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Spirent’s SimIQ software designed to speed GNSS product testing

September 1, 2020  - By

Enables greater collaboration and faster product development through I/Q data streaming

Spirent Federal Systems has released SimIQ, software that allows for earlier and more efficient GNSS testing during product development.

From software-in-the-loop through to final-form testing, SimIQ enables developers to collaborate across the full design lifecycle through the creation, sharing and replay of I/Q data files.

“SimIQ Capture allows developers to test their receiver algorithms in the earliest stages of design, minimizing costs and giving designers confidence as they proceed to the hardware design phase.”

SimIQ has been developed to meet the growing need to test GNSS capabilities earlier to accelerate product development, while simultaneously reducing costs by identifying issues prior to the purchase of hardware components.

For developers using Spirent’s GSS9000 and GSS7000 simulators, SimIQ extends multi-frequency, multi-constellation simulation capabilities to cover software-only testing needs through the capture and replay of high-fidelity I/Q data files.

Housed in a single system, SimIQ reads and generates I/Q data with two major components, SimIQ Capture and SimIQ Replay.

  • SimIQ Capture. Allows Spirent GNSS simulators to generate I/Q files containing all the GNSS signal data required to test the algorithms, conformance, and performance of software receivers. It enables the recording of GNSS I/Q data into files hosted in the simulator, helping development and testing teams to validate positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) algorithms before expensive hardware designs.
SimIQ Capture: Record I/Q data from Spirent GNSS simulators into files. (Image: Spirent)

SimIQ Capture: Record I/Q data from Spirent GNSS simulators into files. (Image: Spirent)

  • SimIQ Replay. Enables the simulator to read any I/Q file containing GNSS data. In addition, it facilitates the generation of RF from pre-recorded interference signals and custom waveforms. The flexibility and unrivalled signal generation architecture of Spirent’s hardware enables the generation of these signals from I/Q files, while maintaining fidelity and quality due to Spirent’s unrivalled signal generation architecture.
SimIQ Replay: Generate RF with Spirent GNSS simulators form I/Q files. (Image: Spirent)

SimIQ Replay: Generate RF with Spirent GNSS simulators form I/Q files. (Image: Spirent)

Test engineers can accelerate development, and thus save time and resources, by using Spirent simulators during the entire design lifecycle. The new software will bring significant benefits to developers in the defense and aerospace sectors.

“SimIQ Capture allows developers to test their receiver algorithms in the earliest stages of design, minimizing costs and giving designers confidence as they proceed to the hardware design phase,” said Jen Smith, Spirent Federal’s director of Business Development.

SimIQ will be available to new and existing customers beginning in the fourth quarter of 2020.

About the Author: Tracy Cozzens

Senior Editor Tracy Cozzens joined GPS World magazine in 2006. She also is editor of GPS World’s newsletters and the sister website Geospatial Solutions. She has worked in government, for non-profits, and in corporate communications, editing a variety of publications for audiences ranging from federal government contractors to teachers.