New car technology will be helping eclipse viewing in the United States. Volvo is offering a special eclipse views for Volvo XC60 customers with panorama moonroofs. To help the Greenville, South Carolina police force, Kymeta is deploying a special connected vehicle with satellite technology.
Special Volvo Moonroof for Eclipse Viewing
Volvo Car USA has designed and developed a custom eclipse viewer for the standard panoramic moonroof in the all-new 2018 XC60. The viewers will be shipped to select Volvo retailers along the eclipse’s path, allowing individuals to view the August 21, 2017 event safely and comfortably in the all-new XC60.
The XC60 Panoramic Moonroof Eclipse Viewer is made with an ISO-certified 12312-2 material and features a magnetized frame to attach to the XC60’s roof. The size of the XC60’s panoramic moonroof allows viewing from all five seats in the vehicle. Select Volvo retailers in the eclipse’s path of totality in Oregon, Idaho, Nebraska, Missouri and South Carolina will be prioritized for the limited number of viewers.
“The development of the XC60 Panoramic Moonroof Eclipse Viewer gives those in the eclipse’s path a unique way to experience this historic event in both comfort and safety,” said Bob Jacobs, Vice President of Marketing, Product and Brand Communications, Volvo Car USA. “For those not in the path of totality, we will live-stream the eclipse in virtual reality and 4K high-resolution, 360 degree video.”
Volvo’s “Racing The Sun” campaign will broadcast the 2017 total solar eclipse in 4K high-resolution, 360 degree video and, for the first time, in immersive virtual reality.
More on that program can be found at www.racingthesun.com.
Projected to welcome upwards of 100,000 to 500,000 visitors during the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse, the city of Greenville, S.C.’s police department is keeping its force connected with a little help from Redmond, Wash.-based Kymeta.
Kymeta Connected Car to Support Greenvile, SC Police for Eclipse Viewing
Kymeta, is taking its satellite-connected Toyota RAV4 on the road to provide field trial mobile communications to the Greenville Police Department as cellular data networks become bogged down. “
The Kymeta vehicle is equipped with a Kymeta KyWay terminal, featuring mTenna technology. The KyWay terminal is Kymeta’s mobile satellite terminal.
Greenville, population 68,000, has been recognized as one of the best places to view the 2017 total solar eclipse, gaining the attention of news media, eclipse chasers and NASA, which has an official viewing location at the Roper Mountain Science Center. This popularity, and the surge in visitors that could increase the city’s day-of population by up to seven times the norm, will impact communications systems.
“The significant increase in visitors will have an impact on cellular networks, which are likely to face decreased capacity, and that’s a problem,” said Greenville Police Chief Ken Miller. Miller anticipates that the impact will be due to the increase in people uploading photos and video of the eclipse to social media networks, and appreciates the extra support. “Communication is critical to ensuring timely response to incidents and in keeping the public safe,” said Miller. “Having the extra testbed support Kymeta is offering will provide us with an additional means of communication.”
“Over the last several months, the Kymeta Government Solutions team has been performing extensive trials with military and law enforcement organizations, validating Kymeta technology as a force enabler. We appreciate that the City of Greenville IT team and police department have authorized Kymeta to use the eclipse as an opportunity to again put our technology to the test. Kymeta will use what we learn to make further improvements for our federal, state and local government customers,” said David Kervin, General Manager and Vice President of Kymeta Government Solutions.
Kymeta’s connected car, and first-of-its-kind antenna technology and satellite connectivity service, have wider implications for the future. “There are a wide range of challenges facing today’s emergency responders, in particular when it comes to communications, especially during large events that put pressure on cellular data networks,” said Dr. Nathan Kundtz, President and CEO of Kymeta Corporation. “With Kymeta, there’s this massive amount of capacity available for the first time on mobile platforms, so first responders always have reliable connectivity on the move. But it doesn’t stop there. That capacity is global; it can be applied anywhere, and it’s available to any type of vehicle, whether you are on land, in the air or on the water.”
Kymeta’s road team is set to provide emergency mobile communication services to the Greenville Police Department before, during and after the eclipse event on Aug. 21.