S.M.

Abdul Aziz Arqam

2007-EE-062

Assignment on GPS

Electronic Engineering Department

NAME: M Ziaullah
Roll No: 2007-EE-027
SUBJECT: NAVIGATIONAL AIDS
SUBMITTED TO: SIR USMAN

Electronic Engineering Department

Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology
University Road, Karachi 75300
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

GLOBAL POSITIONING
SYSTEM
Introduction
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a U.S. space-based radio
navigation system that provides reliable positioning, navigation, and
timing services to civilian users on a continuous worldwide basis.
Freely available to all. For anyone with a GPS receiver, the system will
provide location and time. GPS provides accurate location and time
information for an unlimited number of people in all weather, day and
night, anywhere in the world.

The design of GPS is based partly on similar ground-based radio

navigation systems, such as LORAN and the Decca Navigator
developed in the early 1940s, and used during World War II. GPS came
when the Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite, Sputnik
in 1957.

In another way GPS is:

• A space based positioning system used for navigation, tracking and

mapping.
• It is designed and maintained by the US Military.
• Truly global in scope.
• Available every hour of every day all year long, and is cheap to use!

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.

The 24 satellites that make up the GPS space segment are orbiting the
earth about 12,000 miles above us. They are constantly moving,
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

making two complete orbits in less than 24 hours. These satellites are
travelling at speeds of roughly 7,000 miles an hour.

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.

Here are some other interesting facts about the GPS satellites (also
called NAVSTAR, the official U.S. Department of Defense name for
GPS):

• The first GPS satellite was launched in 1978.

• A full constellation of 24 satellites was achieved in 1994.

• Each satellite is built to last about 10 years.

Replacements are constantly being built and launched into
orbit.

• A GPS satellite weighs approximately 2,000 pounds and

is about 17 feet across with the solar panels extended.

• Transmitter power is only 50 watts or less.

The GPS is made up of three parts: satellites orbiting the Earth; control
and monitoring stations on Earth; and the GPS receivers owned by
users. GPS satellites broadcast signals from space that are picked up
and identified by GPS receivers. Each GPS receiver then provides
three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude, and altitude) plus the
time.
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

What is GPS?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide satellite-based radio-
navigation system formed from a constellation of 24 satellites and their
ground stations. It is a space-based radio-positioning and time-transfer
system. GPS provides navigation, accurate position, velocity and time (PVT)
information to an unlimited number of suitably equipped ground, sea, air and
space users.

This system consists of three segments: the space segment, the

control segment, and the user segment.

• The space segment consists of a nominal constellation of 24 operating

satellites that transmit one-way signals that give the current GPS
satellite position and time.

• The control segment consists of worldwide monitor and control stations

that maintain the satellites in their proper orbits through occasional
command maneuvers, and adjust the satellite clocks. It tracks the GPS
satellites, uploads updated navigational data, and maintains health
and status of the satellite constellation.
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

• The user segment consists of the GPS receiver equipment, which

receives the signals from the GPS satellites and uses the transmitted
information to calculate the user’s three-dimensional position and
time.

Triangulation
DEFINITION:
Triangulation is a process by which the location of a radio transmitter
can be determined by measuring either the radial distance, or the
direction, of the received signal from two or three different points.
Triangulation is sometimes used in cellular communications to pinpoint
the geographic position of a user.

Basic principle of Triangulation

The drawings below illustrate the basic principle of triangulation. In the
scenario shown by the top drawing, the distance to the cell phone is
determined by measuring the relative time delays in the signal from
the phone set to three different base stations. In the scenario shown by
the bottom drawing, directional antennas at two base stations can be
used to pinpoint the location of the cell phone.
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

Triangulation apparatus can be confused by the reflection of signals

from objects such as large steel-frame buildings, water towers,
communications towers, and other obstructions. For this reason, at
least two independent triangulation determinations should be made to
confirm the position of a cell phone or other radio transmitter.

How does GPS "triangulation"

work?
• Position is calculated from distance measurements (ranges) to
satellites.
• Mathematically we need four satellite ranges to determine
exact position.
• Three ranges are enough if we reject ridiculous answers.
• Another range is required for technical reasons.
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

For this exercise, you'll need to dust

off some simple skills you learned in
geometry. Start by imagining a
"distance sphere" (in three dimensions) surrounding a GPS satellite.
Points on the surface of the sphere are all the same distance from the
satellite that's located exactly at the center.

• Knowing distance from one satellite places you somewhere

on a spherical surface that's centered around the satellite.

• knowing distances from two satellites places you

somewhere along a circle that's between the two satellites
(defined by the intersection of their "distance spheres")

• distances from three satellites usually intersect at two

points, and if you're not flying around, one of these points will be
on Earth's surface

• distances from four or more GPS satellites will intersect at

just one point

This process works by finding the intersection of your distances from

three or more satellites. Thus, describing it as "triangulation".
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

How GPS 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.

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.

GPS Applications
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

GPS has a variety of applications on land, at sea and in the air.

Basically, GPS is usable everywhere except where it's impossible to
receive the signal such as inside most buildings, in caves and other
subterranean locations, and underwater. The most common airborne
applications are for navigation by general aviation and commercial
aircraft. At sea, GPS is also typically used for navigation by recreational
boaters, commercial fishermen, and professional mariners. Land-based
applications are more diverse. The scientific community uses GPS for
its precision timing capability and position information.

Surveyors use GPS for an increasing portion of their work. GPS offers
cost savings by drastically reducing setup time at the survey site and
providing incredible accuracy.

Recreational uses of GPS are almost as varied as the number of

recreational sports available. GPS is popular among hikers, hunters,
snowmobilers, mountain bikers, and cross-country skiers, just to name
a few. Anyone who needs to keep track of where he or she is, to find
his or her way to a specified location, or know what direction and how
fast he or she is going can utilize the benefits of the global positioning
system.

GPS is now commonplace in automobiles as well. Currently these

systems allow a driver to keep track of where he or she is and suggest
the best route to follow to reach a designated location.

Many civilian applications use one or more of GPS's three basic

components: absolute location, relative movement, and time transfer.

• Roads and highways.

• Rails.
• Aviation.
• Space.
• Surveying and Map-making.
• Navigation.
• Cellular telephony.
• GPS tours.
• Geofencing: Vehicle tracking systems.

The problems with GPS system

 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

Many GPS devices are accurate most of the time and come with little
maintenance but are there problems with these GPS devices? There
are a few:

• Geometric Dilution of Precision – Also known as GDOP, this

occurs when a GPS reads the wrong position, especially if the
satellite angles are very small.
• Visibility – If the satellite signal is blocked or a GPS receiver is
attempting to achieve signals from a satellite more than 11,000
miles away, the signal can be lost or not visible to the GPS system.
Tunnels, large buildings, or areas thick with trees and brush can also
block signals from satellites.
• GPS Movement – Depending upon the model of GPS that you
buy or the type of unit that comes with your vehicle, the device may
quit working after the vehicle reaches a high speed. This most often
happens if you obtain a handheld GPS system and attempt to use it
in your car.
• High Temperatures – Most computer electronics don’t thrive in
extreme temperatures. The same is true for GPS electronic devices;
they simply don’t perform as well in extremely high or low
temperatures.
• Unmarked Roads – In some extremely rural areas where
satellites can’t identify the route, you may find that the unit will
constantly recalculate.

Summing Up the Problem with GPS

As with all electronics, GPS devices will fail from time to time due to
weather, area restrictions, lost satellites, or manufacturer problems.
Most of the problems with GPS devices arise from users who are
inexperienced in model designs or buy a GPS device that offers more
product functions than they need or require.
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

GPS Errors
Sources of GPS signal errors
Factors that can degrade the GPS signal and thus affect accuracy
include the following:

• Ionosphere and troposphere delays - The satellite

signal slows as it passes through the atmosphere. The GPS
system uses a built-in model that calculates an average
amount of delay to partially correct for this type of error.
• Signal multipath - This occurs when the GPS signal is
reflected off objects such as tall buildings or large rock
surfaces before it reaches the receiver. This increases the
travel time of the signal, thereby causing errors.
• Receiver clock errors - A receiver's built-in clock is
not as accurate as the atomic clocks onboard the GPS
satellites. Therefore, it may have very slight timing errors.
• Orbital errors - Also known as ephemeris errors, these
are inaccuracies of the satellite's reported location.
• Number of satellites visible - Buildings, terrain,
electronic interference, or sometimes even dense foliage
cans block signal reception, causing position errors.
• Satellite geometry/shading - This refers to the
relative position of the satellites at any given time. Poor
geometry results when the satellites are located in a line or in
a tight grouping.

Major GPS errors

1. The earth's ionosphere and atmosphere cause delays in the GPS
signal that cause position errors.
2. Some errors can be factored out using mathematics and
modeling.
3. The configuration of the satellites in the sky can magnify other
errors.
 S.M. Abdul Aziz Arqam
2007-EE-062

4. Bad GPS receivers also create errors.

5. Travel time measurement errors.
6. Orbital or "ephemeris" errors.

One of the basic assumptions we've been using is not exactly true.
We've been saying that you calculate distance to a satellite by
multiplying a signal's travel time by the speed of light. But the speed of
light is only constant in a vacuum.

As a GPS signal passes through the charged particles of the ionosphere

and then through the water vapor in the troposphere it gets slowed
down a bit and this creates the same kind of error as bad clocks.

The signal may bounce off various local obstructions before it gets to
our receiver.
This is called multi-path error and is similar to the ghosting you might
see on a TV.