$120 million has been awarded to Lockheed Martin Space Systems for new GPS satellite systems.

The US Air Force wants four new global positioning system (GPS) satellites built and are willing to pay for it. They have awarded $120 million to Lockheed Martin for four new satellites as part of the GPS III program (also known as the  fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth next generation Global Positioning System satellites.) Lockheed Martin will design, construction, assemble and test the new GPS satellites at their facility in Jefferson County, Colorado.

“As our world becomes increasingly dependent on GPS technology, the new GPS III satellites will be a critical element of both our national and economic security, and we are committed to achieving mission success for the billions of military, commercial and civilian users worldwide,”

said Keoki Jackson, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s Navigation Systems mission area.

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GPS tracking reaches new heights with the ability to track free-roaming land crabs on Christmas Island.

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Germany are studying the long-term movements and migration habits of the coconut crab (Birgus latro).

The Coconut crab is a crustacean living on various tropical islands in the Indo-Pacific, prominently on Christmas Island. With help from scientists at the Zoological Institute at the University of Greifswald, researchers from the Max Planck Institute is incorporating advanced GPS tracking technology in hopes of monitoring the crab’s behavior.

The Burgus latro crab is the largest land-living arthropod in the world at approximately 4 kg. It is appropriate nicknamed the giant robber crab and can live up to 60 years. The robber crabs have a leg span of approximately 3.3 feet and belong to a group of exoskeleton animals, including arachnids, insects, and crustaceans.

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Fleet management is a word that’s taken on new meaning over the past decade. Fleet management tools and technology that were once hopelessly out of reach for small business owners are now within reach and presenting quite a few potential benefits to the business. Here are just a few of the possibilities for using this fleet tracking and fleet management technology.

First Responders

Lives are on the line when first responders are behind the wheel. No one wants to contemplate the possibility of delays for getting help when a loved one is in pain or your home is on fire.

Law enforcement officers, EMTs, and fire vehicles all need every edge they can get during emergencies. That’s when fleet tracking tools come in more than just extremely handy.  A GPS tracking device offers the ability to quickly navigate the most efficient (not to mention quickest) route to reach emergencies, help drivers avoid traffic problems along the way, and help save fuel consumption by minimizing idling times for drivers.

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GPS helps seniors get high-tech walking canes fit with wireless connection and Bluetooth technology. Clearly aimed at the elderly, this walking stick from Japan’s Fujitsu is a prototype equipped with GPS navigation features, health monitoring sensors, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity. Read the rest of this entry »

Image source: http://www.darpa.mil

The US army is in plans to reduce the dependence on GPS and find a replacement for it.

While GPS has been incredibly useful for the US army, other military sectors and for civilian use, an alternative is being sought. The US army wants to reduce the dependence they currently have on GPS technology with a new generation of technology for navigation and tracking purposes that won’t rely on satellites. One of those new technologies is a miniscule autonomous chip smaller than a face of a penny, as announced by the Pentagon research agency.

“The resulting chip is small enough and should be robust enough for applications when GPS is unavailable or limited for a short period of time such as personnel tracking, handheld navigation, small diameter munitions and small airborne platforms,” said said Andrei Shkel, DARPA program manager.

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