LabSat. Record and replay GPS and GLONASS for faster, more effective testing

LabSat - GNSS Record and Replay System

LabSat by Racelogic is a low cost GPS Simulator (with Glonass option) which gives you the ability to record and replay real GNSS RF data as well as user generated scenarios.

If you are selling, testing or developing products incorporating GPS or GNSS engines, then you’ll find LabSat makes your job easier and more effective.

For more information, go to www.labsat.co.uk

Marine systems manufacturer Kongsberg uses record and replay system for GPS device interference testing

Based in Norway, Konsburg is one of the world’s leading international marine electronics manufacturers, providing products for safe navigation and operations at sea.

With equipment designed to be used in marine operations where high positional accuracy is critical, Konsburg needed a way to repeatedly test the real world performance of their equipment. To do this, they have been using LabSat to test the effects of interference on their new positioning reference system, the DPS 4D, which offers worldwide sub-metre accuracy.

Arne Rinnan, CTO of Kongsberg Seatex AS, said: “Using LabSat to record and replay real GPS data, and observing temporary interference from telecoms equipment was extremely beneficial to our engineers in assisting with the development of our advanced DGPS products.”

Check out more LabSat customer profiles…
Guidance test GPS ankle tags in new Offender Monitoring Technology
How Roke Manor Research use LabSat for GPS development

GPS + GLONASS capability available for LabSat in April

With the launch of three new GLONASS-M satellites by the Russian space agency ROSCOSMOS in December, the GLONASS constellation is well on its way to having the 24 satellites required to provide a global service.

19 GLONASS satellites are now in orbit, and despite three being serviced or replaced, the constellation should be complete this year. It is no wonder then that many GNSS receivers are now being developed for multi constellation use.

Responding to this, with a full working prototype in operation at our UK headquarters, production units with GPS + GLONASS capability will be available to ship in April this year. This will enable you to accurately test and develop multi constellation devices in real world conditions.

University of Colorado study says record and replay systems are best for GNSS device testing

Asking the question “What is the best way to quantify how well a navigation system performs in a realistic testing scenario?” a study carried out by the University of Colorado recently concluded that the record and playback testing method is the most effective.

Evaluating a range of GNSS receivers, the study found that record and playback systems overcome the fidelity limits of purely simulator based testing, especially in difficult to model environments. The study also emphasised the fact that only one drive is required for each location, ensuring testing repeatability.

A LabSat Record and Replay GPS Simulator was used as part of the study, which the University of Colorado had borrowed on a free loan demonstration for their evaluation. To arrange a free loan please contact labsat@racelogic.co.uk

Read the article here.

Simulation available to model SVN49 Satellite Errors

Racelogic are working with NavSys Corporation to provide LabSat customers with an option to simulate the signals coming from the troubled SVN 49 satellite.

The problems have been caused by signals from the L1 and L2 antennas being un-intentionally reflected by a new antenna designed to transmit on the new L5 band.

NavSys and Racelogic have been in discussions with GPS Wing, and we will shortly be releasing an update to the SatGen software to give users the ability to simulate the errant signal so they can tune their receivers to cope when the Satellite is switched to healthy.

GNSS Symposium – Tokyo

Masayuki Uchiyama, CEO of Geosurf discusses LabSat with Hiroyuki Kitagawa and Toshihiro Shingai from Denso

Attended by the leading GNSS professionals and academics in Japan, the 2009 GNSS Symposium in Tokyo was the ideal platform from which to demonstrate LabSat for our new Japanese distributor, GeoSurf.

We sent product manager Stephen Jenkins to help out at the Geosurf stand. He said:

“The level of interest in the LabSat was very high – many potential customers were surprised at the affordability of the complete Record and Replay system, and impressed by the Video integration features!”

Stephen also took the opportunity to visit Geosurf’s Osaka office, and recorded some LabSat scenarios whilst driving in and around the city.

Contact us if you would like copies of the scenarios (or indeed any other scenarios) in order to test them with your GPS device.

LabSat used in new offender monitoring technology

Guidance Limited, who design and build sensor systems for a variety of industrial applications, have recently taken delivery of a LabSat to aid in the development of their electronic GPS tagging system for offender monitoring.

Taking the form of a specially fitted ankle tag linked to a monitoring unit, the product gives criminal justice authorities a valuable and versatile way of safely monitoring offenders who are on parole, or under curfew in their homes. The device enables a subject’s movements to be tracked 24 hours a day, using GPS.

Aled Hughes, Project Manager, said, “LabSat was the ideal solution for Guidance, as it enables us to verify the performance and accuracy of the new units, complete with GPS multipath effects and real-world situations. LabSat then enables us to create a set of pre-recorded tests for the production team to use, providing a consistent test for each unit prior to dispatch.”

Find out more about Guidance Solutions here.

New prototype for multiple LabSat synchronisation

We are working on a feature which will allow multiple LabSat units to be synchronized with each other on record and playback, and have just achieved a working prototype on the bench.

This will be useful when you need to test several different receivers simultaneously, such as in timing applications for telecommunications synchronisation, in aircraft GPS systems testing, or in the development of any multi-antenna or RTK system.

We’ll keep you informed!

Geosurf bring LabSat to Japan

Masayuke Uchiyama, from Geosurf Corporation, Tokyo, visited our UK headquarters in Buckingham yesterday, for training and demonstration with LabSat and to sign the distributor agreement.

Experts in GNSS Solutions for industrial applications, the seven year old company specialises in mobile mapping, precision agriculture solutions, and GPS consulting, so LabSat promises to be a useful fit to Geosurf’s range.

 

Masayuke Uchiyama signs the distributor agreement with Harry Thuillier, Commercial Director at Racelogic.

 

 

Chronos at Nav 09

Recently appointed LabSat distributor Chronos Technology, who are based in the UK, Sweden, and Denmark, are attending the Nav 09 Conference at the University of Nottingham, UK, on 11 – 12th November.

Looking at the role of positioning technology now and into the future, the conference will highlight opportunities for GNSS as location technology enjoys wider consumer usage.

Telecoms experts Chronos will be presenting an applications showcase, and will also be displaying LabSat at the event.

Contact Chronos for more details.