FLAMINGO spreads its wings

The FLAMINGO project, partly funded by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA), developed the infrastructure, solutions, and services needed to enable the use of highly accurate and precise GNSS within the mass-market, particularly using smartphones and IoT devices. The project, which ended last May, delivered a successful solution that is now taking wings.

FLAMINGO (Fulfilling enhanced Location Accuracy in the Mass-market through Initial GalileO services) unleashed the potential of GNSS, leveraging Galileo’s dual-frequency signal for improved LBS performance in urban environments. FLAMINGO created a positioning service that  improves accuracy for smartphones and IoT devices, from approximately 5-25 metres down to 0.5-1 metre. These results enhance user experience and lay the foundation for the rollout of new and improved features in location-based apps, and the development of next-gen apps.

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In addition to the world’s first sub-metre accuracy positioning service for smartphones, the project also created first-generation products that the early adopters of this emerging technology are beginning to investigate. The project’s service, solution and potential were demonstrated to mass-market app developers through a series of hackathons and demonstration events. 

FLAMINGO was a collaborative venture comprising key European space and GNSS players such as  NSL, Telespazio France, University of Nottingham, Rokubun, Thales Alenia Space France, VVA, ECLEXYS, and Blue Dot Solutions. 

Leveraging the benefits

Blue Dot Solutions, one of the project’s partner, a company specialized in advanced solutions based on satellite data, such as GNSS signals or Earth observation imagery, and developing and building personalised systems and applications for different sectors, developed Ground Eye.

Targeting aviation, Ground Eye is a technology platform to monitor mobile ground infrastructure at airports. The system leverages Galileo’s added precision, fast and reliable data transmission, data analysis, collision and threat detection system and the highest level of security to locate, plan and manage airport assets.

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Ground Eye brings multiple benefits for both airports and passengers - it does not require any additional infrastructure, delivers smoother operations, reduced risk of accidents or missing equipment, and greater employee and passenger satisfaction. The solution was tested at Gdansk airport in 2019 and is currently ready to be used at any commercial airport.

Framework for innovation

FLAMINGO was just one of many projects funded under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, which supported breakthroughs, discoveries, and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the research lab to the market. Check here for an overview of innovative GNSS-driven projects funded in various market segments.

This work is now being continued under the successor programme Horizon Europe. With an overall budget of EUR 95.5 billion, Horizon Europe will facilitate collaboration and strengthen the impact of research and innovation in tackling global challenges. EUSPA will support the programme by stimulating the market and promoting the creation of commercial solutions for the downstream space sector.

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