Furuno has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Xona Space Systems to collaborate on developing solutions for next-generation satellite navigation.
The collaboration will utilise Xona Pulsar, a low earth orbit positioning, navigation, and timing (LEO PNT) service.
Through the agreement, both companies will use their respective technological experience and business strengths to explore opportunities for delivering advanced and promising LEO PNT solutions.
LEO PNT is being seen as a promising technology capable of complementing or even substituting Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), which Furuno points out have a vulnerability to interference, jamming, and spoofing and are recognised as a critical concern.
Pioneer technology
LEO PNT systems use a satellite constellation of 200 to 400 satellites deployed in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 500km to 2,000km.
“LEO PNT provides global positioning and timing services similar to GNSS, but with significantly better performance,” explained a spokesperson from Furuno.
“Xona is a pioneer in LEO PNT technology and offers a commercial service called Pulsar, which uses a dedicated LEO PNT constellation of 258 satellites.”
The spokesperson added: “Integrating Xona Pulsar into Furuno’s products will provide an alternative to GNSS while significantly boosting performance by complementing existing GNSS services.”
And the spokesperson also pointed out that Pulsar adopts a signal architecture similar to GNSS for compatibility, making it easy to integrate into existing GNSS products.
Xona Space Systems is a US-based startup which is aiming to become the world’s first provider of commercial satellite positioning services using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.
