NovAtel Inc. a leading GPS manufacturer based out of Calgary Alberta Canada and one of the official sponsors of last year's competition, is once again offering to loan GPS receivers to all collegiate teams participating in this years International Aerial Robotics Competition.

Last year a total of 11 Universities and Technical Institutions took advantage of NovAtel's generous offer and received a free loan of NovAtel's advanced RT-20 GPS hardware. At the competition held at EPCOT, 6 of the 7 finalists were equipped with NovAtel's RT-20 hardware. Last year's winning team MIT/Draper Labs flew with RT-20 on board.

Here are the details of this year's offer:

1. A free loan of GPS hardware to all collegiate competitors who desire it as a navigation aid. Once the educational institution signs and returns NovAtel's standard loan document, the equipment will be shipped directly out of the NovAtel factory in Canada. NovAtel will pay for the cost of shipping the hardware. Customs clearance and any brokerage fees are the responsibility of the educational institution. Each educational institution will have an option to purchase the hardware at a substantial discount at any time up to the end of the competition.

2. The hardware would consist of two (2) GPS receivers, 1 x OEM receiver for the rover and 1 x OEM receiver in an external enclosure OR, 1 x PCCard receiver for installation into a computer with an available ISA expansion slot at the reference station. Two antennas will be provided 1 x certified aircraft antenna for the rover and 1 x reference station antenna and choke ring. Two antenna cables, manuals etc. will all be supplied. The rover RT-20 receiver is capable of 20cms CEP or better accuracy in real time. Accuracy of 5 - 10 cms over a short base line are easily obtained. Differential corrections must be transmitted from the reference station to the rover and all radio links will be the responsibility of the educational institution.

3. Each team that is interested in requesting this free loan of hardware should contact:

                                Art Silver
                                NovAtel Inc.
                                Tel: 403-295-4986
                                Fax: 403-295-4901
                                Email: asilver@novatel.ca