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The FLAMINGO project, partly funded by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), developed the infrastructure, solutions, and services needed to enable the use of highly accurate and precise GNSS within the mass-market, particularly using smartphones and IoT devices. The project, which ended last May, delivered a successful solution that is now taking wings.

FLAMINGO (Fulfilling enhanced Location Accuracy in the Mass-market through Initial GalileO services) unleashed the potential of GNSS, leveraging Galileo’s dual-frequency signal for improved LBS performance in urban environments. FLAMINGO created a positioning service that  improves accuracy for smartphones and IoT devices, from approximately 5-25 metres down to 0.5-1 metre. These results enhance user experience and lay the foundation for the rollout of new and improved features in location-based apps, and the development of next-gen apps.

Read this: Galileo Masters – the EUSPA SatCom Challenge

In addition to the world’s first sub-metre accuracy positioning service for smartphones, the project also created first-generation products that the early adopters of this emerging technology are beginning to investigate. The project’s service, solution and potential were demonstrated to mass-market app developers through a series of hackathons and demonstration events. 

FLAMINGO was a collaborative venture comprising key European space and GNSS players such as  NSL, Telespazio France, University of Nottingham, Rokubun, Thales Alenia Space France, VVA, ECLEXYS, and Blue Dot Solutions. 

Leveraging the benefits

Blue Dot Solutions, one of the project’s partner, a company specialized in advanced solutions based on satellite data, such as GNSS signals or Earth observation imagery, and developing and building personalised systems and applications for different sectors, developed Ground Eye.

Targeting aviation, Ground Eye is a technology platform to monitor mobile ground infrastructure at airports. The system leverages Galileo’s added precision, fast and reliable data transmission, data analysis, collision and threat detection system and the highest level of security to locate, plan and manage airport assets.

And this: BroadGNSS to launch open market consultation

Ground Eye brings multiple benefits for both airports and passengers - it does not require any additional infrastructure, delivers smoother operations, reduced risk of accidents or missing equipment, and greater employee and passenger satisfaction. The solution was tested at Gdansk airport in 2019 and is currently ready to be used at any commercial airport.

Framework for innovation

FLAMINGO was just one of many projects funded under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, which supported breakthroughs, discoveries, and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the research lab to the market. Check here for an overview of innovative GNSS-driven projects funded in various market segments.

This work is now being continued under the successor programme Horizon Europe. With an overall budget of EUR 95.5 billion, Horizon Europe will facilitate collaboration and strengthen the impact of research and innovation in tackling global challenges. EUSPA will support the programme by stimulating the market and promoting the creation of commercial solutions for the downstream space sector.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

The space topic has been a key focus of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union Council, with the EU Space Programme regulation publication. Portugal is now handing over the baton to Slovenia, which has already set the space priorities for its Presidency.

Space is playing an increasingly important role in the priorities of the European Council Presidencies, and space featured prominently on the Portuguese Presidency’s agenda. At the New Space Atlantic Summit, which took place on 8 June, the Portuguese Presidency marked the launch of the European Union’s Space Programme and looked at the impact of New Space on European productivity and competitiveness.

New Space

The summit focused on the development of New Space, including the use of space technology and applications in non-space sectors and to support public policies. At the summit opening session, European Union Agency for the Space programme (EUSPA) Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa outlined EUSPA’s role as the key actor in the European Union’s New Space approach.

Read this: EUSPA at the heart of EU’s New Space approach

EUSPA also participated in other Portuguese Presidency space-related events, like the Africa-Europe Earth Observation Forum, where EUSPA representatives gave inputs on how space can boost entrepreneurship in Africa and strengthen European-African cooperation; and the Portugal-Czech Republic Economic Forum, and Aviation Day which, inter alia, looked at the role of space in Europe’s recovery and its green and digital future.

The key areas of focus of the upcoming Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council in the area of space are space traffic management, bringing the benefits of space to everyone, and space-based secure connectivity. With its goal of linking space to user needs and expanded mandate to include the GOVSATCOM secure communications programme and Space Situational Awareness (SSA), EUSPA looks forward to working with the Slovenian Presidency on these topics.

Slovenia and space

EU Member States, including Slovenia, understand the potential of space-enabled services to address challenges, drive innovation and enhance competitiveness. Slovenian start-ups are realizing more and more the added-value EUSpace can bring to their operations. Several of them have benefitted from EUSPA support in getting their space-based applications to the market. For example, the first-prize winner in Track 1 (from idea to prototype) of this year’s MyGalileoSolution competition was the Slovenian project VisionAnchor the world's first video anchor monitoring system for boats.   

 The Slovenian Presidency of the Council has several EUSpace initiatives in its agenda, including awareness raising-events which will take place either online or physically addressing topics such as “Space for Green and Digital Recovery” and the “Secure Connectivity Initiative”. 

“Slovenia believes that also small nations and SMEs can play a very significant role in Space, working hand in hand with big Space faring nations. Our goal during the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU is to bring space closer to everyone, including citizens and SMEs,” commented the Slovenian Ministry of economic development and technology, responsible for Space, Directorate for internationalisation on behalf of the Slovenian Presidency.

And this: CASSINI hackathon leverages space to digitise green spaces

What’s more, Slovenia is set to host the upcoming CASSINI hackathons initiated by the European Commission to tackle global challenges using European space technologies. In the first hackathon in the series, participants will use Copernicus Earth observation data, together with positioning technologies from Galileo and EGNOS, in an effort to digitise Europe’s green spaces.

Supporting EU priorities

The EU Space Programme is a joint effort and asset of all the European Union Member States.  EUSPA is working to ensure that the Space Programme delivers the services and applications needed to support key EU policies.

From the European Green Deal to digitisation or an economy that works for people, Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus are driving innovation and enabling services and applications that support Europe’s economic growth and the EU’s key priorities for Europe. See here for more info on how space is supporting EU policy.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).

The space topic has been a key focus of the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union Council, with the EU Space Programme regulation publication. Portugal is now handing over the baton to Slovenia, which has already set the space priorities for its Presidency.

Space is playing an increasingly important role in the priorities of the European Council Presidencies, and space featured prominently on the Portuguese Presidency’s agenda. At the New Space Atlantic Summit, which took place on 8 June, the Portuguese Presidency marked the launch of the European Union’s Space Programme and looked at the impact of New Space on European productivity and competitiveness.

New Space

The summit focused on the development of New Space, including the use of space technology and applications in non-space sectors and to support public policies. At the summit opening session, European Union Agency for the Space programme (EUSPA) Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa outlined EUSPA’s role as the key actor in the European Union’s New Space approach.

Read this: EUSPA at the heart of EU’s New Space approach

EUSPA also participated in other Portuguese Presidency space-related events, like the Africa-Europe Earth Observation Forum, where EUSPA representatives gave inputs on how space can boost entrepreneurship in Africa and strengthen European-African cooperation; and the Portugal-Czech Republic Economic Forum, and Aviation Day which, inter alia, looked at the role of space in Europe’s recovery and its green and digital future.

The key areas of focus of the upcoming Slovenian Presidency of the EU Council in the area of space are space traffic management, bringing the benefits of space to everyone, and space-based secure connectivity. With its goal of linking space to user needs and expanded mandate to include the GOVSATCOM secure communications programme and Space Situational Awareness (SSA), EUSPA looks forward to working with the Slovenian Presidency on these topics.

Slovenia and space

EU Member States, including Slovenia, understand the potential of space-enabled services to address challenges, drive innovation and enhance competitiveness. Slovenian start-ups are realizing more and more the added-value EUSpace can bring to their operations. Several of them have benefitted from EUSPA support in getting their space-based applications to the market. For example, the first-prize winner in Track 1 (from idea to prototype) of this year’s MyGalileoSolution competition was the Slovenian project VisionAnchor the world's first video anchor monitoring system for boats.   

 The Slovenian Presidency of the Council has several EUSpace initiatives in its agenda, including awareness raising-events which will take place either online or physically addressing topics such as “Space for Green and Digital Recovery” and the “Secure Connectivity Initiative”. 

“Slovenia believes that also small nations and SMEs can play a very significant role in Space, working hand in hand with big Space faring nations. Our goal during the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU is to bring space closer to everyone, including citizens and SMEs,” commented Tanja Permozer from the Slovenian Ministry of economic development and technology, responsible for Space, Directorate for internationalisation on behalf of the Slovenian Presidency.

And this: CASSINI hackathon leverages space to digitise green spaces

What’s more, Slovenia is set to host the upcoming CASSINI hackathons initiated by the European Commission to tackle global challenges using European space technologies. In the first hackathon in the series, participants will use Copernicus Earth observation data, together with positioning technologies from Galileo and EGNOS, in an effort to digitise Europe’s green spaces.

Supporting EU priorities

The EU Space Programme is a joint effort and asset of all the European Union Member States.  EUSPA is working to ensure that the Space Programme delivers the services and applications needed to support key EU policies.

From the European Green Deal to digitisation or an economy that works for people, Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus are driving innovation and enabling services and applications that support Europe’s economic growth and the EU’s key priorities for Europe. See here for more info on how space is supporting EU policy.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the EUSPA website (http://www.euspa.europa.eu).