Magellan Systems Completes Acquisition Of Rockwell's Vehicle Navigation Business
4 August 1997
Magellan Systems Completes Acquisition Of Rockwell's Vehicle Navigation Business
SAN DIMAS, Calif., Aug. 4 -- Southern California-based
Magellan Systems, a subsidiary of Orbital Sciences Corp.
announced today it has acquired the vehicle navigation business of Rockwell
Collins, a division of Rockwell International Corp.
The former Troy, Michigan-based Rockwell unit designed and markets the
PathMaster(TM) Global Positioning System (GPS)-based vehicle navigation system
and is working on the next generation of affordable, GPS-based vehicle
navigation systems, according to Magellan President Randy Hoffman. Unlike
most competitive units, the Rockwell system provides both visual and voice-
prompted turn-by turn route guidance.
Hoffman described the acquisition as the "launch platform" for a range of
driver information services which will become part of the nation's Intelligent
Transportation System being promoted by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Rockwell's system is currently installed in more that 8,000 Hertz rental
cars (under the name "NeverLost") and sold to customers through a nationwide
network of dealers.
Under the terms of the $9 million agreement which became effective July
31, 1997, Magellan has acquired all of Rockwell's intellectual property and
core technology for vehicle navigation and route guidance, as well as existing
products and those under development.
The Rockwell engineering team that developed the vehicle navigation system
will also move to Magellan. Their expertise lies in vehicle positioning,
guidance and tracking; GPS, dead reckoning and map matching; display
electronics; digital mapping; ASIC design; and human factors for
drivers/vehicles.
The former Rockwell unit becomes part of Magellan. The 33-employee Driver
Information Systems Group will remain in Troy, Mich., but will be relocated to
new facilities. Roger Stevens, who was vice president and general manager of
the Rockwell unit, will hold the same position with the new Magellan operation
and report to Magellan president Hoffman.
Magellan is a global leader in the GPS positioning and navigation products
marketplace, and is an innovative force in bringing to market affordable
satellite communications products, according to Hoffman.
Magellan Systems designs, manufacturers and markets a variety of satellite
navigation and communications products for worldwide commercial and consumer
markets. The company introduced the world's first commercial hand-held GPS
receivers in 1989, and the world's first hand-held satellite communications
device in 1997.
Magellan Systems manufactures and sells a variety of satellite navigation
and communications products for aviation, mapping, marine, outdoor recreation,
survey, systems integration and wireless communications. It is a subsidiary
of Dulles, VA-based Orbital Sciences Corp., a leading commercial space
products and services company with interests in low-cost satellite design and
construction, low-cost launch vehicles and services, remote Earth sensing,
satellite communications and other space-related services and products.
Magellan Systems is headquartered at 960 Overland Court, San Dimas, CA
91773, (tel) 909-394-5000, (fax) 909-394-7050.
SOURCE Megellan Systems