Customer Spotlight: Meet Skadi, the Goddess Herself!

You might have heard the news about the new Skadi Series™ GNSS receivers — but do you know the story behind the product line’s namesake, Skadi? Eos Positioning Systems wanted the name of this cutting-edge line of GNSS receivers to embody the company’s core values and capabilities: accuracy, flexibility, gracefulness, and agility.

The company’s flagship Arrow Series^® GNSS receivers drew their inspiration from Heracles, the ancient Greek “protector of man.” In one myth, Heracles protected his peers from man-eating birds by precisely hitting his targets with arrows. His image, aiming with precision against a steady rock, is shown across each Arrow Series GNSS receiver.

For its new generation of GNSS receivers, Eos found its inspiration farther North. In Norse mythology, Skadi is the goddess of bowhunting, winter, skiing, and the wilderness. Known for her incredible bowhunting prowess on skis, this goddess symbolizes both the accuracy and agility the Skadi Series embodies. Just as Skadi gracefully navigates rugged terrains, the features of Skadi Series GNSS receivers help users capture accurate locations on the move, without constant adjustments or interruptions.

For our July spotlight, we decided to speak to Skadi herself in an exclusive interview! Scroll down to learn more about this legendary goddess …

1. How did you discover Eos Positioning Systems’ GNSS products?

I first heard of Eos from none other than Heracles himself. During my visit to Greece, he told me of a company crafting high-accuracy devices in his image. After seeing him on the Arrow Series, I couldn’t help but think, “Where’s my tribute?” I mean, Heracles is a great archer and all, but can he do it on skis? I don’t think so!

I then traveled to Canada to speak with Eos’s technical team about the ideas I had to expand on to the capabilities of the Arrow Series. Naturally, my adaptability and accuracy on the slopes made me the perfect muse for their team as we brainstormed new ways to make GNSS even more elegant and agile in the field. What they came up with are not just tools, but also companions in the field, much like my trusty bow and skis.

2. How do you pronounce your name?

Ah, the pronunciation debate! It’s actually quite simple — my name is pronounced “Sk-AH-dee.”

3. Why are you passionate about high-accuracy GNSS?

Well, as a goddess, I don’t exactly need it. But I am passionate about inspiring humans to feel more capable. Besides, it’s fun to watch humans get excited about technology that makes them feel like they have a bit of divine accuracy. I see this new series of GNSS receivers as an extension of my own precision and efficiency, capturing data with the same accuracy I use in my hunts. Who wouldn’t want to be a little more god-like, right?

4. What advice do you have for users navigating challenging environments?

Adaptability is crucial. Whether it’s weaving through dense forests or descending treacherous slopes, I adjust my strategy to maintain my precision. I would encourage humans to adopt this same mentality with their data collection! But not all humans are as skilled as I.

That’s where the Skadi Series comes in.

These GNSS receivers mirror my adaptability, with options to use a handheld setup or range pole setup, all without the hassle of an external antenna. The hot-swap battery feature allows users to switch configurations uninterrupted. This enables humans to make precise measurements on the go, just as I hunt and navigate without pause.

5. Do you have a favorite feature of the new Skadi Series?

It’s hard to choose, but I’d have to choose the Skadi Smart Handle™ as a whole. This technology is like my bow and skis combined: powerful, precise, and adaptable. With the Invisible Range Pole™, you receive continuous elevation measurements without a physical range pole getting in the way. And the Extensible Virtual Range Pole™? The LiDAR laser feature lets you measure assets up to seven meters (about 20 ft) away, even if you’re not right on top of them. It’s like long-distance archery, but for data.

Skadi Tilt Compensation™ is also quite useful, correcting error from a tilted range pole for even the most imperfect humans. As I glide down slopes and aim from tricky angles, I naturally compensate for tilt with my innate instinct. But for mortals, that instinct doesn’t come naturally — this feature adjusts tilt for them. No more of that silly “bubbling up” business. Did you know it introduces only about 0.3 millimeters (0.01 inches) of inaccuracy per degree of tilt? Not bad!

6. Is there anything we didn’t ask you that you’d like to share with us?

I must say, it is nice to see humans taking matters into their own hands and creating problem-solving technology instead of worshipping me for accuracy (as flattering as it is).

With the Skadi Series, you can capture data with a level of efficiency that’s almost as impressive as mine! It’s nice to see you all finally catching up to what I’ve been doing effortlessly for eons!