SpacePNT has joined the European Space Agency’s Genesis mission, a navigation satellite project that will be the first to carry all four space-based geodetic techniques on board: GNSS, Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR), Very Large Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) and Doppler Orbitography and Radio-positioning Integrated by Satellite (DORIS). SpacePNT’s NaviLEO spaceborne GNSS receiver technology was selected for the mission’s critical satellite navigation ranging instrument. Although NaviLEO has flight heritage in low-Earth orbit, it will be adapted for […]

SiFly, a Silicon Valley-based startup, has introduced a new line of long-range electric drones designed to expand industrial capabilities. The company’s flagship Q12 platform delivers more than two hours of continuous hover and up to three hours in forward flight, enabling a 90-mile operational range while carrying payloads of up to 10 lbs. According to the company, this can lead to new possibilities for Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) missions that were previously unattainable. SiFly plans […]

On March 27, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) to explore GPS alternatives, amid escalating threats to security and system resiliency. The move signals growing federal concern about the reliability of space-based navigation and timing infrastructure amid rising global interference and spoofing incidents. But while the FCC’s broad consideration of alternative technologies is a welcome step forward, its framing also risks weakening one of GPS’s most important defenses: the […]

LUPIN rover during testing in Spain. (Photo: GMV) GMV has presented the latest results from its Enabling High-Performance PNT in the Lunar Environment (LUPIN) project, following a series of field tests conducted from April 27 to May 8 in La Oliva, on the Spanish island of Fuerteventura. The LUPIN initiative, developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), aims to create a prototype navigation system that simulates the signals lunar surface rovers are expected […]

Inertial Labs, a VIAVI Solutions company, has released the IMU-H100, a micro-electromechanical systems inertial measurement unit (IMU) designed to improve tactical guidance and navigation for UAVs, short-range missiles, precision-guided munitions and a range of commercial applications. As technology for unmanned vehicles advances and safety considerations take precedence, both military and commercial sectors are increasing their adoption of IMUs, which are critical for navigation and control systems. An IMU can track angular velocity and linear acceleration […]

May 1, 2025 You might be missing one thing from your natural disaster emergency kit: a way to get help that doesn’t depend on cell service — aka a satellite communicator. No matter where you live or what type of natural disasters you may face — from tornadoes to floods to wildfires to hurricanes — you need to be prepared. There are four basic steps to preparing yourself for a disaster, according to the American […]

Balboa Geo, in partnership with the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) and the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex (BCDC), completed a rigorous field testing campaign of its POINTER system, a “dual-use,” real-time alternative positioning, navigation and timing (A-PNT) technology designed for GPS-denied, degraded and disrupted environments, including indoor, subterranean and obstructed urban settings. The POINTER field test plan, led by Balboa Geo’s Andrew Aubrey, Ph.D., with technical support from TEEX and Texas A&M Professor Stacey […]

May 9, 2025 Upgrading your avionics isn’t just about adding new tech. It’s also about transforming how you interact with your aircraft. (Although, if we’re being honest, adding tech is a lot of fun too.) Today’s navigation systems do more than guide you from point A to point B; they streamline your entire flight experience. The evolution in cockpit technology over the past decade has been dramatic and according to industry pros, the difference is […]

SPH Engineering has released an updated version of its UgCS UAV mission planning software, introducing significant improvements in elevation data accuracy and user control over flight parameters. The latest version allows users to explicitly set flight altitude for photogrammetry and corridor mapping missions, moving beyond the previous requirement to use ground sample distance as the primary input. This change seeks to offer UAV operators greater clarity and precision, particularly for operations that demand specific altitudes […]

May 7, 2025 Learn about what happens when you trigger an interactive SOS message on an inReach device1, how the Garmin Response℠ team coordinates a rescue response, steps you can take to help aid in a rescue and more of the most frequently asked questions regarding the SOS process.  When can I trigger an SOS? Use your best judgment when triggering an SOS. There is no one-size-fits-all list, since each individual circumstance can impact the urgency […]