lockheed martin GPS satellites built to last
Nov 3, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
This month marks the 10th year anniversary of Lockheed Martin-Built GPS Satellites’ on orbit operation.
This specific satellite was the third of GPS Block IIR which was launched in October 7th 1999. There are 29 more of these on orbit providing situational awareness and weapon guidance for the military, as well as support for civil, scientific and commercial functions – including air traffic control, ATM banking, and the Internet.
Next generation GPS satellites are called GPS III block and these will support anti-jam capabilities. The first of these new GPS satellites is supposed to launch in 2014.
Affective Intelligent Driving Agent
Nov 3, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
AIDA is Affective Intelligent Driving Agent. It is designed as a collaboration between MIT and Audi. In the near future you may see this little robot sitting in the dashboard of your Audi and learning where you work, live, shop, and party.
Aida learns from sensors inside your vehicle such as camera, windshield wipers, galvanic skin response, braking pressure, seat position, and also from sensor outside your vehicle such as vehicle ahead detection, fuel gauge, and more.
Aida is a context aware, socially perceptive, intuitively responsive digital driver assistant.
Must see video:
MSN Direct service to shutdown in 2012
Nov 2, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
That MSN direct service you may have paid for (possibly with your Garmin Nuvi) will be shutting down on January 1 2012.
I guess in this era of 3G connectivity having to pay for a wimpy service over FM signals to get movie time updates and gas prices isn’t that lucrative. Of course there was the traffic service too.
For decent live traffic updates you can use crowdsourced Google Maps, Inrix apps, and probably bunch of other services.
japanese navigation system pulls your ears
Oct 30, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
Read the rest of this entry »
This funny helmet you’re looking at is the “user interface” of a GPS navigation system that directs the lucky wearer by pulling their ear in the direction they need to head. Possible uses may include aiding the hearing and visual impaired with getting from point A to point B. Or it is just the Japanese being themselves again…
number of GPS chips will skyrocket
Oct 28, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
According to a study done by In-Stat the number of GPS chipsets will increase mostly due to their integration into mobile devices, sat navs, cellular phones, netbooks, and a variety of other portable devices. Categories with most expansion is expected are ultra mobile devices (UMDs), handheld games, portable media players, and even digital cameras.
GPS chipset shipments are expected to grow from 110 million in 2006, to 725 million in 2011. GPS chipset revenues are expected to grow from $520 million in 2006, to more than $1.3 billion in 2011, with the extremely high volumes offsetting the very rapid chipset price erosion.
Currently Qualcomm is quite big with cell phones with integrated GPS solution, while SiRF is the leader when it comes to standalone GPS navigation systems…
Read the rest of this entry »
Google Maps no longer using Tele Atlas
Oct 8, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
Google is no longer using Tele Atlas for their maps in the United States. However Tele Atlas is still providing Google with maps in bunch of other geographic locations around the world.
I guess Google is one step closer organizing worlds data all by themselves…
Read the rest of this entry »
fake GPS navigation system makes jokes
Oct 7, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
How about a GPS navigation system for only $19. The bad part is that it doesn’t give you any driving directions. It only makes some wisecrack jokes, in either G-rated or R-rated mode. 10 of each. It even has a backlit screen for night time use. Does include the suction window mount. Runs on 4 AA batteries.
It has no idea where you are going but it is motion activated…
Read the rest of this entry »
new EU satellite system to fine tune GPS
Oct 5, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
The European Union recently launched a satellite navigation network to fine tune U.S.’s world wide used GPS satellite accuracy from 10 meters down to 2 meters. The new solution will help pilots, motorists and even blind people.
The EGNOS system (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) will utilize three satellites and 40 ground stations to narrow the horizontal accuracy and make some improvement over the vertical accuracy.
EGNOS will be paving the way for Galileo project, a European satellite system which will eventually stop EU’s dependency on U.S’s GPS satellites by 2014.
EGNOS is open to everyone with a GPS/SBAS compatible receiver and currently covers 27 EU countries.
via
Sanyo and TomTom team up to take over America
Sep 17, 2009 gps navigation, misc news, tomtom
According to WSJ TomTom and Sanyo are joining their forces to sell their devices to car makers.
Japanese Sanyo announced yesterday that it will team up with Dutch TomTom to grab more market share in North America and Europe where the auto industry is supposedly picking up.
The collaboration between Sanyo and TomTom will supply auto makers with customized in-dash GPS navigation systems as early as 2010.
Sanyo has been making GPS navigation systems in Japan since 1993 where factory fitted sat nav system are more common place. On the other hand North Americans and Europeans are more into after market, windshield mounted, unsightly, portable systems.
Emil GPS treasure hunt
Sep 16, 2009 gps navigation, misc news
Finally a concept device that is feasible. It is actually called EMIL Experience Outdoors and it is a hand-held console that is similar to a GPS receiver with e-compass. “It allows you to form and execute treasure hunts (geocaches?), biking routes and expeditions, Hunting Mr. X in the field and Scouts Games. It can also come in handy to polish your Navigational Skills.”
See more of it at yankodesign. Read the rest of this entry »
Loading ...