Tech in place to source data from desi GPS

BENGALURU: The launch of seven satellites under the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) saw the dream of an Indian Global Positioning System coming true. Now, data from the constellation is ready to be sourced by indigenous systems, which will take it to millions of Indians through a variety of applications.

From alerting fishermen about the weather to aiding security agencies in surveillance, data from IRNSS can be used in a wide range of applications in science, aviation and financial services, among others. However, it will be some time before the new technology replaces the existing GPS on our smartphones as it requires changes to hardware specifications.

The Bengaluru-based Accord Software and Systems Private Limited has been developing GPS-based technology for the past two decades. The company has now developed three systems that can utilise data from IRNSS. “We're ready with three systems that people and organisations can directly buy and use. We also possess the knowledge to design chipsets just like the ones used to source GPS data, that can be used on mobile phones to provide information on positioning, etc.We're currently in talks with a few Indian handset manufacturers,“ said Accord vice president (India business development), Varadraj GS.


Jatayu (dongle), Navshare-IRN (bluetooth data recorder) and Navitrack-IRN (IRNSS-based tracker) are the three systems developed by Accord, the only company with access to IRNSS technology .

Murali Krishna S, also a vice-president at Accord, is working on IRNSS solutions.“Our systems are the first IRNSS user-end signal receivers that can compute location and decode the broadcast messages,“ he said.

Jatayu, which will receive signals from IRNSS through a miniature antenna, is similar to the internet dongle that can be connected to mobile phones. Information pertaining to one's position is transmitted over the USB interface to a portable platform such as a smartphone. Using IRNS data-based apps, various locations services can be enabled.