A new global navigation satellite system (GNSS) simulation platform has been developed by Spirent Communications to bring high-performance GNSS testing to more users across the development lifecycle. PNT Xe lowers the barriers to entry for positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) testing by offering Spirent’s high-quality simulation capabilities in an economical, easy-to-use, multi-purpose platform.
As PNT technologies become more widespread, PNT Xe is positioned to help manufacturers meet the growing challenge of quickly, efficiently and accurately validating GNSS performance within accelerated development schedules. From early prototype testing to performance testing and high-throughput verification on production lines, PNT Xe’s purpose-built hardware makes reliable, realistic testing accessible at all stages of development.
“Until now, many organizations have been forced to use unreliable, inconsistent simulators or utilize ‘live sky’ signals as a way of conducting production testing. The introduction of PNT Xe changes that paradigm by making Spirent’s renowned high-performance simulation technology available for every workstation, every engineer and every project phase,” said Peter Terry-Brown, divisional CEO of Spirent’s positioning business.
“Many of the world’s leading GNSS chipsets and modules are developed and verified using Spirent’s market-leading simulators. The introduction of the PNT Xe means that developers, integrators, design verification teams and production line testers can now use the same robust test methodology and test conditions without needing to compromise on the validity of results.”
PNT Xe features a compact footprint, and can be mounted on a rack or desk. According to the company, its simple yet powerful interface speeds up scenario creation. Furthermore, it transitions seamlessly from lab to field, tolerating wide variations in temperature and vibration while maintaining consistent performance and trusted results. The system supports all GNSS constellations and frequencies, providing the flexibility needed for a range of project requirements. Access to AES M-Code and a removable system disk also ensure compatibility with secure testing environments.
Rob VanBrunt, CEO of Spirent Federal Systems, said, “PNT Xe is a game-changer for defense customers. Its ease of use will be key to deploying new PNT technology faster, enabling software engineers to test minor code changes right at their desks, with immediate feedback for agile continuous integration. Furthermore, authorized users of GPS M-Code won’t have to rely only on secure labs because PNT Xe enables unclassified military signal testing using AES M-Code.
“In both the lab and field environments, precise, reliable testing that delivers truly representative results is critical and PNT Xe now makes that possible across the development cycle.”
Marie Hattar, chief marketing officer, Keysight Technologies, said, “As positioning and timing become foundational to technologies like 6G, defense systems and autonomous vehicles, access to accurate, high-performance simulation becomes critical. PNT Xe makes that capability available to more innovators than ever, ensuring they can validate performance, reliability and resilience at every stage of development.”
In related news, Spirent’s PNT simulation expertise has played a central role in the creation of a new automotive positioning standard in China