What can a 17-gm device deliver? A lot, including guiding satellites high above the earth, ships on the rough seas and missiles into the enemy territory. It will also help the defence forces protect the country better.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation on Saturday evening formally received a highly miniaturised device with all the available features from global positioning systems (GPS) and global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) on a module that weighs just 17 gm.
Accord Software and Systems, a Bengaluru-based firm, developed the module named G3oM for the DRDO. Dr V.K. Saraswat, director-general, DRDO, received the device.
The module can be used in a variety of platforms like winged aircraft, helicopters, vehicles, small boats, ships and can even assist survey applications. It also has tremendous civilian use and can be produced in large numbers at low cost.
According to a DRDO statement, G3oM is a state-of-the-art technology receiver, which integrates both GPS and Indian SBAS GAGAN and GLONASS systems. The navigation output comprises GPS, GLONASS and GPS+GLONASS position, speed and time data.
G. Satheesh Reddy, associate director of the city-based Research Centre Imarat, said the product is bringing about a quantum jump in the area of GNSS technology and has paved the way for highly miniaturised GNSS systems for the future.