4 ms·
Apple Acquires Coherent Navigation, a GPS Startup
- amelius 11y ago> Coherent Navigation worked on high-precision navigation systems, technology that is far stronger than many consumer-grade global positioning systems, which are typically accurate to within three to five meters. No indication of what kind of technology they used for that?
- threeseed 11y agohttp://scpnt.stanford.edu/pnt/PNT09/presentation_slides/12_Bencze_iGPS.pdf http://scpnt.stanford.edu/pnt/PNT09/presentation_slides/12_B... They integrate GPS/GNSS, Iridum and other satellite signals. I would bet a billion dollars that this has nothing to do with their existing products and everything to do with the rumored Apple Car. Centimetre accuracy location services would be a very useful feature for auto driving capabilities.
- robmcm 11y agoReally? Given you can't rely purely on GPS with autonomous vehicles anyway (tunnels, highly built up areas etc) I would have through the current accuracy was fine.
- twoodfin 11y agoI disagree. I don't think true "auto driving" (as opposed to some sensor-driven safety assists) is feasible in the next decade or so, well-past the rumored timetable for an "Apple Car". Even if it were, why would you design it to require sub-meter, externally-provided precision, especially when there are guaranteed to be circumstances (e.g., tunnels) where it won't be available? My guess is that Apple wants faster locking GPS because faster locking means less time with antennas cranked up using power.
- toomuchtodo 11y ago> My guess is that Apple wants faster locking GPS because faster locking means less time with antennas cranked up using power. Put better GPS antennas in your phone then. GPS chipsets in your typical Samsung and iPhone are already capable of centimeter resolution, its the shit antenna they put inside that's the problem. https://radionavlab.ae.utexas.edu/images/stories/files/papers/ion2014Pesyna.pdf https://radionavlab.ae.utexas.edu/images/stories/files/paper...
- kaolinite 11y agoIf possible, Apple likes to have their cake and eat it too. As far as I know, the iPhone doesn't contain an antenna per se, rather they use the frame of the phone as the antenna. I believe many other phones do this too. There are some pretty clear advantages (weight, size of device) but presumably some downsides too (which is why perhaps they're buying this company). People are always complaining about some aspect of Apple devices where there is apparently an easy solution (latest example would be Apple Watch water-proofing) but there is always a downside, even if it isn't clear - otherwise Apple would have done it. The problem is the compromise and where you draw the line.
- kaolinite 11y agoThere isn't much Apple technology that isn't shared between all of their products and in this case, I suspect that it's for the Maps project - which in turn will be central to the development of Apple Car.
- peterjmag 11y agoLooks like iGPS: http://investor.iridium.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=429130&CompanyID=ABEA-3ERWFI&mobileid= http://investor.iridium.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=4291... via http://www.macrumors.com/2015/05/17/apple-coherent-navigation-acquisition/ http://www.macrumors.com/2015/05/17/apple-coherent-navigatio...
- HillRat 11y agoAbout a decade ago, Boeing came up with the idea of reprogramming the old Iridium sat-comm constellation to turn it into a high-fidelity, jam-resistant GNSS. Coherent is big in developing receivers that use multiple geolocation sources -- GPS and Boeing's iGPS in particular, but they might use other sources -- for fast-fix, reduced susceptibility to jamming, and high-precision and accuracy (within a few cm). Unsurprisingly, they've concentrated on the military and critical government (e.g., FAA) market.
- pen2l 11y agoIsn't it rather obvious? For in-building navigation (think large hospitals, universities, skyscrapers, etc.)
- cbames89 11y agoI know one of the engineers, and he told me that they don't try and get a higher accuracy signal, but a lower deviation of the signal. I forget the exact terminology, but the FAA has a circle that is 99% confidence, and coherent was trying to make the circle smaller than the currently available technology.
- oldmanjay 11y agoIf this were meant to improve the directions they offer in their apps, I would be super happy. uber drivers with androids are given consistent and seemingly correct routes, but the iPhone directions have sometimes sent us in the opposite direction from my destination. it's frustrating.