MerlinTPS Demonstrates Success at PNTAX
April 16 2024 - 10:00AM
MerlinTPS, a leading provider of alternative GPS technology,
today announced it achieved a critical step towards GPS satellite
independence during its first remote location tests. The company’s
primary intent was to prove its Terrestrial Positioning System
(TPS) could survive and thrive in the onslaught of electromagnetic
radio frequency interference produced at the PNT Assessment
Exercises, or PNTAX, in August 2023. TPS will revolutionize how to
attain accurate positioning and timing information across a wide
range of industry verticals, including defense and national
security.
PNTAX is the Department of Defense’s PNT and
communications-challenged environment, where its industry,
government and academic partners experiment with technology at any
readiness level, utilizing the electromagnetic spectrum to inform
future requirements.
The tests conducted at PNTAX enabled the team to
move to a technical readiness level 7 (TRL7) milestone, which
underscores MerlinTPS’ progress towards initial operational
capability. Immediate initiatives following the exercise include
consolidating multiple components into an integrated board and
advanced chipset while leaning into DOD development
partnerships.
Assured-position, navigation and timing (A-PNT)
technology seeks to minimize global navigation satellite system
(GNSS) denial effects through signal manipulation and sensor
fusion. MerlinTPS works independent of GNSS denial efforts and
relies on existing signals of opportunity from broadcast radio,
which are much harder to overpower and nearly impossible to
spoof.
"The successful test at PNTAX and proving
MerlinTPS’ advancement to TRL7 displayed the technology’s ability
to operate during a real-life use case,” said MerlinTPS CEO
Christian Kotscher. “This is a testament to our team's dedication
and commitment to mission critical innovation. Our product's
accuracy and capability in GPS-denied environments make it a
game-changer in the world of A-PNT, unlocking opportunities in
multiple business verticals in civilian and defense
applications."
MerlinTPS Chief Product Officer Chris Kocks
added, “The success demonstrated at PNTAX shows that our timing and
positioning solution operates in extremely harsh, radio
frequency-denied situations with existing broadcast signals in
addition to our private network. We are partnering with an
innovative RISC-V core engineering firm to miniaturize our advanced
neuromorphic design and look forward to integrating our TPS
solution into existing and new OEM devices focused on timing and
positioning.”Persistent Systems’ MPU5 radios provided backhaul
communications throughout the exercise and performed in the face of
GNSS-denial. These exercises represent MerlinTPS’ most austere and
remote field tests. MerlinTPS produced better than GPS-level
precision from a fully mobile system in the middle of the
desert.
Nate Carlson, head of defense at MerlinTPS, was
on-site during the testing and came away impressed with their radio
performance saying, “MPU5 may as well have been magic. The network
was absolutely zero-drama, which is critical when testing a product
in development. The radios worked without fail, even sitting for
hours in the desert sun in extreme conditions.”
However, this remote test is not MerlinTPS’
primary use case. In urban tests, MerlinTPS’ positioning and timing
solutions proved as precise as previous tests in Los Angeles and
Atlanta. The MerlinTPS team has also achieved timing precision for
additional use cases, surpassing timing standards for the Smart
Grid, 5G and data centers.
As MerlinTPS progresses towards full-scale
deployment, the team remains committed to shaping the future of PNT
technology. The recent success at PNTAX represents a crucial step
forward in delivering unparalleled reliability, accuracy, and
security to countless industries worldwide.
To learn more about MerlinTPS, please visit:
https://merlintps.com/.
About MerlinTPSMerlinTPS is an
innovator in the field of terrestrial A-PNT solutions providing
next generation GPS alternatives. With a mission to be the
exquisite terrestrial PNT solution, the company's cutting-edge
technologies are focused on bringing unparalleled denial-proof
accuracy and precision to a wide range of timing and positioning
applications across a multitude of industries.
www.merlintps.com
Media ContactMatt
GreenfieldUproar PR for MerlinTPSmgreenfield@uproarpr.com