Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design
A completely GPS-based navigation solution is generally not feasible in GNSS signal–challenged environments such as urban canyons. However, even in these difficult environments a partial set of GPS signal measurements may still be available. For instance, one or two satellites are generally still visible even in dense urban canyons.
By Inside GNSS
The United States remains the current leader in space competitiveness, but its relative position is eroding in the face of increased funding, streamlined policy, and industrial improvements in other space-faring nations.
By Inside GNSS
SVN62 launch (ULA)The U.S. Air Force declared the first GPS Block IIF satellite (SVN62) operational today (August 27, 2010), changing the spacecraft’s navigation signal status to healthy at about 10:10 a.m. (EDT or 4:10 a.m. UTC).
Launched May 28, the satellite became the responsibility of the USAF 50th Space Wing on August 26,
By Inside GNSS
High-precision users of GNSS are used to solving for carrier phase integer ambiguities, but the recent publication of a GPS technical document has fixed a different kind of phase ambiguity — a linguistic one
By Inside GNSS
GB-GRAM-M (GPS Wing)Rockwell Collins has delivered 21 prototype Ground-Based GPS Receiver Application Module Modernized (GB-GRAM-M) receivers that the Cedar Rapids, Iowa– headquartered company developed under the GPS Wing’s receiver card development program.
By Inside GNSS
Hemisphere GPS has signed a multi-year exclusive agreement to supply the S3-S Navigator — a customized Outback S3 precision guidance system — for Summit Liability Solutions. Both companies are based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
By Inside GNSS
Applanix recently released Version 5 of its Position and Orientation System for Land Vehicles (POS LV).
According to the company, the system uses integrated inertial technology and is designed to generate stable, reliable and repeatable positioning solutions for land-based vehicle applications such as road geometry, pavement inspection, GIS database and asset management, road surveying and vehicle dynamics. The company says the unit is designed to operate under the most difficult GPS conditions in urban and suburban environments.
By Inside GNSS
Artist’s rendering of GPS III satellite. Lockheed Martin imageMore than two years into a multi-billion-dollar contract, the Lockheed Martin team developing the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation GPS Block III satellites continues to defy the physics of large aerospace programs by successfully completing the program’s Critical Design Review (CDR) phase last week — two months ahead of the baseline schedule.
By Inside GNSS
The GPS Wing has authorized publication of three technical documents with updated specifications for the U.S. Global Positioning System, including the next-generation GPS Block IIIA satellites now in development, the L5 radio link, and the new L1 civil signal (L1C) that will be available with the GPS III spacecraft.
By Inside GNSS
GPS-related procurement and development items in President Obama’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 are moving through Capitol Hill, but not without contention. At issue is Obama’s request for $40.9 million for the High-Integrity Global Position System (HIGPS, also known as iGPS).
By Inside GNSS
FIGURE 1: Geographical overview of the 170 IGS stations tracking SVN62/PRN25 during its current 90-day checkout period. The blue curve illustrates the ground track of the spacecraft on August 9, 2010.For the complete story, including figures, graphs, and images, please download the PDF of the article, above.
On May 27, 2010, the U.S. Air Force successfully launched the first satellite of the Block II “follow-on” (Block IIF) series, the fourth generation of GPS spacecraft that features more precise and powerful signals, an extended design life, and several other technical advances.
By Inside GNSS
The Institute of Navigation’s Autonomous Weapons Summit (AWS) and& GNC Challenges for Miniature Autonomous Systems Workshop will be be held October 25-27, 2010 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center, Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
By Inside GNSS
Officials from the Air Space Space and Missile Systems Center’s GPS Wing announced today (August 10) that the first GPS IIF satellite (SVN-62) arrived on-station August 1. This indicates that the satellite is in its designated orbital position and ready for its final phase of on-orbit checkout and testing, to be completed before September. The satellite will then be cleared to serve navigation and timing users as part of the operational GPS constellation.
By Inside GNSS
