CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- May 14, 2007 -- NovAtel Inc. (NASDAQ: NGPS), a precise positioning technology company, has received a license valid for 10 years from the European Space Agency (ESA), which allows NovAtel to sell receivers that track Galileo signals. Galileo is the European Union's state-of-the-art Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which is expected to be fully operable in 2010 to 2012 with up to 30 satellites orbiting the earth. It is designed for both civilian and government purposes and will be controlled and operated by civil management.
NovAtel's EuroPak-15a production standard receiver allows customers to not only receive GPS L1/L5 signals, but to also add the additional capability for Galileo L1/E5a tracking. "NovAtel's 10-year license granted by ESA is renewable, and allows NovAtel to sell Galileo/GIOVE-A capable receivers. This full license replaces a previous temporary agreement granted by ESA in March of this year. We are now able to move forward with commercial sales of Galileo-capable receivers," said Tony Murfin, NovAtel's Vice President, Business Development. "The EuroPak-15a is able to receive signals from the initial GIOVE-A test satellite, and will also support future planned In-Orbit Validation (IOV) signal structures."
NovAtel received this license based on its participation in the Galileo Receiver Chain (GRC) program. NovAtel has contributed to the Galileo development program since 2000, and the EuroPak-15a receivers were initially developed under a contract granted by the Canadian Space Agency in 2004. Recently, NovAtel announced that it was the first company outside Europe to be accepted as a Full Member of Galileo Services, a non-profit organization made up of a consortium of businesses and agencies involved with Galileo satellite system downstream technology and services.
About NovAtel
NovAtel Inc. (NASDAQ: NGPS) is a leading provider of precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) components and subsystems that afford its customers rapid integration of precise positioning technology. The Company's mission is to provide exceptional return on investment and outstanding service to our customers. An ISO 9001 certified company, NovAtel is focused on developing quality OEM products including receivers, antennas, enclosures and software that are integrated into high precision positioning applications worldwide. These applications include surveying, Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping, precision agriculture machine guidance, port automation, mining, marine and defence industries. NovAtel's reference receivers are also at the core of national aviation ground networks in the USA, Japan, Europe, China and India. The Company is committed to providing its customers with advanced positioning technology through significant R&D investment focusing on the modernized Global Positioning System (GPS), the revitalized Russian GLONASS and the emerging European Galileo satellite systems, as well as the integration of additional complementary technologies such as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). For more information, visit www.novatel.com.
Certain statements in this news release, including those about the Company's future plans and intentions, future performance and market acceptance of its Galileo technology and expected shipments into the Galileo system, long-term growth prospects, levels of activity or other future events, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on management's current expectations regarding NovAtel's future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures, competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''expect'', ''may'', ''could'', ''will'', ''potential'', ''intend'', ''estimate'', ''should'', ''plan'', ''predict'', "forecast" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including operating results of the Company's joint venture Point, Inc. ("Point"), impact and timing of large orders, U.S. dollar to Canadian dollar exchange rate fluctuations, establishing and maintaining effective distribution channels, certification and market acceptance of NovAtel's new products, credit risks of customers and the Company's joint venture Point, pricing pressures in the market and other competitive factors, maintaining technological leadership, timing of revenue recognition in connection with certain contracts, the ability to maintain supply of products from subcontract manufacturers, the procurement of components to build products, product defects, the impact of industry consolidations, vulnerability to general economic, market and business conditions, competition, environmental and other actions by governmental authorities, reliance on key personnel and other factors described in the Company's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2005 and other SEC filings, many of which are beyond the control of NovAtel. These factors should be considered carefully and undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and NovAtel assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.
Contacts:
NovAtel Inc.
Tony Murfin
(403) 295-4512
NovAtel Inc.
Sonia Ross
(403) 295-4532
Website: www.novatel.com
SOURCE: NovAtel Inc.
Showing posts with label galileo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label galileo. Show all posts
Monday, May 14, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Europe’s GPS Loses Signal
EU satellite navigation crisis deepens as deadline nears.
May 9, 2007
By Peter Purton
The European Union is scrambling to find a way to save its planned satellite navigation system, dubbed Galileo, as it becomes clear that members of the consortium managing the project are failing to reach agreement in the eleventh hour of an approaching deadline.
On Monday, consortium members appeared far from an agreement, saying they would rather stay away from the project than be faced with financial risks without guarantees of returns. It now looks inevitable that the consortium will lose the European Union’s backing, coming as a May 10 deadline nears to set a framework and appoint a leader.
The development is significant because Galileo is Europe’s answer to the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS) and Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), both military funded and controlled.
A deadline had been set for Aena, Alcatel-Lucent, Deutsche Telekom, EADS, Finmeccanica, Hispasat, Inmarsat, and Thales to seek agreement on a legal structure and a chief executive (see Europe’s GPS System at Risk).
Now it appears as if few alternatives remain except to scrap the project or inject significant new public funds into it. Neither option is likely to appeal to European leaders as the first would mean a major image fiasco and the second a very unpopular use of tax money.
“Our view is that the current scenario to put Galileo into place cannot work,” said Michael Cercone, spokesman for European Commission transport commissioner Jacques Barrot. The Commission is due to present alternative plans to European transport ministers May 16. As well as pumping more money into it or dumping it altogether, another option would be to take over the project directly.
Initially the European initiative was opposed by the U.S. government, but opposition has since been relaxed. If Galileo goes ahead it will be the first non-government satellite positioning system and will be compatible with both GPS and GLONASS.
Galileo has been in planning since 1999 and it had been hoped that it would be in operation by 2008. Even if it does somehow go ahead it now looks as if a fully operational commercial service may not be available before 2014. And the initial hope that the public would pay only a third of the anticipated costs of 3.6 billion euros ($4.9 billion) looks lost.
Source: http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=22230&hed=Europe%E2%80%99s+GPS+Loses+Signal§or=Industries&subsector=Communications
May 9, 2007
By Peter Purton
The European Union is scrambling to find a way to save its planned satellite navigation system, dubbed Galileo, as it becomes clear that members of the consortium managing the project are failing to reach agreement in the eleventh hour of an approaching deadline.
On Monday, consortium members appeared far from an agreement, saying they would rather stay away from the project than be faced with financial risks without guarantees of returns. It now looks inevitable that the consortium will lose the European Union’s backing, coming as a May 10 deadline nears to set a framework and appoint a leader.
The development is significant because Galileo is Europe’s answer to the United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS) and Russia’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), both military funded and controlled.
A deadline had been set for Aena, Alcatel-Lucent, Deutsche Telekom, EADS, Finmeccanica, Hispasat, Inmarsat, and Thales to seek agreement on a legal structure and a chief executive (see Europe’s GPS System at Risk).
Now it appears as if few alternatives remain except to scrap the project or inject significant new public funds into it. Neither option is likely to appeal to European leaders as the first would mean a major image fiasco and the second a very unpopular use of tax money.
“Our view is that the current scenario to put Galileo into place cannot work,” said Michael Cercone, spokesman for European Commission transport commissioner Jacques Barrot. The Commission is due to present alternative plans to European transport ministers May 16. As well as pumping more money into it or dumping it altogether, another option would be to take over the project directly.
Initially the European initiative was opposed by the U.S. government, but opposition has since been relaxed. If Galileo goes ahead it will be the first non-government satellite positioning system and will be compatible with both GPS and GLONASS.
Galileo has been in planning since 1999 and it had been hoped that it would be in operation by 2008. Even if it does somehow go ahead it now looks as if a fully operational commercial service may not be available before 2014. And the initial hope that the public would pay only a third of the anticipated costs of 3.6 billion euros ($4.9 billion) looks lost.
Source: http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=22230&hed=Europe%E2%80%99s+GPS+Loses+Signal§or=Industries&subsector=Communications
European GPS rival transmits first navigation data
Bangalore (India) - Galileo, a European project that aims to create a civilian global navigation infrastructure, has reached a major milestone as the European Space Agency (ESA) today reported that the Giove-A satellite has transmitted the first navigation message.
Giove-A is the first of 30 satellites that the ESA and the European Commission plan to deploy at an altitude of 23,222 km to build “Galileo”, a global navigation system that is compatible with the American GPS and the Russian GLONASS. However, while Galileo will be compatible with these two older systems, it does not have a military background and is intended to secure Europe’s independence from GPS and GLONASS.
According to the ESA, a first navigation message including a navigation signal and a navigation message was uplinked to Giove-A on May 2 from the Guildford ground station. The organization explained that the message was similar to those that will be sent by the operational Galileo system and contained the information needed to measure the distance from the satellite to the user receiver
Illustration of the Giove-A satellite
Giove-A has been transmitting general signals since January 12 of last year, ESA said.
According to the organization, Galileo will be able to provide navigation data with an accuracy of about 1 meter or about 3 ft. When fully installed, Galileo will consist of 30 satellite, organized at an inclination of the orbital planes of 56 degrees. 27 of the satellites will be operational and three will act as active spares. ESA expects that the navigation system will provide coverage up to the North Cape.
Galileo is expected to be fully deployed by 2012, with operation beginning in 2008. Compared to today’s GPS, Galileo will also have a commercial component, allowing technology firms to create fee-based, “value-added” services for the system.
Source: http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/31911/113/
Giove-A is the first of 30 satellites that the ESA and the European Commission plan to deploy at an altitude of 23,222 km to build “Galileo”, a global navigation system that is compatible with the American GPS and the Russian GLONASS. However, while Galileo will be compatible with these two older systems, it does not have a military background and is intended to secure Europe’s independence from GPS and GLONASS.
According to the ESA, a first navigation message including a navigation signal and a navigation message was uplinked to Giove-A on May 2 from the Guildford ground station. The organization explained that the message was similar to those that will be sent by the operational Galileo system and contained the information needed to measure the distance from the satellite to the user receiver
Illustration of the Giove-A satellite
Giove-A has been transmitting general signals since January 12 of last year, ESA said.
According to the organization, Galileo will be able to provide navigation data with an accuracy of about 1 meter or about 3 ft. When fully installed, Galileo will consist of 30 satellite, organized at an inclination of the orbital planes of 56 degrees. 27 of the satellites will be operational and three will act as active spares. ESA expects that the navigation system will provide coverage up to the North Cape.
Galileo is expected to be fully deployed by 2012, with operation beginning in 2008. Compared to today’s GPS, Galileo will also have a commercial component, allowing technology firms to create fee-based, “value-added” services for the system.
Source: http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/31911/113/
Friday, April 13, 2007
China launches navigation satellite
BEIJING - A Chinese rocket placed a navigation satellite in orbit Saturday as part of an effort to build a global positioning system, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The satellite was the fourth China has launched as part of its Compass navigation system, which will provide the country with navigation and positioning services beginning in 2008, Xinhua said.
A decade ago China grew worried about dependence on the U.S. satellite Global Positioning System network, the dominant positioning system, and began to develop alternatives. Besides the Compass system, China is investing in the European Union ‘s Galileo satellite navigation system and is talking about participating in Russia‘s GLONASS.
Source: Local News Watch
The satellite was the fourth China has launched as part of its Compass navigation system, which will provide the country with navigation and positioning services beginning in 2008, Xinhua said.
A decade ago China grew worried about dependence on the U.S. satellite Global Positioning System network, the dominant positioning system, and began to develop alternatives. Besides the Compass system, China is investing in the European Union ‘s Galileo satellite navigation system and is talking about participating in Russia‘s GLONASS.
Source: Local News Watch
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Navigation satellite wars
GPS is not the only global navigation satellite system out there, at least not for long. There are other nations trying to break their dependence from USA’s globally available free service - which can be shut down at will of U.S. military. Not to mention GPS (Navstar) is aging (even older than 1st generation iPods!!!) fast and it needs some serious upgrading.
European Union - Galileo
Initiated in 1999, Galileo is a joint effort of European countries. When first started, the U.S. opposed the plans stating that it would end their ability to control positioning satellites in military conflict scenarios. The pressure from the U.S. backfired and as a result the Galileo project was over-funded by European nations who decided it was crucial to be independent of U.S. controlled GPS.
The total cost of the system is expected to be around €3 billions. Galileo is funded by EU nations and China.
Primarily intended for civilians, Galileo will support different kinds of services: OS (open service) will broadcast in two bands (1164–1214 MHz and at 1563–1591 MHz) and when both are used you’ll be able to get <4 meter accuracy. CS (commercial service) will require a fee but if used with ground stations it will be able provide accuracy of less than 10 cm’s. It will use an extra band at 1260–1300 MHz in addition to the OS frequencies.
* Number of satellites: 30
* Completion Date: 2011
* Current Status: First satellite launched in December 2005 and first ‘Galileo’ signal received in January 2006.
China - Beidou
China’s Beidou was first planned to be used for military purposes but Chinese government has already announced it will be free for civilians as well. This would conflict with EU’s Galileo which plans to profit from selling of receivers and subscriptions to benefit from high accuracy signals.
* Completion Date: Coverage of China and neighbors by 2008 - global coverage in later years
* Number of satellites: 35
* Current Status: 4 satellites in orbit
Russia - Glonass
Russia’s Glonass has a long history which goes as far back as the peak of Cold War. The Glonass system has never been globally available since then, mostly due to instability in Soviet Union and current Russia. India, and possibly China, collaborate with Russia on Glonass. Since 1992 Russia has launched 44 satellites, some of which are no longer in service. Glonass’ civilian signal - which is only available half the time in Russia, and less globally - can provide <100 meters of accuracy. Military signals are better, providing accuracy of <15 meters. Russia has announced that it would make military grade signals available this year.
* Completion Date: 2011
* Number of satellites: 24
* Current Status: 16 in orbit, 5 of which is switched off. 12 more scheduled to be in orbit in the next two years
India - IRNSS
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, IRNSS, was recently approved with a budget just over $300 million. IRNSS is planned to provide only regional coverage provided by 7 satellites.
* Number of satellites: 7
* Completion Date: 2011
* Current Status: First satellite to be launched in 2008
USA - Navstar (GPS)
It is the only fully functional, globally available navigation satellite system so far. It is free for everybody on this planet. The first one of the satellites was launched in 1978 and the system has benn fully operational since 1995. However the satellites get old and need to be replaced and technological advancements require GPS to be upgraded.
The modernization has been approved since 2000 and is called GPS III. The new system will provide capabilities such as to shut off GPS service to a limited geographical location while providing GPS to US forces. The new GPS III satellites will still provide legacy capabilities while adding high-powered, anti-jam military-code signals.
These satellites will have about 500 times the transmitter power of the current system, multiplying its resistance to jamming. With a constellation of 30-32 satellites, GPS III will have second and third frequencies to contain civilian signal, L2 & L5, more robust signal transmissions, and provide real-time unaugmented 1 meter accuracy.
Completion Date: 2011
Number of satellites: 24+
Current Status: Fully functional, upgrade in process
Cource: Navigadget
European Union - GalileoInitiated in 1999, Galileo is a joint effort of European countries. When first started, the U.S. opposed the plans stating that it would end their ability to control positioning satellites in military conflict scenarios. The pressure from the U.S. backfired and as a result the Galileo project was over-funded by European nations who decided it was crucial to be independent of U.S. controlled GPS.
The total cost of the system is expected to be around €3 billions. Galileo is funded by EU nations and China.
Primarily intended for civilians, Galileo will support different kinds of services: OS (open service) will broadcast in two bands (1164–1214 MHz and at 1563–1591 MHz) and when both are used you’ll be able to get <4 meter accuracy. CS (commercial service) will require a fee but if used with ground stations it will be able provide accuracy of less than 10 cm’s. It will use an extra band at 1260–1300 MHz in addition to the OS frequencies.
* Number of satellites: 30
* Completion Date: 2011
* Current Status: First satellite launched in December 2005 and first ‘Galileo’ signal received in January 2006.
China - BeidouChina’s Beidou was first planned to be used for military purposes but Chinese government has already announced it will be free for civilians as well. This would conflict with EU’s Galileo which plans to profit from selling of receivers and subscriptions to benefit from high accuracy signals.
* Completion Date: Coverage of China and neighbors by 2008 - global coverage in later years
* Number of satellites: 35
* Current Status: 4 satellites in orbit
Russia - GlonassRussia’s Glonass has a long history which goes as far back as the peak of Cold War. The Glonass system has never been globally available since then, mostly due to instability in Soviet Union and current Russia. India, and possibly China, collaborate with Russia on Glonass. Since 1992 Russia has launched 44 satellites, some of which are no longer in service. Glonass’ civilian signal - which is only available half the time in Russia, and less globally - can provide <100 meters of accuracy. Military signals are better, providing accuracy of <15 meters. Russia has announced that it would make military grade signals available this year.
* Completion Date: 2011
* Number of satellites: 24
* Current Status: 16 in orbit, 5 of which is switched off. 12 more scheduled to be in orbit in the next two years
India - IRNSSIndian Regional Navigation Satellite System, IRNSS, was recently approved with a budget just over $300 million. IRNSS is planned to provide only regional coverage provided by 7 satellites.
* Number of satellites: 7
* Completion Date: 2011
* Current Status: First satellite to be launched in 2008
USA - Navstar (GPS)It is the only fully functional, globally available navigation satellite system so far. It is free for everybody on this planet. The first one of the satellites was launched in 1978 and the system has benn fully operational since 1995. However the satellites get old and need to be replaced and technological advancements require GPS to be upgraded.
The modernization has been approved since 2000 and is called GPS III. The new system will provide capabilities such as to shut off GPS service to a limited geographical location while providing GPS to US forces. The new GPS III satellites will still provide legacy capabilities while adding high-powered, anti-jam military-code signals.
These satellites will have about 500 times the transmitter power of the current system, multiplying its resistance to jamming. With a constellation of 30-32 satellites, GPS III will have second and third frequencies to contain civilian signal, L2 & L5, more robust signal transmissions, and provide real-time unaugmented 1 meter accuracy.
Completion Date: 2011
Number of satellites: 24+
Current Status: Fully functional, upgrade in process
Cource: Navigadget
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Russia’s GLONASS and Europe’s Galileo to unite against USA’s GPS
Russian global positioning system GLONASS, the world’s only functioning competitor of the US GPS, and the European system Galileo will be supplementary to each other, according to the head of the Russian Space Agency Anatoly Perminov. “We should create these systems in a way to make GLONASS and Galileo efficient and compatible”, Perminov said after the meeting with the head of the European Space Agency J.J. Dordenom and the head of the General Directorate on Business and Industry of the European Commission H. Surek.
GLONASS and Galileo vs. GPS (dutchspace.nl)
Perminov informed that the talks resulted in the agreement according to which "the work of the systems GLONASS and Galielo will be possible on the same consumers’ equipment". Within the frameworks of the agreement specific works on technical compatibility of both systems are already planned. Cooperation in satellite navigation is one of the seven directions of the cooperation between Russian and European Space Agencies.
In spite of the fact the full-fledged Russian system consisting of 24 satellites will start working globally in 2009 and the Europeans “are just in the beginning” the agreement is politically and economically advantageous for Russians. First of all it brings Russia closer to the huge and rich European market, as well as to the consumers in the regions which are oriented towards European hardware. Secondly, civil use of the navigation system is considered a bottle neck for the Russian project, therefore joining the efforts with the Europe, where satellite navigation is already widely spread, is a tangible moral support. The last but not least is that Russian and European systems together will be a far more competitive alternative to the American GPS than each system alone.
Yuri Seleznyov
Pravda.ru
GLONASS and Galileo vs. GPS (dutchspace.nl)
Perminov informed that the talks resulted in the agreement according to which "the work of the systems GLONASS and Galielo will be possible on the same consumers’ equipment". Within the frameworks of the agreement specific works on technical compatibility of both systems are already planned. Cooperation in satellite navigation is one of the seven directions of the cooperation between Russian and European Space Agencies.
In spite of the fact the full-fledged Russian system consisting of 24 satellites will start working globally in 2009 and the Europeans “are just in the beginning” the agreement is politically and economically advantageous for Russians. First of all it brings Russia closer to the huge and rich European market, as well as to the consumers in the regions which are oriented towards European hardware. Secondly, civil use of the navigation system is considered a bottle neck for the Russian project, therefore joining the efforts with the Europe, where satellite navigation is already widely spread, is a tangible moral support. The last but not least is that Russian and European systems together will be a far more competitive alternative to the American GPS than each system alone.
Yuri Seleznyov
Pravda.ru
India joins Russian GPS system
NEW DELHI: India's quest for a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system has ended. It will access the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), ending speculation that India was considering being a part of the network, formerly a military system, now open to civilian use.India's search for a GPS system had seen it engage in negotiations with the European project Galileo, but the deal had run into security concerns. Indian negotiators were not satisfied that the information accessible on the proposed system was adequately firewalled against individuals and possible military users. China is also part of Galileo.
Recent discussions with Russia had seen reports last week that India could be part of GLONASS. A decision has now been taken and India will be able to access the constellation of active satellites which transmit coded signals in two frequency bands.
These can be used to identify position and velocity in real time based on ranging arrangements. Access to the GPS-type system has important advantages in managing traffic, roadways and ports. It is also an important tool for police and security agencies to track stolen vehicles or those being driven by criminals. It has implications for national disaster warning and will be useful in commercial transactions dealing with sale and exchange of geographical and economic data.
Individual users can find it beneficial for navigation, from hand-held devices taken on treks to systems in cars and trucks. It is used in geo-physical studies, entering data into a geographic information system and wildlife management. In military terms, it enhances accuracy of weapons and so reduces the "fog of war".
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_joins_Russian_GPS_system/articleshow/1502481.cms
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