Global Positioning System

Modernization of the Global Positioning System (GPS) has been taking place over the past few years as an important part of adding robustness to satellite navigation. The modernized GPS along with other satellite navigations systems, such as the European-lead Galileo development, the Russian GLONASS, and others, comprise the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), which provides world-wide position, velocity, and timing services for a wide variety of military and civil applications.

The currently GPS navigation signals in space operate at two centre frequencies designated as GPS L1 (1575.42 MHz) and GPS L2 (1227.6 MHz). The GPS space vehicles (SV) are located in a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and broadcast the course acquisition (C/A) code and Precise(Y) (P(Y)) code on the GPS L1 carrier frequency for both military and civilian use, and P(Y) code only for military (i.e., authorized) use on GPS L2 carrier. The GNSS signals transmitted from GPS SV uses right hand circular polarization (RHCP) to help minimize the signal fluctuation for mobile and terrestrial users.

GPS Satellite System GPS is a space-based radio navigation system providing accurate estimates of three dimensional position, velocity, and time. The development was lead by the United States (U.S.) Department of Defence (DOD) in the 1970s primarily for the U.S military, GPS now is fully operational and provides accurate, continuous position, velocity and timing information to both military and civilian users with appropriate GPS receiving equipment worldwide. There are three main segments that make up GPS: Space Segment (satellites on orbit), Ground Control Segment, and the User Segment. 24 satellites in six orbital planes make up the GPS baseline constellation are orbiting the earth about 12,000 miles above us. These satellites are travelling at speeds of roughly 7,000 miles an hour.The satellites are circling around the Earth in the period of approximately 12 hours in six medium earth orbits (MEO). GPS satellites are powered by solar energy. They have backup batteries onboard to keep them running in the event of a solar eclipse, when there's no solar power. Small rocket boosters on each satellite keep them flying in the correct path.

Each satellite transmits its own ranging data based on which user position can be calculated at the receiver end and navigation data such as orbital information, satellite status, clock information, etc is available .The satellites broadcast each set of its signals in a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) fashion on the same carrier frequency where each SV is identified by its unique pseudorandom (PRN) code. The Ground Control Segment includes the Monitor Stations which uses high fidelity GPS receivers to track and monitor the satellites status and the Master Control Station which then process the satellite information and commands the ground antennas which serves as an uplink to send control commands to satellites through an S band signal. The User Segment of GPS includes the various GPS receivers including the receiving antennas for the wide variety of applications throughout the Globe. GPS Modernization

Legacy GPS provides standard position service (SPS) to civil users through C/A code modulated onto the L1 carrier frequency and the precision position service (PPS) is provided primarily to military users through P(Y) code modulated onto both L1 and L2 carrier frequencies. There has been an increasing demand for more robust signals for both civil and military users. Higher performance (i.e., accuracy, integrity, continuity, and availability) is especially required for some critical civil applications, such as aviation SOL application, scientific survey application and indoor GPS applications. Three new codes are being developed for GPS by the time of this thesis. They are the M code to be added onto both L1 and L2 carrier frequencies for military use; the L2C code onto L2 carrier frequency, and the L5 (I5 and Q5) code onto the new GPS L5 carrier frequency for civil use. Table 1.1 illustrates available PRN codes (current and future) at the three GPS carrier frequencies for civil and military applications.

Table 1.1 Available PRN Codes at GPS L1, L2, and L5 Carrier Frequencies (* indicating modernization feature)

How it works?? GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day in a very precise orbit and transmit signal information to earth. GPS receivers take this information and use triangulation to calculate the user's exact location. Essentially, the GPS receiver compares the time a signal was transmitted by a satellite with the time it was received. The time difference tells the GPS receiver how far away the satellite is. Now, with distance measurements from a few more satellites, the receiver can determine the user's position and display it on the unit's electronic map.

Fig. GPS technology A GPS receiver must be locked on to the signal of at least three satellites to calculate a 2D position (latitude and longitude) and track movement. With four or more satellites in view, the receiver can determine the user's 3D position (latitude, longitude and altitude). Once the user's position has been determined, the GPS unit can calculate other information, such as speed, bearing, track, trip distance, distance to destination, sunrise and sunset time and more. Commercial aviation applications include GPS devices that calculate location and feed that information to large multi-input navigational computers for autopilot, course information and correction displays to the pilots, and course tracking and recording devices. Military applications include devices similar to consumer sport products for foot soldiers (commanders and regular soldiers), small vehicles and ships, and devices similar to commercial aviation applications for aircraft and missiles.