Apple applies for license to install new GPS testing facility at Apple Park

AppleInsider

Filings with the FCC request permission for a special license to install GPS equipment show that Apple is planning to increase its GPS testing. It's the first time Apple has requested such a license.

Apple Park, where the new GPS testing will take place if the license is approved

While Apple has continually included and tested GPS receivers with iPhones, it has now expanded that testing with a new application to the Federal Communications Commission.

For the purposes of licensing, GPS transmitters are included in radio broadcasting legislation, and enforced jointly by the FCC and the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which is part of the Department of Commerce.

Companies wishing to use transmitters must apply for an Experimental License Filing, and Apple did so on January 23, 2020. The application has not yet been granted, but it has been made by Apple systems design engineer, Harsha Hanumanthaiah.

Hanumanthaiah has been at Apple since May 2018 and lists his previous employment as being an engineer at Qualcomm.

The application specifically covers the installation of GPS equipment, listed as a "new or modified radio station" within the FCC's definition, and operate it initially for a period of up to two years.

In the application, Apple says that there are two objectives.

"[First] illumination of the part of the facility, located at 1 Apple Parkway, Cupertino, CA,with a GPS signal to allow for the testing and experimentation indoors for continued exploration of utilizing GPS technologies within their devices to provide innovative applications and continue to provide safe products.

[Second] further design, development and enhancement of existing GPS applications to provide greater efficiency and more effective means of utilizing GPS derived information."

This would mean Apple installing a GPS transmitter or repeater within Apple Park in order to better control and test its own GPS devices. Apple plans to use one GPS repeater called a Metro GNSS -- where GNSS is the global term for all GPS-like systems.

Apple's sketch of where the GPS device will be located. If they'd known we'd find it, they might have used a ruler. Sorry, Apple.

Companies applying for such an experimental license must specify where the device will be used, and that device cannot be moved without the license being re-applied for. Apple's notes on the location of the device say that it will be in Apple Park at 1 Apple Parkway. A sketch with the application further shows that the Metro GNSS will be installed in a second floor office.

While this appears to be the first GPS-related application, Apple has previously applied three times for licenses to conduct tests regarding cellular and consumer radios. It was successful each time, with the applications being approved after between one and two months.

Apple also recently had to advise users of iPhone 5 to update their iOS version because of a scheduled alteration to the worldwide GPS network.

Beats

In the future they could be testing a Car underground/indoors.

Mike Wuerthele

Beats said:

In the future they could be testing a Car underground/indoors.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/05/21/apple-building-large-car-drive-rooms-as-project-titan-lives-on

et al.

dewme

Hmm, maybe Apple will put a GPS grand master clock in the HomePod, AppleTV, and (future Apple automotive hub) and implement a precision time protocol, e.g., IEEE 1588, in their devices and HomeKit sensors/cameras/media/control devices to allow for very precise time synchronization and isochronous communication, control, and event handling. Without getting into too much esoterica, imagine IFTTT/Workflow/Siri Shortcuts type of automation that can be synchronized with sub-microsecond precision rather than relying on ad hoc/loosely coupled/unbounded execution chains.  Having a network wide shared precision time reference would open up a world of automation possibilities for cooperating devices not only within the home, but also onboard vehicles such as an Apple People Mover/Package Mover/whatever mover. 

Beats

Mike Wuerthele said:

Beats said:

In the future they could be testing a Car underground/indoors.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/05/21/apple-building-large-car-drive-rooms-as-project-titan-lives-on

et al.

Ah thanks.

I was also thinking how clever it would be to use a generic "shell" for the car while testing real internals so no one in the testing facility actually knows what the Car looks like.

lkrupp

dewme said:

Hmm, maybe Apple will put a GPS grand master clock in the HomePod, AppleTV, and (future Apple automotive hub) and implement a precision time protocol, e.g., IEEE 1588, in their devices and HomeKit sensors/cameras/media/control devices to allow for very precise time synchronization and isochronous communication, control, and event handling. Without getting into too much esoterica, imagine IFTTT/Workflow/Siri Shortcuts type of automation that can be synchronized with sub-microsecond precision rather than relying on ad hoc/loosely coupled/unbounded execution chains.  Having a network wide shared precision time reference would open up a world of automation possibilities for cooperating devices not only within the home, but also onboard vehicles such as an Apple People Mover/Package Mover/whatever mover. 

Looks like you don't know much about engineering or how GPS works. Yeah, people would love having a radioactive isotope in their Home pods.

dewme

lkrupp said:

dewme said:

Hmm, maybe Apple will put a GPS grand master clock in the HomePod, AppleTV, and (future Apple automotive hub) and implement a precision time protocol, e.g., IEEE 1588, in their devices and HomeKit sensors/cameras/media/control devices to allow for very precise time synchronization and isochronous communication, control, and event handling. Without getting into too much esoterica, imagine IFTTT/Workflow/Siri Shortcuts type of automation that can be synchronized with sub-microsecond precision rather than relying on ad hoc/loosely coupled/unbounded execution chains.  Having a network wide shared precision time reference would open up a world of automation possibilities for cooperating devices not only within the home, but also onboard vehicles such as an Apple People Mover/Package Mover/whatever mover. 

Looks like you don't know much about engineering or how GPS works. Yeah, people would love having a radioactive isotope in their Home pods.

You are correct, I am not familiar with the internal design of GPS grand master clocks but I am familiar with the networking side of PTP. 

dewme

lkrupp said:

cornchip

Beats said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

Beats said:

In the future they could be testing a Car underground/indoors.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/05/21/apple-building-large-car-drive-rooms-as-project-titan-lives-on

et al.

Ah thanks.

I was also thinking how clever it would be to use a generic "shell" for the car while testing real internals so no one in the testing facility actually knows what the Car looks like.

That is undoubtedly being done.

GeorgeBMac

Beats said:

In the future they could be testing a Car underground/indoors.

That was one of the first things I thought of:   Precision location tracking as it becomes a component of both 5G and self-driving cars.

Thinking about it:  GPS tracking hasn't hasn't progressed a lot since the mid-2000's when I started using it as a home health nurse to get from patient to patient throughout the county and region -- and then get me home again after the last patient.   It worked well, but it might be time for an upgrade!