Photo: Furuno

Furuno will participate in Jammertest 2024 in Andøya, Norway, from Sept. 9 to 13, 2024. This event is widely recognized as the world’s largest GNSS resilience testing event, providing a unique opportunity for companies to evaluate their GNSS receivers in real-world environments.

Jammertest 2024 will expose participants’ GNSS receivers to jamming and spoofing signals, allowing companies to gather valuable data on their product tolerance levels. The event is organized by several Norwegian institutions, including the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, Norwegian Communications Authority and Norwegian Space Agency.

Furuno will be testing its GT-100 timing multi-GNSS receiver module at the event. This module supports dual-frequency band reception in the L1 and L5 bands, making it suitable for critical infrastructure applications such as 5G mobile base stations, TV broadcasting and power grids.

GT-100. (Photo: Furuno)

Key Features of GT-100:

• Automatic mitigation of jamming and spoofing signals.
• Real-time notification of jamming signal frequency and strength.
• Ability to maintain L5 band signal reception if L1 band is lost.

By participating in Jammertest 2024, Furuno aims to evaluate and analyze the GT-100’s resistance to jamming and spoofing in real-world conditions. The company plans to use the results further to enhance the robustness of its GNSS receiver technology, ultimately contributing to more resilient critical infrastructure systems.

<p>The post Furuno to participate in Jammertest 2024 first appeared on GPS World.</p>

Image: Septentrio

Gundersen & Løken AS, in Oslo, Norway, founded in 1899, develops equipment for the construction industry. It uses Septentrio’s AntaRx in its Dig Pilot 3D machine guidance system, which it began to develop in 2007. The company is now launching the next-generation DigPilot to assist excavator drivers. Its DigPilot Terra user interface and graphics offer a wide range of functionalities for efficient earthwork. The development of DigPilot Terra is funded partly by Innovation Norway.

DigPilot uses multi-axial CAN bus angle sensors on all moving parts — chassis, boom, arm and bucket — to calculate the position of the bucket tip with centimeter precision. The sensors are gyro-stabilized and hold firmware that predicts angles in the coming milliseconds based on angles from the previous milliseconds. These calculated angles are pushed to the computer in the cabin, which can visualize the bucket position in real-time.

DigPilot is a two-antenna system. Until now, it relied on two Septentrio GNSS antennas installed on the rear of the excavator — one to determine the machine’s position and one to determine its heading. These data are fed to the Septentrio GNSS receiver (rover) inside the machine, which also receives correction data via internet or radio. The data from the GNSS rover is pushed to the computer in the cabin and, when combined with the angular sensor data, provides the exact coordinates of the bucket tip and the delta value of the finished project.

Now, Septentrio’s AntaRx technology makes DigPilot’s installation simpler and more robust because the built-in GNSS rover in one of the rear antennas greatly reduces the amount of cabling and the number of connectors.

I discussed DigPilot with Eric Floberg, the company’s managing director since 2019 when he took over from his father, and Erik Sørngård, the company’s R&D manager, who has been working with Septentrio products for 12 years.

When did you start working with Septentrio on AntaRx for DigPilot? At what stage of deployment is it?

Sørngård: We began to discuss features about four years ago. At that time, we had worked with other Septentrio products for eight years. So, they appreciated our cooperation and wanted to show us where their next stage in development was heading. Last year, they approached us again, to see whether we could start looking further into it.

Floberg: We now have one system here for testing and we have experience from the previous Septentrio products, such as the rover GNSS receivers, which have always given us the best of accuracy. Of course, now, we see the potential to make our system more robust and simpler. As soon as we have sold out the existing Septentrio products, we will incorporate the AntaRx into our next-generation machine control system.

Is DigPilot receiver-agnostic, even though you have a preference for the AntaRx?

Floberg: All the connections, the cabling and the components themselves are exposed to very tough environments and stresses of different kinds, such as extreme temperatures and vibrations. So, reducing the number of components and connections and cabling would definitely give us a higher uptime, which is the most important thing for our end users.

Having the antenna and the receiver in the same box means less cabling and easier installation, correct?

Floberg: Definitely. The anti-theft aspect here is also very important. In certain parts of the world, you will appreciate the opportunity to easily remove it from your excavator or bulldozer when you leave at night.

What are the key challenges?

Floberg: This winter has been the toughest one in Norway in 30 years. We have also had the chance to do some testing in very low temperatures and harsh environments. When we see it work as well as it does, we feel very confident about it.

What accuracy have you been getting?

Sørngård: When it comes to machine control, we look at the end result on the tip of the bucket. We have several sensors, and we have to calibrate the machine accurately. The receiver is not the biggest contribution to the noise in the algorithms. We trust that the Septentrio receiver delivers accurate numbers, and we must push ourselves to make the rest of the system meet the same standards.

Floberg: On 30-ton or 40-ton excavators with booms up to 10 meters long we are able to get sub-centimeter accuracy, but the tip of the bucket in such a machine is 1 in thick. Of course, there are many other factors, such as the wear and tear of the machine.

Is DigPilot typically factory-installed or aftermarket?

Floberg: We’ll do both. We are often called by the distributor — say, Volvo or Hitachi or Kobelco — to install an integrated system.

<p>The post Gundersen & Løken: Tracking the tip of the bucket first appeared on GPS World.</p>

Image: EUSPA website

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) has announced the winners of the first myEUspace track “Submission of an Idea.” This track consists of promising theoretical ideas that leverage EU space data and have high market potential. Winners received a cash prize of €10,000 each.

The myEUspace competition is open to teams from all EU Member States plus Switzerland, Norway and Iceland. The competition offers a total prize of nearly €1 million and provides support to entrepreneurs throughout the entire innovation cycle, from early-stage start-ups to scale-ups.

While the evaluation of the prototypes track is ongoing, the competition remains open for the last track, “Submission of Products.” Applications for the final track are due April 25.

Depending on the maturity of the solution at the time of submission, entrepreneurs can compete and win in three different innovation areas: “Space My Life,” “Our Green Planet” and “Dive in Deep Tech.”

See the full list of winners by area of innovation:

“Our Green Planet”
• Spillalert: Intuitive web interface for oil spills and blackwater tank detection
• BugBit: Risk analysis platform for predicting and alerting of bark beetle outbreaks
• Push4CleanAir: SaaS pollution monitoring platform
• Detritus: Online platform and mobile app for waste-crime detection
• Orioos: Autonomous robotic solution for monitoring woody perennial crops
• Vantu: Van-lifers companion app to discover “off the beaten track” sites to camp for the night

“Dive in Deep Tech”
• DeGenS: Decentralized space-to-ground data availability for artificial intelligence (AI) using blockchain
• Climate AI for Web3: Real-world portable climate API for virtual worlds powered by AI and satellite data
• Latitudo Supersar: AI analysis, classification and interpretation of multi-sensor and multi-mission images
• WhisperCash: Person to person payments via satellite for isolated regions
• Kyck: Geospatial metaverse platform for exploring and sharing AR experiences in the physical world

“Space My Life”
• Foremca: Cryptographic methodology providing forensic digital proof
• MicroPURA: Microbial Purity to detect levels of microbial contamination in the air
• Space4CC: Monitoring actions to safeguard cultural heritage in conflict areas
• Oasis City Lab: AI tool to track urban threats

<p>The post Winners announced from myEUspace competition first appeared on GPS World.</p>

One of Europe’s largest postal services, Posten Norge, is testing the future of logistics delivery with Ottobots in Oslo.

Ottobot maker Ottonomy.io is collaborating with Posten Norge AS and Holo on trials for automating first-mile delivery in an effort to pave the way for autonomous delivery. See the project page.

The Posten Group is a post and logistics group that develops and provides post, communications and logistics services in Norway and the Nordic region. Holo is an implementer, integrator and operator of autonomous vehicles in the region.

An Ottobot delivers product orders to airport travelers. (Photo: Ottonomy)

The partnership with one of Europe’s largest logistics companies is oriented towards testing how autonomous robots can improve intra-logistics, especially in city centers. Posten Norge will be leveraging Ottobots for first-mile pick-ups, receiving and delivering goods for AMOI, a Nordic digital marketplace, from the busy Aker Brygge metropolitan area in Oslo.

“Autonomous robots have previously been tested by other companies with the focus entirely on final delivery to the customer,” said Sven Richard Tønnessen from Posten’s Department of Emerging Technology. “We want to evaluate how robots can become part of Posten’s future logistics solutions.

“This project, which utilizes both humans and robots, offers many new opportunities for increasing efficiency and productivity for our organization,” Tønnessen said. “We will continue to utilize our existing pool of human couriers for delivering goods to the customers, while the robot takes care of the intra-logistics part of the supply chain.”

Conquering the First Mile

The first mile has been a pain point for organizations in metropolitan areas. First-mile delivery involves moving products from the manufacturer’s or retailer’s warehouse to a central holding center. From this location, a carrier, shipping company or logistics partner picks up the products and takes it to the next leg in the destination.

“The logistics with delivery vans at Aker Brygge is extremely demanding in terms of parking and time consuming,” said Kenneth Tjønndal Pettersen, Posten Norge. “Together with our partners, we want to test the various applications for autonomous technology, which can enable simpler logistics and reduced noise in the cityscape.”

A recipient of the 2021 Sustainability Product of the Year award by Business Intelligent Awards, Ottobot will be used to determine how Posten Norge AS can increase sustainability and efficiency for the logistics supply chain in the future.

<p>The post Ottobots to make first-mile product deliveries in Oslo first appeared on GPS World.</p>

An example of a MEMS. (Photo: Safran Colibrys)

Safran Electronics & Defense is taking a major step forward in its inertial navigation strategy by grouping two subsidiaries, Safran Colibrys (Switzerland) and the recently acquired Sensonor (Norway,) under a single banner, Safran Sensing Technologies.

The similarities in expertise, market position, customers and technologies result in clear synergy between these two companies, which produce accelerometers, gyrometers and inertial measurement units (IMUs). The creation of Safran Sensing Technologies shows Safran’s commitment to developing its micro-sensor business through these two companies.

The STIM380H inertial measurement unit. (Photo: Sensonor)

The goal is to jointly offer a wider and comprehensive range of inertial technologies including vibrating sensors, optics and micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) for applications in aeronautics, defense, space and other industries.

The two subsidiaries have already delivered more than 20 million MEMS sensors to the aeronautics, defense, space, transport, mobility and industry sectors. For example, MEMS are used in the control accelerometers of automobile airbags, in high temperature accelerometers for guiding drill heads, and in seismic sensors measuring the structural health of buildings or civil engineering works. They are also used in IMUs for civil, military and space vehicles.

This change is part of a broader Safran Electronics & Defense strategy designed to strengthen the company’s position in the positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) market.

The two entities have been renamed Safran Sensing Technologies Norway AS and Safran Sensing Technologies Switzerland SA, respectively.

<p>The post Safran develops inertial micro-sensor strategy first appeared on GPS World.</p>

The AMRO 2021 exercise tested the rescue of 200 cruise-ship passengers using Galileo SAR. (Photo: EUSPA)

News from the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA)

In freezing arctic waters 60 nautical miles off of Svalbard, a search-and-rescue enactment proved the capabilities of Galileo as a life-saving system.

The Arctic Mass Rescue Operation (AMRO 2021) took place on Oct. 8, organized by the Norwegian authorities. The scenario surrounded a cruise ship that caught on fire with around 200 passengers onboard, located northwest of Spitsbergen far from roads, cabins, rescue crews and other infrastructure.

The vessel’s crew activated a Galileo-enabled EPIRB compatible with Galileo’s Return Link Service. Once activated, it took only 2:20 minutes for the Galileo System to track down the ship with an accuracy below one kilometer and deliver an SOS acknowledgement to the active EPIRB.

Once the Mission Control Centers received the distress signal and established the location, two Super Puma helicopters from the Governor of Svalbard, a Sea King from the 330 squadron of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, and a Norwegian coast guard support vessel were scrambled to support the massive evacuation of the passengers.

‘’The AMRO 2021 exercise was an excellent opportunity for the European Union Agency for the Space Programme to showcase the power of Galileo SAR and the robust performance of Galileo at high latitudes in comparison to other GNSS constellations,’’ said Guerric Pont, Head of Galileo Department at EUSPA.

The Galileo RLS allows people in distress to receive an automatic acknowledgment that their signal has been picked up by the first responders. Galileo’s contribution to the Medium Earth Orbit Satellites Search and Rescue System (MEOSAR) — managed by the international COSPAS-SARSAT program — translates into 2,000 lives saved per year.

In support of Galileo’s SAR operations, the Copernicus Marine Service provides authorities and rescue centers input such as wave height, sea current direction as well as and water temperature among others.

<p>The post Mass rescue operation takes place in Arctic Circle with Galileo SAR first appeared on GPS World.</p>

Trimble has expanded its VRS Now correction services across mainland Norway and most outer islands.

As part of an ongoing global correction service strategy, the company is adding more than 400,000 square kilometers (156,000 square miles) to its European footprint, which now totals 2.5 million square kilometers (975,000 square miles).

VRS Now delivers reliable, easily accessible, centimeter-level accuracy that is ideal for professionals in the surveying, GIS and mapping, construction and agriculture industries, as well as many emerging autonomy applications in the automotive and robotics industries.

The subscription service is brand agnostic and works with most GNSS receivers. It is supported by a global team of GNSS network specialists and customer service representatives around the world, ensuring users have a consistent, reliable, high-performing service whenever they need it.

“Launching Trimble VRS Now services to Norway significantly expands our correction services footprint across Europe, offering a robust and reliable accuracy solution to farming, construction and mapping professionals across the region,” said Lisa Wetherbee, general manager of Trimble’s Advanced Positioning Division. “Trimble solutions are helping customers optimize workflows, improve productivity and deliver operational efficiency, while increasing user safety.”

<p>The post Trimble introduces VRS Now Correction Services to Norway first appeared on GPS World.</p>

The Scandinavian country and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member has demanded an explanation from its neighbor. “We recognize Russia’s right to exercise and train its capacities [but] it is not acceptable that this kind of activity affects security in Norwegian air space,” stated the Norwegian defense ministry.

Finland and Norway published claims in November that Russia may have intentionally disrupted GPS signals before and during NATO military exercises. The radio-frequency interference also affected the navigation of civilian air traffic in the Arctic. Both countries protested to Russia, which dismissed the allegations.

“We gave them the proof,” Norwegian Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen stated publicly. Russia demurred, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov terming the Norwegian allegations “a fantasy,” and said it would conducts its own investigation. “To be a neighbor of Russia you need to be patient,” added Bakke-Jensen.

Above: Krasukha jammer mounted on a heavy-duty truck, part of the radio electronic warfare unit (EW) of the Western Military District. (Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation)

<p>The post Norway proves Russian interference first appeared on GPS World.</p>