So, I know this isn’t REALLY related to GPS (more just geology, really), but I saw this news story and just had to share it.

The U.S. Geological Survey has released a new map of Mars, with breathtaking detail and a fountain of useful information for future Mars residents. According to this article, the scientists who released the map were able to get such detail through combining years of information—more than 600 million individual altitude measurements—to map out the topography and geography of the red planet. read more

As you may be aware, Russia has been making rapid movements to expand and improve its GLONASS system to be a viable alternative to U.S. GPS systems. Earlier this year, Russia requested the permission to build a GLONASS station on U.S. soil and the U.S., unsurprisingly, refused on national security grounds. (Of course, we currently have several GPS stations built on Russian soil, but that’s beside the point, right?) read more

As GPS becomes more and more a part of everyday life, the worry of GPS jamming disrupting the system grows greater. Military research has resulted in several high-tech solutions to the problem: but what about the civilian market? Chemring Technology Solutions has announced the development of the world’s first miniaturized GPS anti-jamming chip, called GINCAN. The device is based on military solutions to the problem, but is small enough to be used in a range of devices from cell phones and handheld devices to in-vehicle GPS systems. It will be compatible with both GPS and Galileo systems. read more

We talked about this a few months ago, but in case you forgot, Amazon has been working on the idea of using drones to deliver packages weighing less than 5 lbs. to consumers. These PrimeAir drones, they claim, will be ready to launch in 2015 and will be able to deliver packages to consumers in 30 minutes–as opposed to waiting several days for the old-fashioned truck and delivery man to arrive.

Last week, Amazon announced they are now ready to conduct tests out of a lab setting and have applied with the Federal Aviation Administration for permission to test drones outdoors in their facility near Seattle. The U.S. has regulations about where drones may be tested as well as a complicated string of paperwork proving airworthiness and certifications to operate the drones, so no word yet whether or not it will be approved. read more

GPS Jamming could make aircraft, like this F-16 lose its heading. Photo by Raytheon

With all the potential risks of GPS jamming and spoofing, officials all around the world have been researching methods of boosting their GPS signals and making them more accurate with technology like the eDLoran and anti-jamming chips. Now, according to a press release by Raytheon, the U.S. Air Force has demonstrated successful operation of its Military-code (M-code) GPS signal in a jamming environment using a Raytheon Company receiver.

In a recent test, the Miniaturized Airborne GPS Receiver 2000 (MAGR2K) maintained GPS satellite tracking and provided accurate navigation despite GPS jamming attempts. The MAGR2K was integrated with the Raytheon Advanced Digital Antenna Production (ADAP) system and equipped with a specialized M-code receiver card. read more