Globalstar and Echo Ridge Offer to Demonstrate GPS Backup Technology to Department of Transportation
June 13 2019 - 9:49AM
Business Wire
Companies Respond to DOT Request for
Information on Positioning, Navigation and Timing Technology
Globalstar, Inc. of Covington, LA (NYSE American: GSAT) and Echo
Ridge, LLC of Sterling, VA have informed the U.S. Department of
Transportation that the companies have developed and are prepared
to participate in and support a live field demonstration of a
stand-alone positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability
that can provide accurate and reliable PNT services to backup
and/or complement GPS in case of GPS unavailability or
unreliability. The companies responded on June 3 to a DOT
announcement and request for information regarding DOT’s plans to
conduct a field demonstration of technologies capable of providing
backup and/or complementary PNT in the event of a temporary
disruption to GPS. Globalstar and Echo Ridge informed the DOT that
all required elements are available now for demonstration of a
backup system that provides diversity of frequency, constellation,
and signal to the existing GPS system, as well as independent
ground and management infrastructure.
The Globalstar-Echo Ridge system is based on new Augmented
Positioning System (APS) technology that uses ordinary signals from
communications satellites (not special positioning/navigation
signals, such as GPS) to produce accurate position and timing
information in compatible user devices. No new infrastructure is
needed; Globalstar’s constellation of 24 low-Earth-orbit (LEO)
satellites and Echo Ridge software and compatible devices at the
user end provide the building blocks for the APS-based system. APS
technology has been successfully demonstrated in diverse
environments and incorporates multiple features that boost
availability and reliability to produce accurate PNT information
under circumstances that can challenge or disable GPS/GNSS
technology. The technology can work independently of GPS and other
global navigation satellite systems and is designed to maintain
high performance in a wide range of operating environments.
The proposed system responds to increasing user concerns about
GPS vulnerability and the critical importance of accurate PNT
information to support essential services and infrastructure.
“The Department of Transportation, coordinating with the
Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense, has
recognized the need to ensure that reliable PNT information remains
available to support U.S. critical infrastructure, even in case of
GPS interruption,” said Joe Kennedy, President of Echo Ridge.
“Globalstar and Echo Ridge are pleased to be able to offer to DOT a
demonstration of our unique, independent assured PNT technology
that can provide a dependable backup and/or complement to GPS.”
About GlobalstarGlobalstar,
Inc. is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data
services to individuals, governments, and businesses in industries
such as emergency management, marine, logging, oil & gas and
outdoor recreation. Globalstar products include mobile and fixed
satellite telephones, the Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and
Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices and service
packages. Globalstar’s two-way duplex, one-way simplex and SPOT
products transmit more than 1.3 billion messages a year. The
company’s network of 24 satellites covers over 80% of the Earth’s
surface and uses a modern W-CDMA air interface. In 2018, the
company launched its Globalstar Automotive division to support
future connected and autonomous vehicles and intelligent
transportation systems by assisting automotive OEMs and other
ecosystem partners to implement connectivity solutions for vehicles
and critical transportation infrastructure.
About Echo RidgeEcho Ridge,
LLC is a Northern Virginia small business that provides RF-focused
product development, including intellectual property development,
to the Government and commercial marketplace through hardware and
software design and production, and signal processing algorithm
development. Echo Ridge develops, produces, and sells advanced
devices/systems for Positioning/Navigation/Timing (PNT), Electronic
Warfare (EW), and high-fidelity laboratory modeling, simulation and
testing. Echo Ridge PNT products employ proprietary alternate
navigation technology to provide assured navigation in
GPS-unavailable environments. The company’s management and
engineering team members have extensive experience and expertise in
PNT, and have contributed to the development and commercialization
of multiple PNT technologies and systems, including the
industry-leading Geometrix® product line of E911 wireless caller
location systems deployed nationwide by U.S. carriers.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190613005429/en/
Globalstar Media Contact:Marcy
O’Learymarcy.oleary@globalstar.com985.335.1609
Echo Ridge Media Contact:George
Marblegeorge.marble@echoridgenet.com703.348.2737
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