Japan readies nav system to augment GPS

YOKOHAMA, Japan – As Japan readies its own regional satellite navigation system, embedded system developer Core Corp. showed off a signal receiver unit at the Embedded Technology 2012 show here that is designed to increase the efficiency of positioning information.

Japan is preparing to deploy regional navigation technology called the Quazi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), Tokyo-based Core Corp. said Wednesday (Nov. 14) its receiver unit will work with both QZS and the existing GPS system. Japan launched the first QZSS satellite, called “Michibiki,” in 2010. Japan plans to add three more QZSS satellites before 2020.

The regional navigation satellite system is designed to augment Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) services. QZSS signals will cover Japan and parts of the western Pacific Ocean.


 
Core's receiver can handle both QZSS “availability enhancement signals” to improve GPS coverage and QZSS “performance enhancement signals” which improve the accuracy and reliability of GPS data, said Ryo Kurokawa of Core's advanced embedded technology center.

In addition to the U.S GPS system, Russia is now operating its GLONASS constellation and the European Union is readying its Galileo system. China is also testing of its own system, Compass. “We are in an era of the gold rush for satellite launches,” said Kurokawa. By 2018, an estimated 140 satellites will be launched , he predicted.