QinetiQ, Xona Demonstrate GPS Resilience with New LEO Satellite Signals
QinetiQ and Xona Space Systems have tested how signals from Xona’s Pulsar low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites can be used alongside existing GNSS signals to increase resistance to spoofing and jamming in difficult or congested environments. The trials involved QinetiQ’s multi-band Q40 GNSS receiver, upgraded under the GRAPE project, acquiring and tracking signals from Xona’s Pulsar-0, as well as demonstrating global navigation performance improvements under the European Space Agency’s NAVISP program.
The partnership aims to enhance positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services for defense, critical infrastructure and autonomous applications, showing the technology is ready for real-world deployment.
Contact: Elwyn Shelley, QinetiQ, 44 (0) 7385 400018, ejshelley@qinetiq.com.
Swift Navigation and Lightbug Partner, Program Grows to 20 Companies
Swift Navigation and Lightbug have partnered to integrate Swift’s Skylark Precise Positioning Service into Lightbug’s IoT trackers, delivering centimeter-level location accuracy for worker safety and asset monitoring in critical industries, the companies say. The collaboration enables real-time kinematic (RTK) corrections through Lightbug’s RTK Handheld 2 and RTK Vehicle Tracker. This capability supports such safety functions as automated geofencing, lone worker alerts, and compliance with stringent requirements like the sub-300 mm accuracy standard of Network Rail.
In other company news, Swift has announced that its Swift Partner Program has grown to include over 20 GNSS receiver manufacturers, establishing it as the largest hardware ecosystem among GNSS correction providers, the company said.
Contact: Swift Navigation, press@swiftnav.com.
RTX’s Collins Aerospace Delivers First M-Code-Enabled NavHub-200M Units to Europe
Collins Aerospace, an RTX subsidiary, has delivered the first six NavHub-200M units to a European customer, marking the debut of the first non-ITAR vehicular navigation system compatible with encrypted military-grade M-code technology. The NavHub-200M is an assured positioning, navigation, and timing (APNT) receiver designed to interface with inertial sensors and odometers to significantly enhance resistance against jamming and spoofing threats, the company said. The NavHub-200M is manufactured at Collins Aerospace’s Heidelberg, Germany facility.
Contact: RTX, corporatepr@rtx.com.
U-blox, Nordian Extend Centimeter-Accurate GNSS Service Across South America
Thalwil, Switzerland-based u-blox has expanded its PointPerfect Flex PPP-RTK correction service into Argentina and Paraguay through a partnership with Nordian, building on existing coverage in Brazil to support precision agriculture, drone operations, and surveying professionals. The service delivers centimeter-level GNSS corrections without the need for local base station infrastructure, achieving 3–6 cm accuracy with rapid convergence and near-complete uptime via satellite and mobile internet, the company said.
In other company news, u-blox said it will take part in Jammertest from Sept. 15-19. The company will use its ZED-X20P with advanced signal integrity and Galileo OSNMA authentication during the event.
Contact: Sven Etzold, u-blox, 41 76 561 0066, sven.etzold@u-blox.com.
Point One Navigation Powers Precision for AeroVect’s Autonomous GSE Operations
AeroVect has partnered with Point One Navigation to integrate Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections into its AeroVect Driver system, achieving centimeter-level positioning accuracy, the company said. The added RTK precision enables AeroVect’s autonomous tractors to navigate complex airside environments—including aircraft crossings and dense GSE traffic—thereby reducing human error and increasing operational reliability, the company said.
Leveraging Point One’s Polaris RTK network, AeroVect can maintain consistent performance under diverse conditions while scaling its autonomous solutions across airports worldwide, the company said.
In other company news, Point One partnered with Auterion to integrate centimeter-level accuracy into Auterion OS-powered robotic fleets. This collaboration will include for autonomous systems, including aerial and ground vehicles, the company said.
Contact: Point One Navigation, press@pointonenav.com, www.pointonenav.com.
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EV Infrastructure Expansion Slows as Consumers Cite Charging Access Concerns
A new report from HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive shows that growth in electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the United States and Europe is slowing, even as consumer demand accelerates. The third annual HERE–SBD EV Index found the U.S. added 37,000 charge points and Europe added 245,000, but more than half of American drivers still cited limited access as the top barrier to adoption.
Survey data from more than 2,000 drivers revealed persistent concerns about charging availability, education, and price, with U.S. drivers more hesitant than Europeans to switch from gasoline vehicles. Researchers said the findings highlight the urgent need for greater policy support, investment, and data-driven planning to meet electrification targets.
Contact: Danielle Beer, HERE Technologies, (312) 342-9896, danielle.beer@here.com.
OpenSpace Unveils AI Autolocation, Bringing Real-Time Indoor Positioning to Smartphones
OpenSpace has introduced AI Autolocation, which gives smartphones the ability to track indoor positioning in real time without requiring specialized hardware like Bluetooth beacons, the company said. The technology compares live sensor data from the user’s device with sensor maps created from 360-degree captures on the OpenSpace platform, refining location estimates even as the job site changes, the company said. OpenSpace is deploying the feature in its new OpenSpace Field platform, which pins notes and photos to floorplans aligned with BIM models.
Contact: Meredith Obendorfer, OpenSpace, media@openspace.ai.
Nordic Inertial, Murata Team Up to Deliver Near-Navigation-Grade Positioning with Mass-Produced Sensors
Nordic Inertial and Murata Electronics have partnered to launch a solution that brings near-navigation-grade positioning to mass-produced MEMS inertial sensors, enabling GNSS-free vehicle navigation with accuracy within a few meters. The system combines Murata’s high-stability, low-noise automotive-grade MEMS inertial measurement units with Nordic Inertial’s physics-driven proprietary algorithms running on a Raspberry Pi 5, delivering real-time position and heading without relying on GNSS or a magnetic compass, the company said.vvThis fusion of scalable sensor hardware and advanced algorithmic modeling offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional satellite-based positioning, enhancing resilience in GNSS-denied environments, the company said.
Contact: Uula Kantojärvi, Nordic Inertial, 358-40-738 5084, uula.kantojarvi@nordicinertial.com.
People
- ICEYE Japan’s new CEO will be Yasuhiro Tsukahara, formerly the COO of Japan Space Imaging Corp., a satellite imagery and geospatial company.
- Peter Hawkins has joined Maxar Technologies as vice president and head of Asia Pacific.
- Jen Vigreux has been named CRO, xScale, Equinix.
- Arjan Spigt has been named senior advisor, mobility data at the Future Mobility Network.
- Pointr has named Deniz Çay as GIS/CAD Specialist.
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