Global Recognition for SignalGeneriX technologies

SignalGeneriX is proud to announce that our LARA project picked up the prestigious European Satellite Navigation Competition Award (ESNC) 2017 under the framework of the Madrid / Spain Challenge. During the European Space Week that took place in Tallinn, Estonia, on the 7th of November, the ESNC awards honoured the most innovative technologies for 2017 in front of more than 500 guests from all over Europe and beyond.

The winning teams were recognised during the Awards Ceremony by high-ranking industry and institutional representatives, such as the European GNSS Agency (GSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR). In addition, 20 partner regions across the globe awarded the best competition entries.

Carlo des Dorides, Executive Director, GSA, states: “The ESNC has once again proven to be an effective scouting and support mechanism for new European GNSS applications and the GSA is proud to be a long-time partner in this useful initiative. The new applications inspired by this competition constantly advance the growth and use of GNSS technology.

SignalGeneriX CEO, Dr Tasos Kounoudes, who received the award during the ceremony in Tallin commented: “Winning the ESNC 2017 award is really great news for the LARA team but also for SignalGeneriX which has developed all the electronics of the innovative LARA device. It demonstrates our company’s commitment to top level R&D for delivering solutions to the industry and strengthening our position as an innovative high-tech company”.

About ESNC

Initiated by AZO Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen, German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the Bavarian State Ministry of Economic Affairs and Media, Energy and Technology, the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) today is the leading network for satellite navigation. The ESNC annually awards the best services, products, and business ideas using satellite navigation in everyday life, spurring the development of respective market-driven applications. For 14 years, the international innovation competition serves as an accelerating instrument for space‐related entrepreneurs and startups, providing Europe with novelties. Since 2004, more than 11,500 developers took part with an overall prize pool worth 13 Mio. EUR for more than 300 winners and 200 international judges assigned with the evaluation of submissions. Additionally, AZO established Europe’s first E-GNSS Accelerator programme, funded by the European Commission (EC). For more information please see www.esnc.eu

About LARA

The LARA system provides field workers with the ability to “see underground”. It combines GNSS, 3D GIS and geospatial databases, and Augmented Reality in order to render complex 3D models of underground water, gas, sewage and electricity grids. LARA is equipped with a high precision, low-power, highly autonomous GNSS receiver module capable of achieving centimetre level accuracy. Consisting of a GNSS module and an IMU module, this receiver is compatible with multiple constellations (including Galileo and EGNOS), but Galileo is key to improving its accuracy, availability, and integrity. The LARA system enables utility companies to localise their key underground assets thanks to these benefits:

• Facilitates far more precise maintenance operations on underground infrastructure without affecting adjacent underground grids
• Provides precise GIS mapping of underground utilities which reduce overall maintenance costs
• Minimises economic and social implications of lengthy surface works

The LARA system is ideal for utility companies; engineering, construction and maintenance firms; and grid owners and operators.

The EU-funded LARA project, “LBS Augmented Reality Assistive System for Utilities Infrastructure Management through Galileo and EGNOS”, is a collaborative work of nine European organisations which include SMEs, Universities and local authorities. Take a closer look at LARA project.