disciplinary conference on cutting edge science presented by the eight scientific associations of the IUGG Esri International User Conference July 11 15 San Diego California www esri com events The conference offers to about 13000 attendees as many as 275 technical sessions and a large exhibit hall for exploring the power of geospatial technology More events online www gpsworld com events can potentially address 81 percent of all unimpaired vehicle crashes Selected prize recipients will be fully funded to present their ideas for connected vehicle technology The competition which runs through May 1 is open to all companies not just those involved in transportation More information can be found at www challenge gov ONLINE WEBINARS Upcoming and Live A Closer Look at L5 The Future of High Precision GNSS Moderator Eric Gakstatter GPS Worlds Survey Scene In 2010 the first GPS IIF satellite was launched broadcasting the new L5 civilian signal At 1176 MHz it is separated from L1 and L2 and in the protected Aeronautical Radionavigation Services band so there is no possibility of commercial interference like we see today with the LightSquared controversy The availability of GPS L5 will usher in a new era of inexpensive accurate GNSS receivers and will be the future of high precision GNSS receivers and quite possibly single frequency receivers Available for download now Location Based Social Media Upping the Value Moderator Janice Partyka GPS Worlds Wireless Pulse Speakers Brian Cho Head of Business Development Booyah and Chad Reed Director of Marketing and Sales Pelago Location Based Services in 2011 Moderator Kevin Dennehy GPS Worlds LBS Insider With guest speakers from Nokia and Verizon Wireless All available free www gpsworld com webinar www gpsworld com March 2011 GPS World 27