Image: National PNT Architecture graphic published by US DOT and DOD in 2008
What’s new: The US Department of Transportation awarded five contracts totaling approx $5M for further development/demonstration of complementary PNT technologies.
Why it’s important:
- These contracts keep the US government “in the CPNT game,” kinda, in the absence of its actually adopting and using a complementary/ alternative PNT system.
- The contracts also help sustain small companies with promising PNT technologies.
What else to know:
- “Rapid development” is a bit of a misnomer. All the technologies are mature and ready to use now. Some are already in use.
- Contracts were awarded to:
- National Association of Broadcasters – a non-profit trade association that has developed the Broadcast Positioning Service (BPS) that provides PNT using new-format (ATSC 3.0) television signals. They are focusing on timing first and have the potential to provide location information.
- Iridium Satellite LLC – a communications satellite company that hosted and then bought Satelles and provides satellite-based timing.
- UrsaNav LLC – provides terrestrial eLoran PNT technology and is also working with the U.S. DOD/DOW on a similar project.
- Viavi Solutions LLC – offers two multi-orbit, resilient and GPS/GNSS-independent satellite timing services, one at LEO and one at GEO.
- MerlinTPS Corp – provides it own proprietary terrestrial, GPS independent PNT system.
- All of the awardees, except Iridium, are members of the RNT Foundation. Congrats to all five!
- You can learn more about our members here, and find out about membership benefits and opportunities here.
Thanks to RNTF Advisor Jason Kim for helping with this post.
LINK TO THE SOLICITATION (See Appendix A for info on performance)
LINK TO THE AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT