Dallas IEEE ComSoc and Vehicular Chapter CVT

Innovation Through Positioning: Why the Future Requires More Than GPS/GNSS

Tue, Sep 15 · 11:30 AM CDT

3000 Waterview Pkwy, 3000 Waterview Parkway, Richardson, TX, US

Come join us on September 15, 2026 (11:30 am - 1 pm) for our next IEEE CVT luncheon meeting at UTD

and hear:

Bob Gessel

present:

"Innovation Through Positioning: Why the Future Requires More
Than GPS/GNSS "

Join us each month if interested in great networking and thought-provoking meeting topics.

You do not need to be an IEEE member to attend.

Register at:
https://events.vtools.ieee.org/event/register/572660

(Feel free to use the "Register as a Guest" button if not a member of IEEE and be sure to click on the "I accept the IEEE Privacy Policy" box).

Meeting details and cost to attend are below
and at: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/572660

Reservation at IEEE site (vTools) is required by Friday (9-11-26) noon if you'd like lunch. Free to attend if not having lunch.

On Sept. 15th:

This month's presenter will be:

Bob Gessel
Strategic Business Development and Partnerships
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-gessel-400195/)

TERN AI ([www.tern.ai)]

He will present:

"Innovation Through Positioning: Why the Future Requires More
Than GPS/GNSS "

Abstract
Over the last year, positioning has surged to the forefront of
automotive innovation.

As vehicles evolve into high-performance computing platforms, GPS/GNSS shortcomings are increasingly exposed: accurate at times, unreliable in the moments that matter, and vulnerable across urban canyons, tunnels, parking structures, and contested signal environments.

This session delivers an industry-level update on the growing urgency around GPS/GNSS limitations and the accelerating shift toward intelligent, signal-free localization.

We examine how existing sensors, map intelligence, and machine learning now enable continuous positioning without external inputs, and why this milestone changes the assumptions underlying turn-by-turn navigation, autonomy stacks, safety validation, and platform resilience.

Attendees will gain a clear understanding of why resilient,
satellite-independent positioning is becoming foundational for
safety, autonomy, and long-term platform reliability across the
automotive ecosystem.

Bio

Bob Gessel is a 35-year veteran of the telematics, telecom, and
software industries.

He is currently driving strategic business development at TERN AI where he leads commercial customer/partner engagements to accelerate the adoption of signal-free positioning across the telematics, infotainment, automotive OEM and fleet sectors.

He is also Managing Partner at Endeavorpoint Consulting and serves on the Board of Directors at Able Device, Inc. Prior to this, Bob spent 29 years at Ericsson including key roles in Strategy & Market Development for the North American unit.

Bob was also founder of two startups in the mobile content
and entertainment space and spent 15 years in communications
systems software R&D.

He holds a B.S.E.E from Southern Methodist University and MicroMasters in Digital Leadership from Boston University.

Meeting Date: Sept. 15, 2026 (Program from 12 to 1 pm)

Location: UTD Synergy Park North Building; 3000 Waterview, Richardson, TX

Directions: NE Corner Synergy Park Blvd and Steward Dr.
Lunch Cost: see below.

Most importantly, come to network with fellow technologists, business execs, entrepreneurs and IEEE CVT members.

You do not have to be an IEEE member to attend.

Registration: Please pre-register at:
https://events.vtools.ieee.org/event/register/572660

(If you're not an IEEE member, you are welcome to use the "Register as Guest" button at the bottom of the page - be sure to click and check the "I accept the IEEE Privacy Policy" box).

Please pre-register by Friday (9-11-26) 1 pm CDT if you plan on having lunch. The lunch order must go on at 1 pm Friday prior to the meeting on Tuesday (9-15-26).

Lunch will start at 11:30 am and the program runs from 12 to 1 pm.

You do not need to be a member of IEEE and the meeting is free if you do not intend to eat.

Location:

UTD Synergy Park North Building; 3000 Waterview, Richardson, TX
Directions: NE Corner of Synergy Park Blvd and Steward Dr. (map and more details below)

Prepay via the IEEE website by noon Friday (9-11-26 ):
https://events.vtools.ieee.org/event/register/572660

IEEE Members $10.00
IEEE Life Members $5.00
Non-IEEE Members (Guests) $15.00
UTD students: $2.00 (First 5 Students who have registered in vTools as recorded within vTools date/time stamp on the registration will be given their $2 back at the event, provided they attend. All students must show UT Dallas ID at the desk the day of the meetings.)

Feel free to sign up using the "Register as Guest" button at the bottom of the page. You do not need to be an IEEE member to attend and the meeting is free to attend if you are not eating.

Pay in person the day of the meeting:

IEEE Members $15.00
IEEE Life Members $10.00
Non-IEEE Members (Guests) $20.00
UTD ECE students with ID $2.00

Anyone who has not pre-registered for lunch will be asked to wait until all pre-registered folks have had a chance to go through the buffet line.

Anyone not pre-registered will be charged the ‘Guest’ rate.
There is No charge for "No Lunch, just attending the talk".

Parking passes will be available to those that register, and lunch for a fee.

Future meetings (subject to change but most likely):
Summer break/no meetings: June, July, Aug.
Sept. 15, 2026
Oct. 20, 2026
Nov. 17, 2026
Dec. 15, 2026