Space Products & Innovation
Transportation, Logistics, and Manufacturing
View Satellite Images of What’s Below While Flying–Wait a Minute…
Air France began a partnership with ESA in 2007 to show satellite images of the countries, cities, and terrain below the airplane to passengers. Air France plays CD-ROMs with synchronized images of the flight path below on routes between Paris and Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Singapore.
Transoceanic Flights with High-speed Internet
Satellite communications are enabling new comforts for long-distance commuters and airline customers. JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Blue of Australia are among the airlines that offer satellite TV.
Find The Coveted Parisian Parking Spot
A service, launched in December 2006 in Paris, helps drivers locate the closest available parking spot with the help of GPS signals. Approximately 120 participating garages relay availability data to a centralized database. Drivers with GPS-enabled phones can download data and receive precise directions to the closest available space.
Improving Taxi Service In New York? When Satellites Fly
New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission imposed a new mandate requiring new technology, including GPS receivers and credit card terminals, in all 13,000 taxis in the city. Some taxi drivers and taxi companies have objected.
Waiting at the New York Bus Stop with GPS Accuracy
GPS is also being applied to public transportation challenges. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City began a pilot program to track buses with GPS devices, and use this data to calculate and display estimated arrival times at bus stops.
Real-time Traffic Updates for Your Commute
The role of consumer GPS units for personal cars is evolving from static maps and directions to dynamic content. Innovative new technologies are using additional connectivity provided by wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) or cell networks for real time traffic updates and accurate information on points-of-interest.
Testing Inflatable Space Modules
Bigelow Aerospace, an entrepreneurial company based in Nevada, has taken steps toward providing potential in-space accommodations with the successful launch and operation of two expandable modules: Genesis I and Genesis II.
The Fifth Space Tourist
While communications satellites have long been used to help travelers arrange accommodations on Earth, commercial companies are developing an ability to provide accommodations in space. On April 7, 2007, software developer Charles Simonyi, the fifth orbital “private space explorer,” launched into space for a nearly two week stay aboard the International Space Station.
Cellphone Roaming in the Middle of the Ocean
In 2007, SeaMobile Enterprises, a provider of maritime voice, data, and Internet connectivity, announced a move into content delivery through a subsidiary, Wave Entertainment Network. Content comes to the ship live via SeaMobile’s Maritime Telecommunications Network, which can be cached onboard and shown in a “normal” time slot within the guest shipboard schedule.
Improved Communications While Cruising
A number of new satellite applications help cruise ships provide greater connectivity to their guests. Satellite communications have always been important to connectivity on cruise ships but the diversity of communications options to which guests have become accustomed is driving a number of innovations.