The European navigation system Galileo brings according to Ulrich Weimann, leader of the department of navigation in BMW, no big change with itself. With the GPS data navigation systems would find, actually, being enough, believes Weimann during the interview with the economic week.
„The resolution of the GPS system is enough. Then though with the resolution higher again of Galileo one can explain on which lane one rolls above the highway. But one does not win big added value thereby“, says Weimann in the economic week. Aber großen Mehrwert gewinnt man dadurch nicht“, sagt Weimann in der WirtschaftsWoche.

With integrated navigation systems Weimann sees chances in a „connection with other assistance systems like the night view radar“ or „while one maps and charts with on-line information about the weather condition, traffic states or the parking bay offer.
[via wiwo.de]

Europe's navigation system requires new receiver designs to make use of the transmissions from its satellite constellation. European industry is developing and supplying receivers for the in orbit validation of the system.

With the launch on 28 December in 2005 of GIOVE-A, the first Galileo satellite, Galileo, a joint programme of the European Space agency and the European Commission, became a reality in space. GIOVE-A allowed Europe to secure the frequencies allocated to Galileo by the Internationally Telecommunications union and test the new, critical technologies needed for this future, civil satellite navigation system. The main component of the mission is, of course, the satellite built by Surrey Satellite Systems Ltd in the United Kingdom. However, the validation mission would have been possible without several developments on the ground and, in particular, the equipment that allows reception of the signals transmitted by the satellite. The main component of the mission is, of course, the satellite built by Surrey Satellite Systems Ltd in the United Kingdom. However, the validation mission would not have been possible without several developments on the ground and, in particular, the equipment that allows reception of the signals transmitted by the satellite.
[full article ESA]

On this year's IT-fair, media fair and communication fair of "system" the winner of "Galileo Masters" of quoted price of the best uses was distinguished to the satellite-supported navigation system Galileo. The winner is called Connor Keegan and comes from Great Britain. Conor Keegan from Great Britain persuaded the jury from about 80 international experts with his use "GeoSynch". From the Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen and the "system" for the third time straightened idea competition stands under the patronage of the Bavarian state ministry of economy, infrastructure, traffic and technology and is supported by the German centre for aviation and astronautics inc. (DLR) and the European Space agency (ESA). More than 650 participants from whole Europe submitted since existence of the competition her innovative use ideas. Innovative solutions were distinguished this year for the most different branches: Seismografie, agriculture, real estates, Gaming, logistics and transportation.Conor Keegan aus Großbritannien überzeugte die Jury aus rund 80 internationalen Experten mit seiner Anwendung „GeoSynch“. Der von der Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen und der “Systems” zum dritten Mal ausgerichtete Ideewettbewerb steht unter der Schirmherrschaft des Bayerischen Staatsministeriums für Wirtschaft, Infrastruktur, Verkehr und Technologie und wird vom Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) und der European Space Agency (ESA) unterstützt. Über 650 Teilnehmer aus ganz Europa reichten seit Bestehen des Wettbewerbs ihre innovativen Anwendungsideen ein. Ausgezeichnet wurden in diesem Jahr innovative Lösungen für die unterschiedlichsten Branchen: Seismografie, Landwirtschaft, Immobilien, Gaming, Logistik und Transportwesen.

Geosynch uses the exact time signal of the navigation satellites to contribute to the prediction of natural disasters like earthquakes, volcano eruptions or Tsunamis. The time signals are used to measure the speed of sound under the earth's surface. Divergences in the speed of sound point to changes of the state, the tension and composition under the earth's surface. This information could be used in future as a part of an early warning system. In addition, Geosynch is able also for the search for ground water occurence and fossil fuels as oil and gas are used. By the integration of the time signal becomes the search not only more exactly but also cheaper. Abweichungen in der Schallgeschwindigkeit weisen auf Veränderungen des Zustands, der Spannung und Zusammensetzung unter der Erdoberfläche hin. Diese Informationen könnten zukünftig als Teil eines Frühwarnsystems genutzt werden. Geosynch kann darüber hinaus auch für die Suche nach Grundwasservorkommen und fossilen Brennstoffen, wie Öl und Gas eingesetzt werden. Durch die Integration des Zeitsignals wird die Suche nicht nur präziser sondern auch kostengünstiger.
[geopoint.de]

The planned European satellite system Galileo should tramp to the US-American Worldwide Positioning system (GPS) during the next ten years the rank. For this appraisal the euro spa cerium port reaches in 2006 of the consultation society of the same name.

The manufacturers of navigation systems develop according to Eurospace already the first Galileo devices; for a transition period the systems which support GPS as well as Galileo are planned. Indeed, the Galileo devices in the market will assert themselves after conviction of Eurospace because they navigate more exactly, are smaller, less stream can use and serve a row of additional services. Allerdings werden sich nach Überzeugung von Eurospace die Galileo-Geräte am Markt durchsetzen, weil sie präziser navigieren, kleiner sind, weniger Strom verbrauchen und mit einer Reihe von Zusatzdiensten aufwarten können.

[via xonio.com]

India and the European union (EU) would conclude soon in agreement providing for New Delhi's participation in the multinational billion dollar Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System.

Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon told reporters here that the talks on the agreement have reached in advanced stage and it could be ready for signing.

Hey what briefing media about the upcoming visit of Prime minister Manmohan Singh to Britain and Finland. In Helsinki, Singh wants attend the India Eu Summit and it is likely that the agreement may be signed during the visit.

The two sides inked a framework agreement in September read year during the visit of British Prime minister Tony Blair here.

The Galileo programme, a joint venture of European Commission and European Space agency initiative, represents the first worldwide satellite positioning and navigation system deployed at in estimated cost of 3.4 billion euros.

[via hindu.com]

Fourteen laser ranging stations participated jump in a campaign to track ESA's GIOVE-A satellite during the and summer of in 2006, providing invaluable data for the characterisation of the satellite's on-board clock. The campaign what co-ordinated by the Internationally laser Ranging service (ILRS) and the GIOVE Processing Centre at ESA-ESTEC.

GIOVE-A, developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (UK), what launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 28 December in 2005 and placed into a medium Earth orbit with in altitude of 23 260 km. Carrying a payload consisting of rubidium clocks, signal generation units and a phase array of individual l tape antenna elements, GIOVE-A started broadcasting Galileo signals on 12 January, securing the frequencies allocated by the Internationally Telecommunications union for the Galileo system.

The performance characterisation of the on-board clocks is significantly enhanced by the use of Satellite laser Ranging (SLR), a high precision technique for orbit determination that is independently of the navigation signal generation. The technique is based on a worldwide network of stations that measure the round flight time of ultra short laser pulses to satellites equipped with laser Retro Reflectors (LRR). Laser ranging provides instantaneous range measurements of millimetre level precision which can be used to derive accurate orbit data. Laser ranging provides instantaneous range measurements of millimetre-level precision which can be used to derive accurate orbit data.

GIOVE-A is equipped with a LRR having 76 corner cubes, manufactured by IPIE of Russia, which provides a return energy 40% high than GPS reflectors. The use of SLR data allows a more robustly orbit determination, and thus a more accurate clock characterisation. In addition, certain satellite properties relevant to navigation, look as the offset between the centre of measured and the centre of the navigational phase centre, can be verified and calibrated. In addition, certain satellite properties relevant to navigation, such as the offset between the centre of mass and the centre of the navigational phase centre, can be verified and calibrated.
[full story by physorg.com]

Nokia strongly places on navigation on mobile phone and, hence, wants to use in future the patents of the GPS expert Trimble in the area of Satellite navigation. Within the scope of an agreement with Trimble Nokia has acquired not only the exclusive rights for the use of wireless services via GPS and Galileo, but may licence the use also further. As a countermove Trimble receives them - however, not exclusive - rights to use Nokia patents for place-related services (location-based service) in his products. Im Gegenzug erhält Trimble die - jedoch nicht exklusiven - Rechte, Nokias Patente für ortsbezogene Dienste (location-based Service) in seinen Produkten einzusetzen.
[via golem.de]

Nokia said it has signed a patent licensing push with California-based navigation technology familiarly Trimble in a move that wants strengthen the location services it offers to its customers.

The agreement gives Nokia exclusive rights to use Trimble's patents covering location technologies look as GPS and Galileo for its wireless devices.

Nokia said it has the right to sub-licence the patents to other companies.
[via forbes.com]