We are delighted to announce that Furuno will participate in ION GNSS+ 2026 in Orlando, Florida, USA from September 14 to 18.
Furuno will deliver a presentation on how LEO PNT can accelerate the convergence of position estimation.
This event brings together international researchers, engineers, and companies in the field of satellite navigation to present new research findings, introduce emerging technologies, and share the latest development plans in satellite navigation systems from various countries.
Outline of the session
On Friday, September 18, one of our specialists will present analytical insights into LEO PNT*1, an emerging positioning technology that leverages LEO mega-constellations dedicated to positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). The presentation is based on a paper co-authored with Xona Space Systems, Inc.*2.
| Schedule |
September 18, 2026 Session time 15:48 (EDT) |
| Presenter |
Yoji Takayama, Ph.D., Chief Engineer, R&D, Furuno |
| Title |
Rapidly Converging Position Estimation under Dynamic LEO Satellite Visibility |
| Summary |
In precise point positioning (PPP) using GNSS*3, it can take a considerable amount of time for the positioning error to decrease to a sufficiently small level. In contrast, Pulsar, a LEO PNT system powered by Xona, offers the potential for rapid convergence because the high-speed motion of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites causes satellite visibility and geometry to change significantly over a short period of time. In this study, we analyze the impact of visibility variations resulting from the rapid motion of LEO satellites on positioning error reduction through a sensitivity analysis of the estimation error covariance with respect to changes in satellite visibility. Furthermore, numerical simulations demonstrate the potential for rapid convergence, showing that the convergence time*4 of position estimation using Pulsar can potentially be reduced to approximately one-fifth to one-tenth of that required when using GNSS alone to achieve the same level of accuracy. |
In June 2026, Furuno became the first company in Japan to successfully receive live signals from Xona's satellite. In July 2026, Furuno also confirmed stable reception of Pulsar signals under a GNSS spoofing test environment. Through this presentation, Furuno will widely share its technical insights into LEO PNT with a broader audience and continue its collaboration with Xona Space Systems to commercialize solutions that complement GNSS and enhance the resilience and security of positioning and timing services.
Outline of the event
Official name of the event: ION GNSS+ 2026
Event dates: September 14 - 18, 2026
Location: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, Orlando, Florida, USA
Organizer: ION (The Institute of Navigation)
Official website: https://www.ion.org/gnss/
*1: LEO PNT refers to Positioning, Navigation, and Timing services using Low Earth Orbit satellites.
*2: Xona Space Systems, Inc. is a U.S.-based startup aiming to become the world's first provider of commercial satellite positioning services using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. (URL: https://www.xonaspace.com/ )
*3: GNSS stands for "Global Navigation Satellite System."
*4: Convergence time refers to the time required from the start of position estimation until the target positioning accuracy is reached.