Introduction to NAVSTAR GPS

Global Positioning System(GPS)



The GPS is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides reliable location and time information in all weather and at all times and anywhere on or near the earth where there is unobstructed line of sight to 4 or more GPS satellites. It is maintained by US govt. and is freely accessible by anyone with a GPS receiver. Also known as NAVSTAR.

History of GPS
1969-

Defense Navigation Satellite System formed (DNSS). 1973- NAVSTAR GPS developed 1978- First 4 satellites launched . 1995- System declared fully operational.

Three Segments of the GPS

Space Segment

User Segment Control Segment Ground Antennas Master Station Monitor Stations

Space Segment
 

 

Composed of 24 to 32 satellites in medium earth orbit with boosters required to launch them into the orbit. Six orbital planes, Inclined 55o with respect to equator Orbits separated by 60o 20,200 km elevation above Earth. Orbital period of 11 hr 55 min.

Control Segment


 

Composed of a master control station , an alternate master control station and shared ground antennas and monitor stations. Comprises of 5 stations. They measure the distances of the overhead satellites every 1.5 seconds and send the corrected data to Master control. Here the satellite orbit, clock performance and health of the satellite are determined and determines whether repositioning is required. This information is sent to the three uplink stations

Control Segment
US Space Command

Cape Canaveral Hawaii Kwajalein Atoll Diego Garcia Ascension Is.

Master Control Station

Monitor Station

Ground Antenna

User Segment
 

GPS antennas & receiver/processor that receive and decode signals from satellites The receiver performs following tasks:
Selecting one or more satellites Acquiring GPS signals Measuring and tracking Recovering navigation data

Used by
Aircraft Ground vehicles Ships Individual

Four Basic Functions of GPS



Position and coordinates. The distance and direction between any two waypoints, or a position and a waypoint. Travel progress reports. Accurate time measurement.

Position is Based on Time

Signal leaves satellite at time T

T+3

Signal is picked up by the receiver at time T + 3

Distance between satellite and receiver = 3 times the speed of light

How it Works
   

Signal picked up by receiver Distance to each satellite is calculated Transit time of each message is determined Position of receiver is calculated using Trilateration. Trilateration- It is a method to determine position of objects using geometry of triangles. It uses known locations of two or more reference points, and the measured distance between the subject and the reference point.

Signal From One Satellite

The receiver is somewhere on this sphere.

Signals From Two Satellites

Three Satellites (2D Positioning)

Triangulating Correct Position

Three Dimensional (3D) Positioning

Utilization of GPS MEMS for missiles and rockets



Missiles and rockets currently rely on expensive, at times inaccurate, radar and/or video tracking equipment to provide position, velocity, altitude, and time information of missiles/ rockets during flight test. Hence the HSTS system introduces an alternative approach using a small, low cost, integrated GPS receiver and MEMS-IMU.

Hardened Subminiature Telemetry and Sensor System



The HSTSS concept is to place an antenna , battery, transmitter, sensors and supporting electronics in the warhead section of the weapon under test and transmit data to a ground based receiver. Due to size of the warhead section only MEMS are feasible as inertial sensors.

MEMS Devices


MEMS accelerometers and rate sensors developed for automotive and consumer electronics industries have been under evaluation by the HSTSS program for use in high shock military applications. These being extremely rugged, perform admirably. HSTSS uses include measurement of body-fixed axial/radial accelerations, drag, thrust, etc. for use in inflight aerodynamic characterization and in-bore environment characterization, muzzle exit vibration, muzzle velocity determination.

System Architecture
Transmitting Antenna Power Supply Receiving receiving antenna Antenna

GPS Receiver

IMU

Data Acquisition System

Ground Support Controller

External Sensors

System Operation
 

During normal operation GPS and IMU data will be collected and processed by the GPS receiver. The GPS will receive inertial data from the IMU and compute a navigation solution which will be filtered with the GPS and magnetic sensor inputs to determine time space position and altitude information (TSPAI). The TSPAI data will be passed to the DA system for conditioning and formatting prior to be passed on along with external sensor data to the transmitter for transmission out the S- band antenna.

Thank you