This worldwide satellite-based communications system went from dream to reality in a decade but quickly failed in the market; its revival took persistence and luck, plus a new customer base. Today, Iridium is a viable mobile, satellite-based, which handles voice and data. As with standard cellular systems, its users have little or no idea of […]
Microcontroller Tips
Receiver platform tracks four GNSS constellations simultaneously
u-blox has announced the u-blox M10, its latest highly integrated GNSS (global navigation satellite system) platform designed fully in-house for ultra-low-power high-performance positioning applications. u-blox M10 defines a new level of positioning performance in a wide range of applications such as sports watches or asset and livestock trackers, all in an extremely compact format and […]
The Iridium global satcom system, Part 3: Very nearly crash and burn
This worldwide satellite-based communications system went from dream to reality in a decade but quickly failed in the market; its revival took persistence and luck, plus a new customer base. Iridium’s launch, crash, and nearly burn (literally) The Iridium communications service was initiated on November 1, 1998, with a call by then-Vice President Al Gore. […]
The Iridium global satcom system, Part 2: The implementation
This worldwide satellite-based communications system went from dream to reality in a decade but quickly failed in the market; its revival took persistence and luck, plus a new customer base. The first part of the article explained the inspiration and rationale for the Iridium system. Three major elements were required to make the Iridium concept […]
Iridium global satcom system: Brilliant design, terrible business, last-minute reprieve, Part 1
This worldwide satellite-based communications system went from dream to reality in a decade but quickly failed in the market; its revival took persistence and luck, plus a new customer base. Business failures of companies with grand schemes and grandiose plans are part of the realities of technology-driven visionaries. Sometimes, however, the project is so large […]
Economical desktop computer based on Raspberry Pi
Newark announced the availability of the new-to-market Raspberry Pi 400 desktop computer. Available in ready-to-use kit form, the competitively priced Raspberry Pi 400 is an ideal desktop computer for use in the home or education. Raspberry Pi 400 can also be purchased on its own for use in industrial and commercial applications including point-of-sale terminals and thin […]
What is the HART protocol?
Data communication over analog signals is a common process. In automation, the data is communicated to and from controllers with several different process instruments. Quality is important as the controllers and smart instruments must communicate over long distances. Additionally, the data communication between a device and a controller must be dictated by a protocol (i.e. […]
Software speeds development of automotive cockpit systems
The VCO2S solution (Vehicle Cockpit Consolidation Solutions) is an innovative offering that helps automotive OEMs and their suppliers design and develop next-generation cockpit systems on a single high-compute electronic control unit (ECU) system. With VCO2S, automotive engineering teams can reduce cost, speed time to market and enhance user experience, all while meeting the automotive industry’s […]
Tiny, dual-antenna GPS/GNSS module provides accurate positioning and heading
Septentrio expands its GNSS module portfolio with a mosaic-H heading receiver. With dual antenna capabilities, this surface mount module delivers reliable heading & pitch or heading & roll information on top of centimeter-level positioning. mosaic-H is the new addition to Septentrio’s existing mosaic module family, which already includes high-performance RTK and timing modules as well […]
FPGA family in ceramic quad flat pack option is QML-qualified
Microchip Technology announced its RTG4 Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) family is the first in a Ceramic Quad Flat Pack (CQFP) option to achieve qualification to the industry’s Qualified Manufacturers List (QML). The achievement will enable space system developers to create systems using more reliable packages that simplify the layout and routing of Printed Circuit […]
