As more systems use location or timing information from GPS, such as wearables, drones and all sorts of other new tech, systems developers have to ensure that function works properly and accurately – wherever the end user might be.
For example, if a fitness band cannot accurately track how far a user has traveled, then its reputation will be affected. Equally the same could happen if a drone flies south of the equator, and the development team didn't properly verify that the GPS signals are interpreted correctly.
Many systems designers have relied on live signals in the past, but this only tests devices in one location. It does not provide any data on factors that could have a big impact on customer experience.
This Slideshare shows the drawbacks of just relying on live signals for GPS testing, and how to avoid a warehouse full of returned devices.
To learn more, get this latest white paper: http://www.spirent.com/White-Papers/Positioning/Integrating_GPS_into_consumer_products_WhitePaper
CNIC Information System with Pakdata Cf In Pakistan
GPS testing: Why Live Signals Could Damage Your Brand
1. …and how to make sure
that doesn’t happen.
GPS Testing:
Why testing
with live signals
could damage
your brand
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10. If a product design
fails in the lab,
that’s one thing.
You go back to the
drawing board.
11. But if it fails in the
hands of the end-user,
that creates huge issues.
If a product design
fails in the lab,
that’s one thing.
You go back to the
drawing board.
17. The way you test the
GPS/GNSS performance
of your products could make
those unpleasant outcomes
infinitely more likely.
No manufacturer
wants that to happen.
But here’s the thing.
GPS or GNSS?
Many people use ‘GPS’ as shorthand for satellite navigation systems. But there are actually several different systems available,
from GPS to GLONASS, Galileo and Beidou. Collectively, they’re known as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
19. That antenna on your
test facility roof?
That says live sky testing.
Chances are, you test
GNSS performance in
one of two ways.
You plug in your
prototype and see if its
GNSS receiver works.
20. Or you take it outside
and see if it can pick
up a signal.
21. Or perhaps
you field-test
in different
locations around
the world.
That’s especially important if you’re designing
a product for an international market.
23. Customers depend
on your product for
much more than they
(or even you) know.
But live-sky testing
and field testing carry
significant risks.
Here’s why.
25. They may be using
it as an in-car satnav.
Or to track how far
they’ve run.
26. They may be using
it as an in-car satnav.
Or to track how far
they’ve run.
Or even to know when
they’ve captured a base in
an augmented-reality game.
27. If they can’t get an
accurate position,
those customers will
hit the helpdesk.
28. If they can’t get an
accurate position,
customers hit
the helpdesk.
Or worse: Twitter
and Facebook.
29. In the worst-case scenario,
an undetected GNSS issue
could lead to a safety incident.
Nobody wants that.
So what’s the solution?
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30. Really, you need to
test new products in
all the conditions
your end-customers
will experience.
31. That’s because there
are many factors that
affect how a GNSS
receiver behaves.
And you don’t want
to leave it up to users
to discover them.
32. A ‘multipath’ error can
cause their device to record
an inaccurate position.
For a start, what
if your customer is
travelling between
tall buildings?
33. Or what if there’s
a mobile phone
mast nearby?
If its electro-magnetic field blocks the
GNSS signal, what impact will that have?
34. Or what if your
product gets
taken on an
Arctic expedition?
Can its GNSS receiver cope
in very low temperatures?
35. There’s only one way to test
the full range of eventualities.
By using a GNSS simulator
in your test lab.
And that’s not the only reason why lab-based simulation
scores highly over live-sky testing.
GSS6700 Series
The GSS6700 Multi-GNSS Simulator from Spirent offers
simultaneous coherent GPS/SBAS, GLONASS, BeiDou and
Galileo L1 signals from a single test scenario. 12 channels
of each enabled constellation provide ample signals for a
wide range of development and integration tasks.
Spirent’s GSS6700 is supported by a selection of software
applications to suit your needs.
The GSS6700 Multi-GNSS Constellation Simulator from Spirent provides an easy-to-use but powerful solution for GNSS
testing which can grow with your evolving needs.
¢ GPS/SBAS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo supported
36. The real-world signal
environment is always changing.
So if you test with live signals,
it’s hard to tell if an issue is with
the device or the environment.
38. How time-consuming?
A major nav systems
manufacturer switched
from drive testing to
simulate in the lab.
Its test cycle was halved,
to an average of 4-5 weeks.
39. But it does still make
sense to test your
product in a ‘live’
environment before
releasing it to market.
So how about this?
40. Use a Record and
Playback system to record
the live signal environment
in different places around
the world.
Then bring the recordings
back to the lab, for fast,
repeatable testing.
41. You’re still using live
signals, but you don’t
have to travel.
You don’t even have
to go outside.
42. One other thing.
It’s hard to live-sky test
something that isn’t here yet.
The satellite navigation systems
that China and the EU are
working on?
They won’t be fully
operational until 2020.
43. But with a simulator, you
can already replicate signals
from these future systems.
And how your product will
work once they come online.
45. And that gives you huge
competitive advantages.
Lower test costs
Faster time to market
Fewer failures and recalls
Better reviews
Happier customers
More sales
46. Sound good?
Find out more about
using simulation and record
& playback in your lab.
Download our white paper:
Integrating GPS Into
Consumer Products
Thanks for reading.
www.spirent.com
Integrating GPSinto consumer products
White Paper
An R&D engineer’s guide to integrating and testing
global navigation satellite receivers
