Agilent Technologies Enables Galileo Testing

Signal Studio’s new capability, comprising the Advanced Galileo real-time mode and the Scenario Generator for Advanced Galileo, allows users to perform real-time, multi-satellite simulation for the European Galileo system. Galileo is a satellite-based navigation system similar to the United States’ Global Positioning System and the Russian GLONASS system. While the full system (including 27 operational satellites and three active spares) is not expected to be completed until 2019, Galileo-ready chipsets and receivers are available today.

Agilent’s Advanced Galileo software supports these development efforts by allowing engineers to generate signals that simulate Galileo satellites or a combination of Galileo, GPS and/or GLONASS satellites. With the Scenario Generator for Advanced Galileo, users can create custom scenarios (simulating stationary or moving receivers) for specific locations, dates and times that contain Galileo satellites. Such capabilities are targeted at engineers designing or testing GNSS chipsets, modules, components or receivers, as well as mobile devices providing navigation or location-based services.

Signal Studio’s new basic-mode capability is available via the Basic Single Satellite Waveform option. It provides engineers with single satellite waveform files that can be used for simple receiver testing in manufacturing and other applications. In addition to GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, waveform files are also available for the Chinese Compass/Beidou2 system, satellite-based augmentation systems, and the Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System. The availability of waveform files for these newer systems speeds time-to-market by enabling basic testing for satellite acquisition/tracking and receiver sensitivity in R&D and design verification.

“By incorporating GNSS receivers that take advantage of satellites from multiple constellations into smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, engineers now have the ability to not only differentiate their products, but also improve their location-based capabilities,” said Jim Curran, marketing manager of Agilent's Microwave and Communications Division. “Agilent’s new Signal Studio for GNSS capabilities simplify these tasks by allowing simulation of signals from multiple satellite systems, along with modeling of impairments to enable thorough testing of GNSS receivers under different situations. Such capabilities are critical to effectively addressing the needs of the rapidly growing global GNSS market.”