History of GPS GPS has its origins in the Soviet Union’s 1957 launch of Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite. While the launch was a Cold War setback for the U.S., it ultimately led to U.S. researchers discovering that Sputnik’s orbit could be accurately tracked from its radio transmissions using ground-receiving stations, a discovery that fostered government and private research and development programs in satellite technology within the Inited States. Different programs from the 1950s […]

The basic ArduSimple RTK kit includes Sapcorda SAPA. (Image: ArduSimple) ArduSimple has integrated Sapcorda’s SAPA Premium Service into its new simpleRTK2B+SSR GNSS receiver. The user-friendly integration based on SSR technology allows plug-and-play real-time kinematic (RTK) without the need for a base station. Users can connect the receiver to their PC or tablet to achieve centimeter-level accuracy. Based in Berlin, ArduSimple develops user-friendly, affordable RTK receivers and tools for evaluation of multi-band GNSS technology. The simpleSSR […]

June 25, 2020 In early March 2020, Dave and Cheryl Byng, their son, Max, and Lab, Ranger, set off on an adventure in their winter-equipped, expedition-ready Jeep. It was meant to be a productive, grand journey from Vancouver Island to the Arctic Ocean. While Dave, a Fellow for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, The Explorers Club and Royal Geographical Society as well as an expedition leader for Operation Wallacea, had plenty of experience traveling in […]

China-developed BeiDou navigation technology has made agricultural production smarter and more precise. Nanjing Agricultural University has developed the BeiDou-tech-supported unmanned wheat seeding and harvesting technology, empowering agricultural production with advanced navigation technology, according to the university. The new wheat production technology is a significant part of smart wheat production technology, according to Tian Yongchao, deputy director with the smart agriculture institute of Nanjing Agricultural University. The smart […]

Coalition’s first action is to endorse Inhofe-Reed legislation forcing Ligado to provide financial relief to consumers, industries and other end users Five organizations representing thousands of companies and millions of Americans have launched a new coalition to protect end users of GPS following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) April 22 decision to permit Ligado Networks to operate a terrestrial wireless network using its satellite spectrum. Ligado’s planned use of its L-band spectrum — adjacent to […]

In 2018 the then Prime Minister Theresa May pulled the UK out of the EU’s Galileo project, slamming the European Commission’s decision “to bar the UK from being fully involved in developing all aspects of Galileo,” and stating it was unacceptable for London to be shut out from security discussions. UK ministers are reportedly looking to revise plans for an independent satellite navigation system worth 5bln pounds ($6.18 billion) that was touted […]

The robotics competition challenges participants to leverage NXP’s portfolio for small autonomous vehicles in support of fighting pandemics. NXP Semiconductors N.V. is hosting a challenge on using drones and rovers for pandemics such as COVID-19. HoverGames Challenge 2: Help Drones Help Others is the second installment of NXP’s challenge-based, interactive coding competition. It encourages developers to create drone and rover solutions for frontline support during pandemics. A carbon-fiber quadcopter frame is included in the developer’s […]

June 12, 2020 Alex Howes rides for EF Education First Pro Cycling and is the reigning U.S. National Road Champion. With the Garmin Dirty Kanza being delayed until later in the year and no races to attend, he decided to do something crazy: ride the alternative Dirty Kanza. A stunning 220-mile ride from his home to the border of Kansas. Howes lives in Nederland, Colorado, and because EF Pro Cycling was originally Colorado’s home team, […]

The launch mission for the final satellite in the third-generation network of China’s Beidou Navigation Satellite System has been postponed due to technical issues, according to the mission command. The command said in a statement on Tuesday morning that “technical problems on products” of the Long March 3B carrier rocket were spotted during pre-launch checks, leading to postponement. The new date for the launch has yet to be decided, it […]

Photo: Lake County Forest Preserves An upcoming GPS World webinar shows how high-definition aerial imagery can help protect and maintain natural resources. In Transforming Land and Asset Management with HD Aerial Imagery, fourmapping experts discuss how Lake County Forest Preserves of Illinois uses HD aerial imagery to manage and track changes. The webinar, sponsored by Nearmap, takes place June 25 at 1 p.m. EDT / 10 a.m. PDT / 7 p.m. (1900h) Central European Time. Registration […]