GPS Global Positioning System
Global Positioning System is 24 hour navigation
system.
Why GPS
Accuracy
Word wide application
Signals are not contaminated by the weather.
Signals independent of weather
Interference and obstruction from terrain and
topography is negligible.
GPS
Position fixing by GPS operates on the
principle of ranging
Range = Velocity x time of transmit.
Accuracy Clock
GPS Segments
The three basic segments of GPS:
The space segment
The control segment
The user segment.
GPS Space Segment
The satellites are in six orbital planes with four
satellite in each plane.
It takes the satellites 12 hr to complete one orbit.
Satellites transmit two types of codes:
Coarse/Acquisition Code
Precision Code
Precision clock is required to calculate accurately
range.
Satellite Constellation
Source: Avionics, Module 20: Radio Navigation Systems, National Training Materiels for the Aerospace Industry,
Australian National Training Authority, 1997, Fig.7.1, Page 7-2
Control Segment
The GPS control segment monitors all the satellite
clock differences and includes this information in
the satellite clocks can be considered
synchronized.
The receiver block is then corrected by measuring
the time shift required to line up a replica of the
code generated in the receiver with the received
code from the satellite.
Control Segment
Errors:
Satellite clock errors
Satellite orbital information error
Multi-path error
Receiver Vehicle Dynamics
Atmospheric Propagation error
Dilution of Precision
User Segment
GPS Receivers
Uplink - Control segment to space segment
Downlink space segment to user segment
and space segment to control segment
Differential GPS
Differential GPS is an accuracy enhancement
system, which uses a ground receiver at a known
location to check GPS signals and measure range
errors. The corrections are then broadcast from a
local Transmitter, which allows GPS users in the
vicinity to include the correction in their
calculations.
GPS reference station is fixed at a geodetically
surveyed position.
Differential GPS
Source: Avionics, Module 20: Radio Navigation Systems, National Training Materiels for the Aerospace Industry,
Australian National Training Authority, 1997, Fig.7.1, Page 7-11
GPS Applications
Aviation
Naval Operations
Weapons Delivery
Surface Transport
Public Safety
Exploration
Agriculture
Space applications
Reference
To learn more about GPS:
www.trimble.com and go to tutorial on GPS