Wifi Revolution

U.S. Marine Corps announced the selection of Rockwell Collins’ special helmet-mounted GPS navigation system called as ParaNav, which is specially designed for parachutists. U.S. Marine Corps signed a contract with Rockwell Collins to buy around 3,000 ParaNav units.  

 

Rockwell Collins develops and deploys innovative communication and aviation electronics solutions for both commercial and government applications.

 

ParaNav is a personal GPS-based flight management system which is integrated into a helmet, specially designed for parachutists. It guides the parachutists to fly to their designated landing zones by providing them with accurate navigation capabilities and enhanced situational awareness. The system also has features which help the parachutist to divert to alternate landing zones with the same level of accuracy.

 

Bruce King, vice president and general manager of Surface Solutions for Rockwell Collins, said in a press release that the contract between US Marine and Rockwell Collins will significantly enhance the capabilities of the US Marines. He added that the unit will enhance the navigational abilities of each individual parachutist and at the same time maintaining their ability to efficiently exit the aircraft and function under the canopy.  

 

"This contract significantly advances the capabilities of the Marines," said, ”ParaNav enhance the navigational abilities of each individual parachutist, while at the same time maintaining their ability to efficiently exit the aircraft and function under the canopy."

 

ParaNav offers a navigation system that is helmet-mounted. The system is integrated with a lightweight battery-operated GPS pod and an advanced full-color display which is attached directly to goggles or helmet shields, provides a parachutist with multiple navigation screens and data that includes altitude, ground speed, distance to landing zone, heading to landing zone, estimated time of arrival and also a glide slope incorporating wind drift. 

 

The system also incorporates 802.11 WiFi interface for Joint Precision Airdrop System data connectivity and custom circuitry which allows for accurate calculations incase of GPS lock failure.

 

 

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