GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM

H.S.Famitha Rakshana, K.Bhuvanambiga, 3rd year- CSE, Sona College of Technology, Thiyagaraja Polytechnic Road, Sona Nagar, Salem. [email protected] [email protected]

ABSTRACT: Uncertainties in position and time have been vexing problems for the mankind for centuries. Where am I, where are you, how do I get there and how long will it take these questions are to be answered in navigation and synchronization, and any mistake in answering these often have fatal consequences. Navigation and positioning are crucial to so many activities and yet the process has always been quite cumbersome. Over the years all kinds of technologies have tried to simplify the task but every one has had some disadvantage. The search for a better and an accurate option resulted in the GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS), a system thats changed navigation forever. The global positioning system (GPS) technology which emerged in the US and the former USSR answers all the aforesaid questions accurately. The GPS is a worldwide radio-navigation system formed from a constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations. Nowadays GPS receivers have been miniaturized to just a few integrated circuits and so are becoming very economical and that makes the technology accessible to virtually everyone. GPS is now mapping the whole world. Soon GPS will become almost as basic as the telephone and it may also become a universal utility. This paper explains the basic concepts of GPS and its applications. KEY WORDS: Global Positioning System Pseudo-Random Code Triangulation, Navigation. 1.0 INTRODUCTION The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978. The first 10 satellites were developmental satellites, called Block I. From 1989 to 1993, 23 production satellites, called Block II, were launched.
1

(GPS), (PRC),

The launch of the 24th satellite in 1994 completed the system. The basis of GPS is triangulation from satellites. To triangulate GPS a receiver measures distance using the travel time of radio signals. To measure travel time, GPS needs very accurate timing. Along with distance the exact location of satellites in space is required. To know exact location high orbits and careful monitoring are required. Finally error correction is necessary for any delays the signal experiences as it travels through the atmosphere.

steering signals), and an interaction with the operator through a control and display unit. To perform the above functions GPS contains mainly three segments 1)Space segment, 2) Control segment, 3) User segment. These segments are shown in the following Fig.

2.0 GPS ARCHITECTURE: The GPS is a universal positioning or navigation system that provides threedimensional positions accurate to within a few metres, velocity accurate to 0.03m/s, and time accurate to within a few nanoseconds. It performs three major tasks: 1) Acquire signals from the four geometrically optimum satellites. 2) Process the satellite data, determine the position of the receiver and transform that information into a coordinate system (latitude, longitude and altitude) that is familiar to the operator. 3) Interface to the user and his vehicle by providing a means to receive signals from other vehicle systems in both digital and analogue forms, a command output to the users vehicle (such as
2

2.1 Space segment: To produce accurate positions in three dimensions, the user must be able to see the four GPS satellites, separated sufficiently and geometrically oriented in three-dimensional space so that processing defines a precise signal intersection. After much analysis, this basic requirement for simultaneous multi satellite global coverage resulted in a constellation design comprising 24 satellites deployed in semi-synchronous circular orbits at an altitude of 10,900 nautical miles with a 12 hour orbital period. The satellites are uniformly spaced with four satellites in each of the six orbital planes 90 degrees apart. Each orbital plane is inclined at 55 degrees to the equator. Orbital planes are separated from each other in longitude by 60

degrees. GPS operational constellation is shown in the following Fig.

master control station then generates ephemeris and clock bias predictions and formulates navigation messages, which are uploaded to the satellites twice daily by the uplink antenna. 2.3 User segment: The GPS navigation set contains an antenna, receiver, data processor and display unit. Depending on the users need, the GPS navigation set can either track the signal from four satellites sequentially or simultaneously. The satellite signals are further processed by the data processor of the navigation set to demodulate the data and then decode it to get the users 3-dimensional position coordinates, velocity and time. The position is computed in World Geodetic System WGS-84 coordinates. The WGS-84 is an earth-centered-earthfixed (ECEF) reference frame, so position determinations are essentially independent of the local topography, which must be accommodated by geodetic models within the GPS receiver.

2.2 Control segment: For the highest accuracy of GPS, great care must be taken to model and correct any error in the received time delay such as clock drift and propagation delay. The ground control segment monitors the broadcast satellite signals and uplinks corrections to ensure predefined accuracies. The operational control segment consists of five monitor stations, a master control station and three uplink antennae. The widely separated monitor sets positioned worldwide at Hawaii, Kwajalein, Diego Garcia, Ascension and Colorado Springs allow simultaneous tracking of the full satellite constellation and relay orbital and clock information and meteorological data to the master control station. The ranging data accumulated by the monitor stations is processed by the master control stations is processed by the master control station at Colorado Springs for use in satellite determination and systematic error elimination. The
3

3.0 WORKING OF GPS: GPS operation is based on triangulation of satellite signals. Basically, it implements the time-difference-ofarrival concept using precise satellite position and on-board atomic clocks to generate navigation messages that are continuously broadcast from each of the GPS satellites. These messages can be received and processed by users anywhere in the world to determine their position and time accurately. The whole idea behind GPS is to use 24 satellites in space as reference points

for locations here on earth. Accurately measuring our distance from three satellites we can triangulate our position anywhere on earth. Suppose we measure our distance from a satellite and find it to be 11,000 miles. Knowing that we're 11,000 miles from a particular satellite narrows down all the possible locations we could be in the whole universe to the surface of a sphere that is centered on this satellite and has a radius of 11,000 miles as shown in the following Fig.

intersection of the first two spheres as shown if the following Fig.

Let the distance from second satellite is 12,000 miles, then we're somewhere on the circle where these two spheres intersect as shown in the following Fig.

Even though there are two possible positions, they differ greatly in longitude/latitude position and altitude. To determine which of the two common points is our actual position, well need to enter our approximate altitude into the GPS receiver. This will allow the receiver to calculate a two dimensional position ( latitude, longitude). However, by adding a fourth satellite, the receiver can determine our three dimensional position (latitude, longitude, altitude ). Lets say our distance from a fourth satellite is 10,000 miles. We now have a fourth sphere intersecting the first three spheres at one common point. We measure the distance to something thats floating around in space by timing how long it takes for a signal sent from the satellite to arrive at our receiver. The whole thing boils down to those "velocity times travel time". (d= v x t). The case of GPS we're measuring a radio signal so the velocity is going to be the speed of light. (30,000 kmps) 3.1: The Pseudo Random Code (PRC) It is a fundamental part of GPS. The signal is so complicated that it almost
4

We then make a measurement from a third satellite and if found that we're 13,000 miles from that one, that narrows our position down even further, to the two points where the 13,000-mile sphere cuts through the circle that's the

looks like random electrical noise. Hence the name "Pseudo-Random. Physically it's just a very complicated digital code. Its just a complicated sequence of "on" and "off" pulses as shown here.

The pseudorange is calculated from the transit time of the GPS signal, scaled by the speed of light c. The speed of light is assumed to be constant. However, as the signal travels through the atmospheres, its speed varies. This effect is generally attributed to two separate layers of the earths atmosphere: the ionosphere and the troposphere: the ionosphere and the troposphere. The ionosphere is the part of the atmosphere where UV radiation from the sun has ionized a fraction of the gas molecules. The change in the speed of light through this region is inversely proportional to frequency squared. If the GPS signal is tracked on both L1 and L2 frequencies, the delay added to the signal transit time from the atmosphere can be calculated and removed from PR measurement. For precision positioning, this error is about 3.1m 4.2 Tropospheric delay: Since tropospheric delay is not dependent on frequency, it is not removed by dual-frequency, it is no removed by dual-frequency compensation, but can be adequately modeled. The residual error after tropospheric compensation is about 2m. 4.3 Multipath Error: To navigate with GPS, it is assumed that the GPS signal has traveled along a direct path from the satellite to the receiver. But if the receiver is near any kind of reflective surface such as water or concrete, reflected GPS signals are also received at the antenna. This effect is known as multipath. Typically,

3.2 Advantages of PSEUDORANDOM CODE as a transmitting signal: Complex pattern helps make sure that the receiver doesn't accidentally sync up to some other signal. It's highly unlikely that a stray signal will have exactly the same shape. Pseudo-Random Code also guarantees that the receiver won't accidentally pick up another satellite's signal. All the satellites can use the same frequency without jamming each other. The complexity of the Pseudo Random Code makes GPS economical. The codes make it possible to use "information theory" to "amplify" the GPS signal. GPS receivers don't need big satellite dishes to receive the GPS signals because or PRC 4.0 GPS ERRORS: 4.1 Ionospheric delay:
5

multipath errors can add 1.2 m to precision positioning. 4.4 Receiver noise and resolution: Typically, this adds an error of about 1.1 m to precision positioning. 4.5 Satellite clock and ephemeris error. These can add an error of up to 3.9 m in precision positioning. Navigation errors due to satellite clock and ephemeris errors and atmospheric delays cancel between receivers tracking the same satellite in the same area. Multipath errors can be eliminated by using an antenna with a pattern that rejects signals received at low elevation angles. The pseudorange error source is therefore only the receiver noise. Since delta ranges measure change in the pseudorange, these can be used to filter the pseudorange noise. 5.0 APPLICATIONS: GPS is the most powerful navigation system used in a myriad of military, commercial, civil and scientific applications. 5.1 Location: The first and the most obvious applications of GPS is the simple determination of a position of location. GPS is the first positioning system to offer highly precise location data for any point on the planet, in any weather. In a sense it s like giving every square meter on the planet a unique address 5.2 Military:
6

In military, GPS provides an unparalleled force enhancement tool. GPS establishes an unambiguous correlation in four dimensions between the target and the dynamic weapon system aimed at the target- round the clock, anywhere on the earth, and under any condition of light, weather, or other source of obscuration. Because it requires no electronics transmission for access, the enables safe, efficient and precise operations in situations where complete radio silence is required. However, GPS allows battalions to beam their positions into a central system, so commanders far in the rear of the battle can watch every manoeuvre in real time. It also guides pilots in bombing and missile launching, so minimal collateral damage is caused. 5.3 Telecommunication: Over the past decade, global timing and communications infrastructure has adopted GPS as the primary distribution mechanism for time and frequency synchronization. The timing signal from GPS satellite constellation is being used internationally as a direct and globally available source of universal coordinated time. Many telecommunication service providers have replaced their complements of ground-based atomic frequency standards in favour of receiving continuous precise time and frequency signals from GPS. 5.3 Civil land navigation: By far, civil land navigation is the largest market place for GPS. Major US car manufacturers are working on integrating GPS receivers with moving map displays. Soon cars will be

available with display units that can be used to plan routes and display present location using GPS. Vehicle fleets can be tracked using GPS sets equipped with transponders to broadcast the vehicles location to the central monitoring station. GPS receivers for civil use are currently available for around $1000 a piece. 5.4 Electronic commerce and finance: Many banking and financial firms employ GPS timing for synchronizing their encrypted computer networks. The mechanism used for distribution of precise timing signals across the Internet is GPS. As e-commerce and trading expand the importance of precise time stamping is increasing. Computer transactions and Internet trading are routinely time tagged. International statutory authority and institutions have legally certified GPS time stamping services for determining financial transaction sequences.

satellites, like handmade stars in the sky, will be guiding us well into the 21st century. REFERENCES: [1] THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM AND GIS By MICHAELKENNEDY [2] GPS SATELLITE POSITIONING By ALFRER LICH [3] ELECTRONICS MAGAZINE [4] INTERNET FOR YOU

6.0 CONCLUSION: There will probably be a time soon when every car on the road can be equipped with a GPS receiver, including a video screen installed in the dashboard. The in-dash monitor will be a full-color display showing your location and a map of roads around you. Nowadays GPS has become important for nearly all military operations and weapons systems. In addition, it is used on satellites to obtain highly accurate orbit data and to control spacecraft orientation. The future of GPS is as unlimited as your imagination. New applications will continue to be created as the technology evolves. The GPS
7