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2014 GSA Prize awarded to the design of a new Galileo Module for Project Ara(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) The 2014 edition of the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) European GNSS Agency (GSA) Special Prize was awarded to Deimos Space for their Galileo for Ara - Design of a new Galileo Module for Ara platform project. Prague, The innovative idea, which aims to develop Galileo modules for the Google 'Project Ara' modular smartphone concept, is a potential game changer for positioning in the mobile phone market. Project Ara is led by Google with the aim of developing a smartphone comprised of individual modules. Galileo for Ara is the solution for demanding smartphone users looking to use one of Galileo's most important features: the unique E5 broadband signal. The idea is to design an E5 Galileo receiver module for the Ara platform. While mass market smartphones will use the E1 signal, the availability of high end phones offering enhanced accuracy through the use of the E5 signal will be appealing to many users. The project was selected from over 152 submissions and was recognized during a special awards ceremony held in conjunction with the Satellite Masters Conference, held in Berlin 23 - 24October. Giovanni Vecchione and Antonio Fernandez of Deimos Space received the prize, worth up to EUR 40 000, on behalf of Deimos Space. "Accomplishing this will not only extend the smartphone market to many new people, but will also meet the increasing demand for special model smartphones where, for example, a user wants high precision GNSS capabilities," says Vecchione. "The Galileo for Ara project is looking to deploy one of Galileo's unique and most powerful features, the E5 signal, in an innovative mass market initiative," says Carlos des Dorides, Executive Director of the GSA, "The idea showcases the positive effect that investment in European GNSS is already having across Europe in driving world-class innovation." About Galileo Galileo is a flagship large-scale infrastructure programme fully funded and owned by the European Union (EU). It consists of a space segment, comprised of a constellation of 30 satellites, and a global network of ground stations. Once fully operational, it will be the world's first global satellite navigation system under civilian control. About the European Satellite Navigation Competition Since 2004, the European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) has been rewarding the best services, products, and business cases that utilize satellite navigation in everyday life. Over this time, ESNC has evolved into an international innovation competition - one that recognises the best ideas in the field of satellite navigation. Entries come from a wide range of companies, research institutes, students and individuals. Each year, the GSA Special Topic Prize awards the most promising European GNSS application idea. The winner of the GSA prize has the opportunity to realise their idea at a suitable EU incubation centre for six months, with the option of an additional six months based on evaluation after the first period. The award criteria is based on the uniqueness and originality of the idea, its business (and social) potential, the credibility of the corresponding team, and the application's use of unique EGNOS/Galileo features. Read more about this year's winner here: http://www.gsa.europa.eu/news/and-winner-is%E2%80%A6 About the European GNSS Agency As an official European Union Regulatory Agency, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) manages public interests related to European GNSS programmes. The GSA's mission is to support European Union objectives and achieve the highest return on European GNSS investment, in terms of benefits to users and economic growth and competitiveness. For more information: Donna Reay Head of Communication European GNSS Agency (GSA) [email protected] Tel. +32 2 298 52 10 Mobile: +32 498 98 52 10 www.gsa.europa.eu . (c) 2014 M2 COMMUNICATIONS |