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TechXLR8 is a major ‘festival’ of technology that celebrates networks, technology and consumer services. As part of London Tech Week 2017 TechXLR8 brought together a portfolio of eight converging technology themes. The European GNSS Agency (GSA) was there to showcase its leading technology enabling role in two of TechXLR8’s strands: connected cars and the internet of things (IoT).

The Connected Cars and Autonomous Vehicles segment of the event was billed as Europe's leading automotive technology event and the exhibition area was filled with some fine vehicles. The GSA stand was fortunate to be adjacent to the Thales / Williams Engineering stand with a very impressive sports car and the Tesla demonstration area with the highly desirable Tesla Model X on show.

Connected cars

The related conference session on 14 June covered all aspects of connected vehicles from the pros and cons of car sharing and shared mobility services to the issues around car hacking.

How regulation and legal issues were trying to keep pace with the fast pace of technology was another aspect discussed in a dedicated session on Law and Policy. Lucy McCormick a barrister at Henderson Chambers, Lucy Yu from the UK’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles – a government funded policy unit established at Cambridge University – and David Wong from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in the UK were confident that although legislation was a “work in progress” this would not significantly hold back deployment of the technologies.

Further optimism was displayed by Laura Merling, Vice President for Autonomous Vehicle Solutions with the Ford Motor Company, who thought that autonomous vehicles would not remove jobs, but would shift human tasks. There will still be a need for a “human touch point,” she said. The concept of a car as a “software stack” could be key to getting value out of the data flows generated by connected cars. Examples include preventing warranty issues by catching problems in performance data trends and moving from predictive to prescriptive service models.

High Quality Positioning is key

Of course all this relies on a set of fundamental enabling technologies and one of these is location services especially the use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as Galileo. GNSS is becoming a core component of autonomous vehicles and an essential element in the mix of sensors that will drive their adoption, argued Fiammetta Diani, Deputy Head of Market Development at the GSA, who presented at the conference.

Companies are “assessing a growing need for precise and reliable positioning information at contained costs for safety-critical application,” stated Diani. “With the aim of attaining 100% positioning reliability at the decimetre level everywhere.” No single positioning technology can currently deliver this, so fusing data from multiple sensors would be required, however GNSS is the only technology providing an absolute location while the other technologies provide relative positioning.

“Many of the requirements for autonomous vehicle operation are already met by GNSS in the short term,” claimed Diani. “This includes lane level accuracy and high signal integrity. High quality GNSS can reduce the final cost of positioning solutions for autonomous vehicles.”

Diani also showcased recent research projects demonstrating the capabilities of GNSS technology. The inLane project has successfully fused computer vision with GNSS and crowd-sourced high definition mapping for lane level positioning. The TAXISAT project developed autonomous ‘wePod’ vehicles for use on public roads and the positioning engine produced during the project was now on the market. Her final example was the EscaPe project that developed a high level integrity positioning system for use in Renault’s experimental autonomous vehicles.

Understanding Galileo’s added value is important for the sector, said Diani. Compared to existing systems the European GNSS has better resistance to signal interference, multi-path issues and spoofing attacks: all trends of concern in GNSS.

The future for GNSS is multi constellation and multi frequency operation – an area where Galileo is leading the way. “Multi constellation GNSS provides improved signal availability and better accuracy and multi frequency will help eliminate errors and enable much more robust positioning solutions,” concluded Diani.

GNSS and IoT

Location data is also essential for the Internet of Things (IoT) and GNSS, including Galileo, are playing a key role here too, as Justyna Redelkiewicz, Head of Sector LBS and IoT at GSA explained to delegates at the IoT Connect session of the IoT Europe conference at TechXLR8.

Information on positioning, velocity and timing is key data for a growing portfolio of context-aware applications. “For the Internet of Things location matters” Redelkiewicz said, highlighting that the need to know where the “things” are is one of the main requirements of each IoT application.

As with the connected vehicle developments, GNSS and Galileo offer enabling solutions for IoT that are an essential element in a fusion of sensor data that can provide seamless overall positioning solutions wherever the IoT device is located.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

TechXLR8 is a major ‘festival’ of technology that celebrates networks, technology and consumer services. As part of London Tech Week 2017 TechXLR8 brought together a portfolio of eight converging technology themes. The European GNSS Agency (GSA) was there to showcase its leading technology enabling role in two of TechXLR8’s strands: connected cars and the internet of things (IoT).

The Connected Cars and Autonomous Vehicles segment of the event was billed as Europe's leading automotive technology event and the exhibition area was filled with some fine vehicles. The GSA stand was fortunate to be adjacent to the Thales / Williams Engineering stand with a very impressive sports car and the Tesla demonstration area with the highly desirable Tesla Model X on show.

Connected cars

The related conference session on 14 June covered all aspects of connected vehicles from the pros and cons of car sharing and shared mobility services to the issues around car hacking.

How regulation and legal issues were trying to keep pace with the fast pace of technology was another aspect discussed in a dedicated session on Law and Policy. Lucy McCormick a barrister at Henderson Chambers, Lucy Yu from the UK’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles – a government funded policy unit established at Cambridge University – and David Wong from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders in the UK were confident that although legislation was a “work in progress” this would not significantly hold back deployment of the technologies.

Further optimism was displayed by Laura Merling, Vice President for Autonomous Vehicle Solutions with the Ford Motor Company, who thought that autonomous vehicles would not remove jobs, but would shift human tasks. There will still be a need for a “human touch point,” she said. The concept of a car as a “software stack” could be key to getting value out of the data flows generated by connected cars. Examples include preventing warranty issues by catching problems in performance data trends and moving from predictive to prescriptive service models.

High Quality Positioning is key

Of course all this relies on a set of fundamental enabling technologies and one of these is location services especially the use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as Galileo. GNSS is becoming a core component of autonomous vehicles and an essential element in the mix of sensors that will drive their adoption, argued Fiammetta Diani, Deputy Head of Market Development at the GSA, who presented at the conference.

Companies are “assessing a growing need for precise and reliable positioning information at contained costs for safety-critical application,” stated Diani. “With the aim of attaining 100% positioning reliability at the decimetre level everywhere.” No single positioning technology can currently deliver this, so fusing data from multiple sensors would be required, however GNSS is the only technology providing an absolute location while the other technologies provide relative positioning.

“Many of the requirements for autonomous vehicle operation are already met by GNSS in the short term,” claimed Diani. “This includes lane level accuracy and high signal integrity. High quality GNSS can reduce the final cost of positioning solutions for autonomous vehicles.”

Diani also showcased recent research projects demonstrating the capabilities of GNSS technology. The inLane project has successfully fused computer vision with GNSS and crowd-sourced high definition mapping for lane level positioning. The TAXISAT project developed autonomous ‘wePod’ vehicles for use on public roads and the positioning engine produced during the project was now on the market. Her final example was the EscaPe project that developed a high level integrity positioning system for use in Renault’s experimental autonomous vehicles.

Understanding Galileo’s added value is important for the sector, said Diani. Compared to existing systems the European GNSS has better resistance to signal interference, multi-path issues and spoofing attacks: all trends of concern in GNSS.

The future for GNSS is multi constellation and multi frequency operation – an area where Galileo is leading the way. “Multi constellation GNSS provides improved signal availability and better accuracy and multi frequency will help eliminate errors and enable much more robust positioning solutions,” concluded Diani.

GNSS and IoT

Location data is also essential for the Internet of Things (IoT) and GNSS, including Galileo, are playing a key role here too, as Justyna Redelkiewicz, Head of Sector LBS and IoT at GSA explained to delegates at the IoT Connect session of the IoT Europe conference at TechXLR8.

Information on positioning, velocity and timing is key data for a growing portfolio of context-aware applications. “For the Internet of Things location matters” Redelkiewicz said, highlighting that the need to know where the “things” are is one of the main requirements of each IoT application.

As with the connected vehicle developments, GNSS and Galileo offer enabling solutions for IoT that are an essential element in a fusion of sensor data that can provide seamless overall positioning solutions wherever the IoT device is located.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

GSA support aimed at fostering the adoption of EGNOS and Galileo in aviation was presented at a European Helicopter Association (EHA) info day on EU funding opportunities for the helicopter sector, in Brussels on June 6.

EGNOS based operations for rotorcraft are increasingly being implemented and the GSA is committed to continuing its work with the European Helicopter Association to support this user community in reaping the safety and economic benefits from European GNSS programmes.

Three of the European GNSS Agency’s (GSA) funding tools aimed at fostering the adoption of EGNOS and Galileo in aviation – the Aviation Grant Programme, the relevant Horizon 2020 calls and Fundamental Elements – were presented at the EHA event in the European Parliament.

Speaking at the forum, GSA Market Development Officer and Horizon 2020 Coordinator Carmen Aguilera highlighted that EGNOS leads to a substantial reduction in the decision height, making helipads accessible in poor weather conditions, thereby enhancing safety, which is of particular importance for medical and emergency operations. She reminded that the Aviation Grant Programme was designed by the GSA to support projects that enable users to equip and use their aircraft or rotorcraft fleet with EGNOS-enabled avionics and to allow air navigation service providers and aerodromes/heliports to implement EGNOS-based operations. A first call in 2014 saw 12 projects funded with a total of EUR 6 million and a further 14 projects received the same amount of funding under a second call in 2015. A third call will be published in October 2017; with proposals to be submitted by March 2018 (more details can be found here).

Read this: EGNOS for aviation in acceleration mode

In addition to this specific grant programme, the GSA is also implementing the GNSS application calls in Horizon 2020 under delegation from the European Commission, within the Space work programme. Three calls in 2014 and 2015 saw 40 projects, including 10 aviation projects, receive funding totalling EUR 65 million. The 2017 call, worth EUR 33 million, is currently under evaluation and the next calls are being developed.

Fundamental Elements is the third grant programme being implemented by the GSA. This programme is aimed at supporting the development of EGNSS-enabled chipsets, receivers and antennas. A project has already been funded to develop a DFMC SBAS dual frequency multi-constellation receiver for the future version of EGNOS. This project kicked off last month. In addition, the GSA is about to start evaluating projects in other calls relevant for the aviation community – one to develop an Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (ARAIM) system and another to develop a MEOSAR beacon.

EHA Executive Director Elisabetta Dalla Benetta said that the EHA was very proud to have been able to offer to the rotorcraft community an opportunity to have a useful insight into the EU funding system. “Lack of knowledge and complexity has often prevented our sector from fully exploiting the possibilities available for them to use EU funds to modernise their operations. But examples of success stories presented by AB Corporation, PRISM and the GSA, have demonstrated that use of EU grants is more within reach than expected,” she said.

Success stories

GSA triggered the very first helicopter PinS LPV in Europe to Insel Hospital in Bern in June 2014, which is now used by Swiss Air Ambulance (REGA) in its daily operations. A number of operators have already received support in acquiring EGNOS-enabled avionics, with 23 Points in Space (PinS) LPV, 14 low level routes (RNP 0.3) and 29 rotorcraft retrofits ongoing. Citing some success stories, Ms Aguilera gave the example of Caproni Airport in Italy, which is developing performance-based navigation (PBN) procedures for Trento region. This project involves both the upgrade of rotorcraft for EGNOS operations and the development of PinS procedures and low level routes connecting several hospitals in the area.

Watch this: EGNOS for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS)

Another example of a success story are the PIONEERS I and II projects, which also combine the upgrade of helicopters and the implementation of low-level routes – this time in Norway, Austria and the UK. As part of this project, a first helicopter LPV approach has been approved for Trondheim Hospital in Norway, allowing air ambulances to land in all weather conditions. Also, NorksLuftambulance recently obtained operational approval for RNP 0.3 operations within a GSA funded project, preparing to fly PinS LPV.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).

Geo IoT World (Geo-location – Internet of Things) announces four award winners for innovation in geolocation technologies. GeoIoT is leading the way in showcasing the latest cutting-edge developments in this growth sector. The European GNSS Agency (GSA) sponsored one of the awards for ‘IoT Solutions Empowered by GNSS’.

The Internet of Things enables manufacturers and service providers to exchange data and improve customer services, business performance and much, much more. In some ways we have only scratched the surface of what can be offered.

Constant improvements in the available technology, sharp reductions in cost reaping high returns on investment and better performance mean that you can manage a road haulage company from a smartphone, improve the lives of people who suffer from disabilities or drive-down costs in a company by reducing waste. The possibilities are almost limitless and as the technology reaches a wider audience new innovations and ideas are emerging.

Read this: Superlatives abound for Galileo Hackathon 2017

To raise awareness of the integral role that GNSS plays in IoT and to celebrate the launch of Galileo Initial Services available since December 2016, GSA sponsored the award for ‘IoT Solutions empowered by GNSS’.

And the winner is…

The prize went to the CROWDLOC Platform. CROWDLOC is a business-to-business software-as-a-service provider, offering affordable, low-power location tracking services for consumers and enterprises. CROWDLOC could bring an end to loss and theft. Their mission is to solve this global problem. The disruptive service is based on a low-power mobile software development kit embedded in the apps of an alliance of Bluetooth devices manufacturers. This mutualised network (the crowd) can geo-locate the asset 24/7.

The start-up was founded in 2016 by a duo of French and German entrepreneurs. The company is supported by European business angels, seasoned executives with past and present experience in the location technology, navigation and Telecom industries.

The runner-up in this category was Polymorph. Polymorph has developed a technology to enable those working in logistics to track and trace goods. CEO Richard Barry described his technology as ‘Uber for trucks’.

Other categories

Three other categories looked at different aspects of geolocation.

The Geo IoT award for Location & Proximity Services was presented to TRACKO by Onyx Beacon. TRACKO allows companies to track and trace assets on the go using beacons and mobile technology. The solution links beacons attached to each asset to other beacons placed around a premises to create a high-precision indoor and outdoor tracking grid.

Also read: Happy Beacon Awareness Day!

The Geo IoT Award for Location Intelligence was presented to Stockholm-based Wittra. Wittra overcomes the limitations of existing technologies in addressing the Internet of Moving Things. The technology has already been adopted by shipping companies and is also used in the management of homes for the elderly.

The Geo IoT Award for IoT Networks was awarded to Sewio Networks. Sewio developed a market-proved Ultra-Wideband Real-Time Location Platform. Using highly precise indoor tracking and rich data analytics, the platform brings a new level of understanding of work-flow processes across a broad array of disciplines, allowing companies to optimise the flow of intra-logistics, reduce staff injuries and observe the behaviour of customers.

The three-day conference demonstrated that the Internet of Things geolocation is becoming an ever evolving area. More and more public and private organisations are turning to these technologies to improve services and reduce costs.

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) 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 GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).