Contents

Global Positioning System Introduction History Basic Concepts Of GPS Structure Of GPS Applications Conclusion

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)

The Global Positioning System (GPS is a space! based satellite na"igation system that pro"ides locations and time information in all #eather$ any#here on or near the %arth$ #here there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites& It is maintained

by the 'S go"ernment and is freely accessible to anyone #ith a GPS recei"er& The GPS program pro"ides critical capabilities to military$ ci"il and commercial users around the #orld& In addition$ GPS is the bac(bone for moderni)ing the global air traffic system& The GPS pro*ect #as de"eloped in +,-. to o"ercome the limitations of pre"ious na"igation systems$ integrating ideas from se"eral predecessors$ including a number of classified engineering design studies from the +,/0s& GPS #as created and reali)ed by the '&S& 1epartment of 1efense (1O1 and #as originally run #ith 23 satellites& It became fully operational in +,,3& Ad"ances in technology and ne# demands on the e4isting system ha"e no# led to efforts to moderni)e the GPS system and implement the ne4t generation of GPS III satellites and 5e4t Generation Operational Control System(OC6 &Announcements from the 7ice President and the 8hite House in +,,9 initiated these changes& In 2000$ '&S& Congress authori)ed the moderni)ation effort$ referred to as GPS III& In addition to GPS$ other systems are in use or under de"elopment& The :ussian Global 5a"igation Satellite System (G;O5ASS #as in use by only the :ussian military$ until it #as made fully a"ailable to ci"ilians in 200-& There are also the planned %uropean 'nion Galileo positioning system$ Chinese Compass na"igation system$ and Indian :egional 5a"igational Satellite System GPS is one of the most fantastic utilities e"er de"ised by man& GPS #ill figure in history alongside the de"elopment of the sea!going chronometer& This de"ice

enabled seafarers to plot their course to an accuracy that greatly encouraged maritime acti"ity$ and led to the migration e4plosion of the nineteenth century& GPS #ill effect man(ind in the same #ay& There are myriad applications$ that #ill benefit us indi"idually and collecti"ely& ;atitude$ ;ongitude$ A<G etc etc etc= I get many re>uests to e4plain the different numbers used by different GPS at the same location& This is a "alid and sensible >uestion$ and there are easily understood ans#ers& ?ou may also #onder about terms such as 'T<$ G1A$ <GA$ datum$ position format$ grid$ and true north& <y customers get free assistance #ith these$ and any other matter relating to their purchase$ and the use of the GPS& The global positioning system is a satellite!based na"igation system consisting of a net#or( of 23 orbiting satellites that are ele"en thousand nautical miles in space and in si4 different orbital paths& The satellites are constantly mo"ing$ ma(ing t#o complete orbits around the %arth in *ust under 23 hours& If you do the math$ that@s about 2&/ (ilometers per second& That@s really mo"ingA The GPS satellites are referred to as 5A7STA: satellites& Of course$ no GPS introduction #ould be complete #ithout learning the really neat stuff about the satellites tooA The first GPS satellite #as launched in feburary+,,9& %ach satellite #eighs appro4imately + tonne and is about B meters across #ith the solar panels e4tended& Transmitter po#er is only B0 #atts$ or lessA %ach satellite transmits on three fre>uencies& Ci"ilian GPS uses the @;+@ fre>uency of +B-B&32 <H)&

%ach satellite is e4pected to last appro4imately +0 years& :eplacements are constantly being built and launched into orbit& The satellite orbits are roughly 2B$000 (ilometers from the earth@s centre$ or 20$000 (m abo"e earth& The orbital paths of these satellites ta(e them bet#een roughly /0 degrees 5orth and /0 degrees South latitudes& 8hat this means is you can recei"e satellite signals any#here in the #orld$ at any time& As you mo"e closer to the poles (on your ne4t 5orth Pole or Antarctic e4peditionA $ you #ill still pic( up the GPS satellites& They *ust #on@t be directly o"erhead anymore& This may affect the satellite geometry and accuracy but only slightly& One of the biggest benefits o"er pre"ious land!based na"igation systems is GPS #or(s in all #eather conditions& 5o matter #hat your application is$ #hen you need it the most$ #hen you@re most li(ely to get lost$ your GPS recei"er #ill (eep right on #or(ing$ sho#ing right #here you areA

History
The design of GPS is based partly on similar ground! based radio!na"igation systems$ such as ;O:A5 and the 1ecca 5a"igator de"eloped in the early +,30s$ and used during 8orld 8ar II& In +,B/$ Cried#ardt 8interberg proposed a test of general relati"ity (for time slo#ing in a strong gra"itational field using accurate atomic cloc(s placed in orbit inside artificial satellites& (To achie"e accuracy re>uirements$ GPS uses

principles of general relati"ity to correct the satellites@ atomic cloc(s& Additional inspiration for GPS came #hen the So"iet 'nion launched the first man!made satellite$ Sputni( in +,B-& T#o American physicists$ 8illiam Guier and George 8eiffenbach$ at Dohns Hop(ins@s Applied Physics ;aboratory(AP; $ decided on their o#n to monitor Sputni(@s radio transmissions& 8ithin hours they reali)ed that$ because of the 1oppler effect$ they could pinpoint #here the satellite #as along its orbit from the 1oppler shift& The 1irector of the AP; ga"e them access to their '5I7AC to do the hea"y calculations re>uired& 8hen they released the orbit of Sputni( to the media$ the :ussians #ere dumbfounded to learn ho# po#erful American computers had become$ as they #ould not ha"e been able to calculate the orbit themsel"es& The follo#ing spring$ Cran( <cClure$ the deputy director of the AP;$ as(ed Guier and 8eiffenbach to loo( at the in"erse problem #here you (no# the location of the satellite and you #ant to find your o#n location& (The 5a"y #as de"eloping the submarine!launched Polaris missile$ #hich re>uired them to (no# the submarine@s location& This led them and AP; to de"elop the Transit system&

Official logo for 5A7STA: GPS

%mblem of theB0th Space 8ing

The first satellite na"igation system$ Transit (satellite $ used by the 'nited States 5a"y$ #as first successfully

tested in +,/0& It used a constellation of fi"e satellites and could pro"ide a na"igational fi4 appro4imately once per hour& In +,/-$ the '&S& 5a"y de"eloped the Timationsatellite that pro"ed the ability to place accurate cloc(s in space$ a technology re>uired by GPS& In the +,-0s$ the ground!based Omega 5a"igation System$ based on phase comparison of signal transmission from pairs of stations$ became the first #orld#ide radio na"igation system& ;imitations of these systems dro"e the need for a more uni"ersal na"igation solution #ith greater accuracy&

Basic concept of GPS

A GPS recei"er calculates its position by precisely timing the signals sent by GPS satellites high abo"e the %arth& %ach satellite continually transmits messages that include

the time the message #as transmitted satellite position at time of message transmission

The recei"er uses the messages it recei"es to determine the transit time of each message and computes the distance to each satellite& These distances along #ith the satellites@ locations are used #ith the possible aid of trilateration$ depending on #hich algorithm is used$ to compute the position of the recei"er& This position is then displayed$ perhaps #ith a mo"ing map display or latitude and longitudeE ele"ation information may be included& <any GPS units sho# deri"ed information such as direction and speed$ calculated from position changes&

Three satellites might seem enough to sol"e for position since space has three dimensions and a position near the %arth@s surface can be assumed& Ho#e"er$ e"en a "ery small cloc( error multiplied by the "ery large speed of light F the speed at #hich satellite signals propagate F results in a large positional error& Therefore recei"ers use four or more satellites to sol"e for both the recei"er@s location and time& The "ery accurately computed time is effecti"ely hidden by most GPS applications$ #hich use only the location& A fe# speciali)ed GPS applications do ho#e"er use the timeE these include time transfer$ traffic signal timing$ and synchroni)ation of cell phone base stations& Although four satellites are re>uired for normal operation$ fe#er apply in special cases& If one "ariable is already (no#n$ a recei"er can determine its position using only three satellites& Cor e4ample$ a ship or aircraft may ha"e (no#n ele"ation& Some GPS recei"ers may use additional clues or assumptions (such as reusing the last (no#n altitude$ dead rec(oning$ inertial na"igation$ or including information from the "ehicle computer to gi"e a less accurate (degraded position #hen fe#er than four satellites are "isible

ST:'CT':% OC GPS
The current GPS consists of three ma*or segments& These are the space segment (SS $ a control segment (CS $ and a user segment ('S & The '&S& Air Corce de"elops$ maintains$ and operates the space and control segments& GPS satellites broadcast signals from

space$ and each GPS recei"er uses these signals to calculate its three!dimensional location (latitude$ longitude$ and altitude and the current time& The space segment is composed of 23 to .2 satellites in medium %arth orbit and also includes the payload adapters to the boosters re>uired to launch them into orbit& The control segment is composed of a master control station$ an alternate master control station$ and a host of dedicated and shared ground antennas and monitor stations& The user segment is composed of hundreds of thousands of '&S& and allied military users of the secure GPS Precise Positioning Ser"ice$ and tens of millions of ci"il$ commercial$ and scientific users of the Standard Positioning Ser"ice (see GPS na"igation de"ices &

'nlaunched GPS bloc( II!A satellite on display at the San 1iego Air G Space <useum

A "isual e4ample of the GPS constellation in motion #ith the %arth rotating& 5otice ho# the number of satellites in "ie# from a gi"en point on the %arth@s surface$ in this e4ample at 3BH5$ changes #ith time& The space segment (SS is composed of the orbiting GPS satellites$ or Space 7ehicles (S7 in GPS parlance& The GPS design originally called for 23 S7s$ eight each in three appro4imately circular orbits$ but this #as modified to si4 orbital planes #ith four satellites each& The orbits are centered on the %arth$ not rotating #ith the %arth$ but instead fi4ed #ith respect to the distant stars& The si4 orbit planes ha"e appro4imately BBH inclination (tilt relati"e to %arth@s e>uator and are separated by /0Hright ascension of the ascending node (angle along the e>uator from a reference point to the orbit@s intersection & The orbital period is one!half a sidereal day$ i&e& ++ hours and B9 minutes& The orbits are arranged so that at least si4 satellites are al#ays #ithin line of sight from almost e"ery#here on %arth@s surface& The result of this ob*ecti"e is that the four satellites are not e"enly spaced (,0 degrees apart #ithin each orbit& In general terms$ the angular difference bet#een satellites in each orbit is .0$ +0B$ +20$ and +0B degrees apart #hich$ of course$ sum to ./0 degrees&

Orbiting at an altitude of appro4imately 20$200 (m (+2$/00 mi E orbital radius of appro4imately 2/$/00 (m (+/$B00 mi $ each S7 ma(es t#o complete orbits each sidereal day$ repeating the same ground trac( each day& This #as "ery helpful during de"elopment because e"en #ith only four satellites$ correct alignment means all four are "isible from one spot for a fe# hours each day& Cor military operations$ the ground trac( repeat can be used to ensure good co"erage in combat )ones& As of <arch 2009$ there are .+ acti"ely broadcasting satellites in the GPSconstellation$ and t#o older$ retired from acti"e ser"ice satellites (ept in the constellation as orbital spares& The additional satellites impro"e the precision of GPS recei"er calculations by pro"iding redundant measurements& 8ith the increased number of satellites$ the constellation #as changed to a nonuniform arrangement& Such an arrangement #as sho#n to impro"e reliability and a"ailability of the system$ relati"e to a uniform system$ #hen multiple satellites fail& About nine satellites are "isible from any point on the ground at any one time (see animation at right $ ensuring considerable redundancy o"er the minimum four satellites needed for a position& Control segment

Ground monitor station used from +,93 to 200-$ on display at the Air Corce Space G <issile <useum The control segment is composed of +& a master control station (<CS $ 2& an alternate master control station$ .& four dedicated ground antennas and 3& si4 dedicated monitor stations The <CS can also access '&S& Air Corce Satellite Control 5et#or( (ACSC5 ground antennas (for additional command and control capability and 5GA (5ational Geospatial!Intelligence Agency monitor stations& The flight paths of the satellites are trac(ed by dedicated '&S& Air Corce monitoring stations in Ha#aii$ I#a*alein$ Ascension Island$ 1iego Garcia$ Colorado Springs$ Colorado and Cape Cana"eral$ along #ith shared 5GA monitor stations operated in %ngland$ Argentina$ %cuador$ Bahrain$ Australia and 8ashington 1C& The trac(ing information is sent to the Air Corce Space Command@s <CS atSchrie"er Air Corce Base 2B (m (+/ mi %S% of Colorado Springs$ #hich is operated by the 2nd Space Operations S>uadron (2 SOPS of the '&S& Air Corce& Then 2 SOPS contacts each GPS satellite regularly #ith a na"igational update using dedicated or shared (ACSC5 ground antennas (GPS dedicated ground antennas are located at I#a*alein$ Ascension Island$ 1iego Garcia$ and Cape Cana"eral & These updates synchroni)e the atomic cloc(s on board the satellites to #ithin a fe# nanoseconds of each other$ and ad*ust the ephemeris of each satellite@s internal orbital model& The updates are created by a Ialman filter that uses inputs from the ground monitoring

stations$ space #eather information$ and "arious other inputs& Satellite maneu"ers are not precise by GPS standards& So to change the orbit of a satellite$ the satellite must be mar(ed unhealthy$ so recei"ers #ill not use it in their calculation& Then the maneu"er can be carried out$ and the resulting orbit trac(ed from the ground& Then the ne# ephemeris is uploaded and the satellite mar(ed healthy again& The Operation Control Segment (OCS currently ser"es as the control segment of record& It pro"ides the operational capability that supports global GPS users and (eeps the GPS system operational and performing #ithin specification& OCS successfully replaced the legacy +,-0Js!era mainframe computer at Schrie"er Air Corce Base in September 200-& After installation$ the system helped enable upgrades and pro"ide a foundation for a ne# security architecture that supported the '&S& armed forces& OCS #ill continue to be the ground control system of record until the ne# segment$ 5e4t Generation GPS Operation Control System (OC6 $ is fully de"eloped and functional& The ne# capabilities pro"ided by OC6 #ill be the cornerstone for re"olutioni)ing GPSJs mission capabilities$ and enabling Air Corce Space Command to greatly enhance GPS operational ser"ices to '&S& combat forces$ ci"il partners and myriad of domestic and international users& The GPS OC6 program also #ill reduce cost$ schedule and technical ris(& It is designed to pro"ide B0K sustainment cost sa"ings through efficient soft#are architecture and Performance!Based ;ogistics&

In addition$ GPS OC6 e4pected to cost millions less than the cost to upgrade OCS #hile pro"iding four times the capability& The GPS OC6 program represents a critical part of GPS moderni)ation and pro"ides significant information assurance impro"ements o"er the current GPS OCS program&

OC6 #ill ha"e the ability to control and manage GPS legacy satellites as #ell as the ne4t generation of GPS III satellites$ #hile enabling the full array of military signals& Built on a fle4ible architecture that can rapidly adapt to the changing needs of todayJs and future GPS users allo#ing immediate access to GPS data and constellations status through secure$ accurate and reliable information& %mpo#ers the #arfighter #ith more secure$ actionable and predicti"e information to enhance situational a#areness& %nables ne# moderni)ed signals (;+C$ ;2C$ and ;B and has <!code capability$ #hich the legacy system is unable to do& Pro"ides significant information assurance impro"ements o"er the current program including detecting and pre"enting cyber attac(s$ #hile isolating$ containing and operating during such attac(s& Supports higher "olume near real!time command and control capability&

On September +3$ 20++$ the '&S& Air Corce announced the completion of GPS OC6 Preliminary 1esign :e"ie# and confirmed that the OC6 program is ready for the ne4t phase of de"elopment&

The GPS OC6 program has achie"ed ma*or milestones and is on trac( to support the GPS IIIA launch in <ay 20+3& 'ser segment

GPS recei"ers come in a "ariety of formats$ from de"ices integrated into cars$ phones$ and #atches$ to dedicated de"ices such as those sho#n here from manufacturers Trimble$ Garmin and ;eica(left to right & The user segment is composed of hundreds of thousands of '&S& and allied military users of the secure GPS Precise Positioning Ser"ice$ and tens of millions of ci"il$ commercial and scientific users of the Standard Positioning Ser"ice& In general$ GPS recei"ers are composed of an antenna$ tuned to the fre>uencies transmitted by the satellites$ recei"er!processors$ and a highly stable cloc( (often a crystal oscillator & They may also include a display for pro"iding location and speed information to the user& A recei"er is often described by its number of channels= this signifies ho# many satellites it can monitor simultaneously& Originally limited to four or fi"e$ this has progressi"ely increased o"er the years so that$ as of 200-$ recei"ers typically ha"e bet#een +2 and 20 channels&

A typical O%< GPS recei"er module measuring +BL+mm& GPS recei"ers may include an input for differential corrections$ using the :TC< SC!+03 format& This is typically in the form of an :S!2.2 port at 3$900 bitMs speed& 1ata is actually sent at a much lo#er rate$ #hich limits the accuracy of the signal sent using :TC<& :ecei"ers #ith internal 1GPS recei"ers can outperform those using e4ternal :TC< dataNcitation neededO& As of 200/$ e"en lo#!cost units commonly include 8ide Area Augmentation System (8AAS recei"ers&

A typical GPS recei"er #ith integrated antenna& <any GPS recei"ers can relay position data to a PC or other de"ice using the 5<%A 0+9.protocol& Although this protocol is officially defined by the 5ational <arine %lectronics Association (5<%A $ references to this protocol ha"e been compiled from public records$ allo#ing open source tools li(e gpsd to read the protocol #ithout "iolating intellectual property la#s& Other proprietary protocols e4ist as #ell$ such as the Si:C and <TI protocols& :ecei"ers can interface

#ith other de"ices using methods including a serial connection$ 'SB$ or Bluetooth&

Applications
8hile originally a military pro*ect$ GPS is considered a dual!use technology$ meaning it has significant military and ci"ilian applications& GPS has become a #idely deployed and useful tool for commerce$ scientific uses$ trac(ing$ and sur"eillance& GPS@s accurate time facilitates e"eryday

acti"ities such as ban(ing$ mobile phone operations$ and e"en the control of po#er grids by allo#ing #ell synchroni)ed hand!off s#itching GPS has different uses such as= <ilitary 5a"igation

<obile satellite communication Sur"eying Agriculture

<ilitary=
GPS allo#s accurate targeting of "arious military #eapons including cruise missiles and precision!guided munitions$ as #ell as impro"ed command and control of forces through impro"ed locational a#areness& The satellites also carry nuclear detonation

detectors$ #hich form a ma*or portion of the 'nited States 5uclear 1etonation 1etection System& Ci"ilian GPS recei"ers are re>uired to ha"e limits on the "elocities and altitudes at #hich they #ill report coordinates&

5a"igation
GPS is used by people around the #orld as a na"igation aid in cars$ airplanes$ and ships& Personal 5a"igation 1e"ices (P51 such as hand!held GPS are used by mountain climbers and hi(ers& Glider pilots use the logged signal to "erify their arri"al at turn points in competitions& ;o# cost GPS recei"ers are often combined #ith P1As$ cell phones$ car computers$ or "ehicle trac(ing systems&& The system can be used to automate har"esters$ mine truc(s$ and other "ehicles&

<obile Satellite Communication

Satellite communications systems permit PremotesQ to communicate #ith PhubsP "ia satellites& A typical system uses satellites in geosynchronous orbit= this re>uires a directional antenna (usually a PdishP that is pointed at the satellite& 8hen the PremoteP is portable$ as on a ship or a train$ the antenna must be pointed based on its current location& %ssentially all modern antenna controllers incorporate a GPS recei"er to pro"ide this location information&

Sur"eying=
<ore costly and precise recei"ers are used by land sur"eyors to locate boundaries$ structures$ and sur"ey mar(ers$ and for road construction& There is also a gro#ing demand for <achine Guidance such as Automatic Grade Control systems that use GPS

positions plans to automatically control the blades and buc(ets of construction e>uipment&

Agriculture =
The de"elopment and implementation of precision agriculture or site!specific farming has been made possible by combining the Global Positioning System (GPS and geographic information systems (GIS & GPS!based applications in precision farming are being used for farm planning$ field mapping$ soil sampling$ tractor guidance$ crop scouting$ "ariable rate applications$ and yield mapping&

Conclusion=
GPS is no# being used across the #orld$ the list of uses is only set by the re>uirements #e can thin( of applying

GPS$ as it does so$ #e find it being used more and more in our daily li"es$ so it #ould be hard to perform many tra"el and industry tas(s #ithout it&