Weekly Product News

September 8, 2026

Send your news releases to kdennehy@driverlessreport.com. Go to www.locationbusinessnews.com for more news and an archive of stories.

SATELLAI, Deutsche Telekom IoT and Swift Navigation expand pet tracking tech at IFA 2026

AI-powered pet wellbeing firm SATELLAI highlighted an expanded collaboration with Deutsche Telekom IoT and Swift Navigation on Sept. 8 at the IFA 2026 trade show in Berlin, unifying artificial intelligence, global cellular connectivity, and high-precision positioning for smart pet wearables. The partnership integrates Swift Navigation’s location technology to enhance GPS-based features like virtual boundaries, route histories, and escape alerts, while Deutsche Telekom IoT delivers international network infrastructure for continuous data transmission.

SATELLAI, Swift Navigation and Deutsche Telecom execs at IFA (SATELLAI).

Designed to support SATELLAI’s global expansion across Europe and the United States, the multi-layered platform continuously feeds pet activity and behavioral data into cloud-based AI systems to help owners detect early health changes over time, the company said. By combining precise location tracking with behavioral analysis, the companies aim to transition traditional pet trackers into a comprehensive, data-driven preventive health platform.

Contact: David Teaster, SATELLAI, david.teaster@satellai.com, www.satellai.com.

NextNav Partners With Tiami Networks To Advance Counter-Drone Sensing Capabilities

NextNav NN 0.00%↑ has partnered with Tiami Networks to develop 5G-powered counter-unmanned aircraft system (UAS) detection solutions. The collaboration leverages integrated sensing and communications technology over NextNav’s licensed Lower 900 MHz spectrum to deliver long-range, wide-area drone detection. Testing will take place on NextNav’s 5G terrestrial network in Santa Clara County, Calif., while simultaneously delivering 3D positioning, navigation, and timing data. The resulting assessments aim to protect critical infrastructure, airports, large events, and national security sites from low-altitude drone threats.

Contact: NextNav, nnmedia@nextnav.com, www.nextnav.com.

Cofiroute Selects TomTom Traffic To Improve French Motorway Management

Cofiroute, a division of VINCI Autoroutes, has selected TomTom Traffic to enhance real-time traffic monitoring and driver communication across its toll road network. By integrating TomTom Route Monitoring, the operator gains real-time visibility into traffic flow to accelerate incident management and improve decision-making for ground teams.

Cofiroute and TomTom have partnered for traffic monitoring on toll road networks (TomTom).

The location data empowers Cofiroute to push live traffic updates directly to road users via variable message sign boards, mobile applications, and official websites. The partnership strengthens Cofiroute’s operational efficiency while helping drivers navigate motorway disruptions with timely, reliable information, the company said.

Contact: TomTom, www.tomtom.com.

u-blox integrates Swiss national time service to boost GNSS timing validation

Thalwil, Switzerland-based u-blox has announced that it has integrated Switzerland’s official UTC-traceable timing infrastructure directly into its primary GNSS test laboratory in Thalwil. Developed in collaboration with the Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) and network provider Switch, the system uses White Rabbit optical synchronization technology to deliver nanosecond-accurate, traceable timing signals over a secure fiber-optic network.

The integration of Switzerland’s UTC-traceable timing infrastructure at u-blox GNSS test laboratory in Thalwil (u-blox).

By bringing national time standards directly into its testing facility, u-blox can rapidly validate hardware and software updates for its GNSS timing receivers without relying on external metrology labs. The direct laboratory connection also enables long-term stability testing across weeks or months, ensuring high-integrity clock synchronization for critical infrastructure such as 5G telecom networks, power grids, and financial systems.

Contact: Sven Etzold, u-blox, 41 76 561 0066, sven.etzold@u-blox.com.

Iridium, Deutsche Telekom IoT Transmit Voice Message From Toyota Vehicle Via Satellite

Iridium IRDM 0.00%↑ and Deutsche Telekom IoT announced the successful transmission of a voice message from a Toyota vehicle using the Iridium NTN Direct satellite service during Telekom Satellite Day 2026. Transmitted over Iridium’s low-Earth orbit constellation using a Nordic Semiconductor development board and a Deutsche Telekom SIM, the milestone message leveraged Fraunhofer’s AI-based voice codec operating at 1 kb/s. The demonstration follows a global roaming agreement between the two firms that enables compatible narrowband-IoT devices to switch between ground cellular networks and satellite coverage.

Contact: Jordan Hassin, Iridium, (703) 287-7421, jordan.hassin@iridium.com.

Zainar joins Arm Total Design to Bring Location Awareness to Physical AI

Zainar has announced that it has joined the Arm Total Design ARM 0.00%↑ ecosystem to integrate precise location-tracking technology into custom semiconductor designs for physical artificial intelligence. By incorporating Zainar’s software-defined, sub-meter positioning capabilities onto Arm-based silicon, chipmakers can enable real-time spatial awareness for autonomous robotics, industrial automation, and connected devices directly at the edge, the company said. The collaboration leverages Arm’s Neoverse compute platforms and custom SoC architecture to accelerate the deployment of location-intelligent silicon while drastically reducing hardware power consumption.

Contact: Zainar, zainartech.com.

Create a FREE ManyMe Account.

Garmin Unveils Redesigned Garmin Drive GPS Series With Ultrawide Displays

Garmin GRMN 0.00%↑ has announced the launch of its redesigned Garmin Drive GPS series, featuring low-profile, edge-to-edge ultrawide displays in 7.1-inch and 8.8-inch configurations. The new dashboard navigators enhance situational awareness by displaying upcoming traffic lights, stop signs, speed changes, and sharp curves directly on high-resolution map views.

Simplify the drive with modern GPS that offers a low-profile design and seamless navigation for the daily commute, long-distance travel and everything in-between (Garmin).

Drivers can access real-time traffic updates, weather alerts, dynamic fuel pricing, and live electric vehicle charging station availability by pairing the unit with the Garmin Drive smartphone application, the company said. Preloaded with detailed street maps of North America, the devices are available now with suggested retail prices ranging from $299.99 to $349.99.

Contact: Mike Cummings, Garmin, (913) 397-8200, media.relations@garmin.com.

Study Estimates Vehicle Bridge Strikes Cost Australian Economy $101 million Annually

Vehicle strikes against low-clearance bridges cost the Australian economy an estimated $101 million during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, according to research by HERE Technologies, the Australian Logistics Council, and HoustonKemp. The study identified roughly 1,220 incidents nationwide, projecting that total economic losses could reach $869 million over the next decade if left unaddressed.

Bridge strikes cost Australian economy $101 million last year (HERE Technologies).

Financial fallout extends beyond physical repairs to include secondary traffic delays, rail service cancellations, supply chain disruptions, and public emergency response expenses, with the general community absorbing over 40% of the total burden. Geographically, 97% of these strikes occurred along east coast freight corridors, where heavy commercial transit intersects with height-restricted urban infrastructure. Industry leaders stressed that these incidents are largely preventable through modern, dimension-aware in-vehicle navigation systems and targeted infrastructure planning.

Contact: Vanessa Lee, HERE Technologies, 65 9188 6199, vanessa.lee@here.com.

Hexagon NovAtel updates OEM7 firmware to support Galileo High Accuracy Service

Hexagon’s NovAtel positioning division has released firmware version 7.10.02 for its OEM7 global navigation satellite system receivers. The software update enables native support for the European Union’s Galileo High Accuracy Service, delivering precise point positioning corrections directly via satellite signal without requiring paid subscriptions or cellular data connections. In addition to expanding open-access positioning capabilities, the release streamlines subscription and correction service management across NovAtel’s hardware lineup. The firmware is available now as a free download for OEM7 receiver modules and PwrPak7 enclosure products through the company’s customer support portal.

Contact: NovAtel, support.novatel@hexagon.com.

AEye’s Apollo Lidar Selected for Lunar Outpost’s Artemis Rover

AEye LIDR 0.00%↑ has announced that its Apollo long-range lidar has been selected by space mobility firm Lunar Outpost for integration onto the Pegasus Lunar Terrain Vehicle. The multi-million-dollar contract award expands AEye’s commercial footprint into space mobility as NASA prepares to transport Artemis astronauts across the lunar South Pole.

AEye’s Apollo lidar has been selected by Lunar Outpost for lunar vehicle (Lunar Outpost).

Selected for its solid-state design and software-defined architecture, the sensor will support terrain perception, obstacle detection, and autonomous navigation without requiring hardware modifications. The technology will assist both crews and mission operators in traversing the moon’s surface as part of efforts to establish a permanent lunar presence, the company said.

Contact: AEye, (925) 400-4366, info@aeye.ai.

People

Tanner Whitmire has been named vice president of sales and support for Hexagon’s Agriculture Division.
Fugro names Emiel Jongerius as new CFO.
Intergraph founder and former CEO Jim Meadlock dies.
PHY Wireless has appointed Andrew Garman as strategic advisor.
Innoviz Technologies INVZ 0.00%↑ appoints Yoav Har-Even as chairman of the board of directors.
Travis Bowland has joined Iridium as senior business development manager.
Bryan Galusha has been named head of growth at RTKdata.com.
TrustPoint has named Alexandre Belli as GNSS timing engineer.
Shailyn Bautista Jaquez has been named head of customer success at Point One Navigation.
Rob de Klerk has joined Samsara as mid-market account executive.