The History and the Future of GPS - Research Paper Example

The History and the Future of GPS The aim of this research paper is to give a complete historical background of GPS and to know the future of this technology. GPS stands for Global Positioning System which is based on the navigation satellites. It is owned and maintained by the US Air Force; however, its user segment is available to the civil authorities as well. It is used to know about the positioning, navigation and time (PNT). GPS started its operations in 1994 since then it has been modified on continuous basis. The GPS IIF is the expanded version of GPS IIR (M) which will be consisting of 12 satellites altogether the third of which is launched in the current year. Another series of GPS Block III is under development process which would be able to give more powerful signals and better (PNT). The Global Positioning System provides information related to time and location. It is a satellite navigation system which works well in all weather conditions on and close to the earth[Glo12]. It is owned and maintained by the United States of America and serves in the PNT i.e. positioning, navigation and timing. GPS has played vital role in modernizing the Air Traffic System and it has benefitted the military, army, civil and commercial users all around the world. The whole system is basically divided into three major segments including Space segment, Control segment and User segment. The first two are developed and operated by the US Air Force [GPS12]. The space segment consists of a group of satellites which form a particular shape in the space and transmit radio signals to the users. At least 24 satellites are available in the space 95% of the time [Spa12]. The control segment represents all the ground facilities that monitor the satellites, analyze their data and keep a check on their performance [con12]. The user segment is used to calculate the user’s three dimensional position and time by GPS receiver equipment which receives the information from the satellites and transmit it to the GPS receiver device[use12]. HISTORICAL CONTEXT GPS was developed by the US Department of Defense (DoD) and started its operations in 1994. The previous navigation systems had some limitations and drawbacks which actually gave rise to the creation of GPS. The project was developed in 1973 by the unification of ideas from the previously working navigation systems [Nat]. Originally it ran with 24 satellites. The first experimental GPS I satellite was launched in 1978 and by 1985 ten more satellites were launched. GPS was widely used in the Gulf War of 1990-91 [The12]. In 1993, GPS had the initial operational capability (IOC) and was proving the Standard Positioning Service (SPS). In 1995, full operational capability was declared to the GPS since Precise Positioning Service was fully available. GPS III was launched in 1998 later in 2005 the modernized version of GPS was launched with civilian signal (L2C). In 2010, software incompatibility was caused because of the ground control system [ELL12]. On October 12, 2012 the GPS IIF-3 was launched. Satellite Orbits Each satellite completes the circle of the earth in 12 hours i.e. twice in a day. It flies in the middle Earth orbit (MEO). The satellites are arranged in 24-slot arrangement in a way that they can be viewed from anywhere on the earth. Normally 24 satellites keep on flying in the space monitored by the Air Force. In 2011, the 24-slot arrangement was modified to 27-slot arrangement which increased the coverage efficiency of GPS [Spa12]. Applications of GPS There are various applications of GPS in the civil and military sectors. Apart from them it is also used in hundreds of apps in cell phones, wristwatches, shipping containers and ATM’s hence it has become an important part of the space infrastructure. GPS is also used in farming and construction to boost the productivity level and to save time and money. It has its applications in the banking, and financial markets. There are some wireless services which heavily depend upon the GPS and cannot work without it. Other than this GPS is also used in communication networks. The cellular phone companies are operating on the basis of GPS. The processes of mining and surveying have also modified and developed by its use. The transportation accidents prevention, rescue operations and disaster relief are all done effectively and efficiently by the use of GPS. It is also used in weather forecasting and monitoring of natural disasters [GPS121]. FUTURE OF THE TECHNOLOGY The modernization of GPS started as soon as the feature of Selective Availability was eliminated by the US Government which increased the GPS accuracy. Billions of dollars are spending on the upgrading of GPS which includes improved civilian and military signals. The GPS Block IIF and GPS Block III would be fully operating by 2025 with improved control systems and Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) and the Next Generation Operation Control System. The GPS Block IIF are the expanded version of GPS IIR(M) with an addition of a third civil signal. The F stands for the ‘follow up’ and these series will show better performance, signals and accuracy level. The spacecrafts are made by using the rubidium and cesium atomic to maintain the time. These series are developed by Boeing and include a total of 12 satellites the third of which was launched in October 2012 [Spa12]. The GPS Block III is under the development process by Lockheed Martin. It will be the unique series with the most powerful signals and the modified precision, navigation and timing services. They would prove to be more reliable, accurate and complete. Its future versions will be made considering the demands of the civil and military users [Spa12]. President Obama’s has encouraged international cooperation in regard of GPS in his National Space Policy 2012. The US is obtaining cooperation from Australia, China, Europe, India, Japan and Russia[Int12]. The US government is trying to minimize the effects of GPS interference by enforcing laws, interference detection and spectrum regulation. CONCLUSION Initially GPS was developed to overcome the limitations of the traditional navigation systems but with the time it has proved to be great satellites. The history of GPS and the US policy related to the Space navigation systems have shown that there lot of more modifications would be seen in the future. The recent examples of which are the GPS Block IIF and GPS Block III. The upcoming GPS technology is expected to have more powerful signals, better positioning, navigation and timing. There would be less chances of interference in the signals and the jamming of the devices because the US Government has taken some serious actions in this regard such as the implementation of strict laws, interference detection and spectrum regulation. Works Cited Glo12: , (Global Positioning System), GPS12: , (GPS overview), Spa12: , (Space segment), con12: , (control segment), use12: , (user segment), Nat: , (National Research Council U.S.), The12: , (The Global Positioning System: Assessing National Policies ), ELL12: , (ELLIOTT), GPS121: , (GPS applications), Int12: , (International Cooperation), Read More