TrueNorth Avionics Connects Your Smartphone In-Flight Over Iridium Satellite and More
Blackberry Cool
4.27.11
Ever wondered how Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis stay connected even as they spend so much time traveling between countries? Well they do it thanks to a company called TrueNorth Avionics, based in Ottawa, Canada. The company partnered with RIM to give them an airborne solution for their corporate fleet and have since grown the company to support all smartphones and more solutions.
The TrueNorth OpenCabin platform is modeled after a smartphone app platform that allows you to add features and capabilities much like adding an app. The integrated suite of apps lets you modify your system as your needs change, without needing major hardware upgrades. Some OpenCabin features include:
Phone: an all-digital, IP (Internet protocol) system and Private Branch Exchange (PBX) capable of making voice calls over Iridium, Inmarsat Classic Aero, Inmarsat Swift64, Inmarsat SwiftBroadband, VoIP (eg. Skype) or any other network connecting via a 2-wire, CEPT or SIP-based Ethernet interface
Directory: offering a built-in customizable phone book and a user-configurable directory
Fax: enabling aircraft operators to send and receive faxes via the Iridium or Inmarsat networks
ClearCall: providing the clearest possible voice connection
Router: a high-performance app for transparent integration of broadband Internet connections
Accelerator: providing both data acceleration and data compression for signals going to and from global satellite networks
Firewall: for robust, real-time security
VPN: for transparent connectivity to your company’s Virtual Private Network
Network: which provides DHCP services and LAN connectivity for Ethernet devices
Hotspot: for easy-to-use, power-adjustable WiFi links to mobile voice and data devices
Smarter™: an advanced smartphone interface that automatically creates a WiFi email connection for your BlackBerry or iPhone over Iridium, Inmarsat Swift64, Inmarsat SwiftBroadband or other data network
Big Board™: a master graphical communications tool for managing aircraft communications and links
Connection Manager: to simplify the user experience
Backup: which quickly restores any unique configuration settings
The above is just initial list of features based on apps you can enable with the OpenCabin system. To buy the TrueNorth BlackBerry Emailer product, you’ll have to shell out around $11,000. If you can afford a private jet, then this may be the perfect solution for being able to use your smartphone in-flight. Otherwise, you may be out of luck unless your flight has WiFi.
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Queen’s Awards 2011: Trident Sensors wins Award for multifunction GPS tracker
Newselectronics
4.21.11
Trident Sensors has won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category for its Polaris tracking system. The GPS tracker uses the Iridium satellite constellation to transmit and receive data from anywhere in the world.
The unit weighs 500g and has an advanced design which minimises power consumption, enabling it to operate remotely for long periods and provide live data at intervals as frequent as once every 20s. Customers include research institutes, blue chip companies and the military.
“It is wonderful to receive such high level recognition for the Polaris system,” said Helen Cussen, founder and managing director of the Surrey based company. “We are only a three person company, but we know we have produced an exceptional product that is highly competitive across a range of international markets.”
Cussen and co director Dr Bill Simpson originally developed the Polaris system for data transmission from remote platforms, but it is now used in applications such deep sea oceanography, iceberg tracking, personnel and vehicle tracking, container tracking and vessel monitoring. When used in the defence sector for tracking personnel, Polaris’ motion sensor is designed to notify when an operative is down and also plays a part in search and rescue missions.
It uses the Iridium satellite constellation of 66 satellites for two way communication anywhere in the world, including polar regions. This is possible because the Iridium satellites are in polar orbits, unlike other systems which do not cover high latitudes.
Trident Sensors was founded in 1997 and designs its own hardware, firmware and software. PCB and component manufacture are subcontracted out, mostly to local companies, while assembly and test are carried out by Trident. The company’s new satellite track and trace product is called TIGER, pictured, which has smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth.
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are highly prestigious and granted for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of Innovation, International Trade and Sustainable Development.
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Orolia announces the launch of VLINK: a fishing vessel monitoring system
Orolia
4.15.11
Les Ulis, 15 April 2011 – Orolia (NYSE Alternext Paris – FR0010501015 – ALORO) today announced the
launch of VLINK by its subsidiary KANNAD. VLINK is a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) design for the
monitoring and control of information from fishing vessels, bringing together multiple technologies and
utilising Iridium satellite systems for the data transfer. This solution is certified by the French maritime
fisheries and aquaculture authorities, enabling fishermen to send daily updates on catch reports and the
position of their vessel at regular intervals throughout the day. VLINK is fully compliant with European
regulations.
VLINK automatically sends the mandatory data to the Iridium satellite system which transmits it to a land receiving station, from here the data is sent to the fisheries monitoring centre.
VLINK is an electronic transceiver which is installed on the exterior of the fishing vessels and is integrated to an onboard monitoring system, commonly known as the “electronic logbook.” Developed in partnership with Sodena, “This system allows fishermen to fulfill their legal obligations in a structured and timely manner. This
is due to having an Iridium satellite communication connection, enabling secure data to be transmitted frequently from any global location” explains Jean-Pierre Bardon Kannad President. “VLINK has been constructed to ensure operational reliability and efficient power management, meeting the needs of this
demanding marine environment, factors that are essential for this type of activity.”
In France there are more than 30 distributors and maintenance stations approved by Kannad and Sodena
who will be responsible for the sale, installation and maintenance of the equipment on board the vessels.
About Kannad
Kannad, an Orolia group company, is specialized in tracking solutions dedicated to niche markets where the
environmental conditions necessitate high reliability and special expertise in the field. The company is based in
Guidel, Brittany, France. www.kannad.com
About Orolia SA
Orolia is a high-tech French group specialized in the most exacting positioning, navigation and timing applications. Orolia’s mission is to provide the fundamental data relating to time, frequency and positioning to the most critical applications by means of their products, systems and services, so as to offer their users mobility, safety, traceability, interoperability and reliability. Orolia’s headquarters is in Les Ulis (France). The Group’s main sites are Sophia Antipolis (FRANCE), Neuchâtel (Switzerland), Rochester (New York), Stockholm (Sweden), Basingstoke (UK), Portsmouth (UK) and Guidel (FRANCE). Orolia has been awarded the OSEO Innovative Enterprise label.
Press Contact : Elodie Cally – OROLIA GROUP – +33(0)1.64.53.22.30
