Seminar on Components

of GPS
Why do we need GPS?
 Trying to figure out where you
are is probable man’s oldest
pastime.

 Finally US Dept of Defense

decided to form a worldwide
positioning system.

 Also known as NAVSTAR

( Navigation Satellite Timing
and Ranging Global positioning
system) provides instantaneous
position, velocity and time
information.
 Components of the GPS

GPS

S p ac e S eg m en t C on trol S eg m en t U s er S eg m en t
 Three Segments of the GPS
Space Segment

User Segment

Control Segment

Ground
Antennas
Master Station Monitor Stations
 Space Segment:
 24 GPS space
vehicles(SVs).
 Satellites orbit the
earth in 12 hrs.
 6 orbital planes
inclined at 55
degrees with the
equator.
 This constellation
provides 5 to 8
SVs from any
point on the earth.
 Control Segment
US Space Command

Cape Canaveral
Hawaii
Kwajalein Atoll

Diego Garcia
Ascension
Is.

Master Control Station Monitor Station Ground Antenna

 Control Segment:
 The control segment 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
 User Segment:
 It consists of receivers that decode
the signals from the satellites.

 The receiver performs following

tasks:
• Selecting one or more satellites
• Acquiring GPS signals
• Measuring and tracking
• Recovering navigation data
 Military.
 Search and rescue.
 Disaster relief.
 Surveying.
 Marine, aeronautical and terrestrial
navigation.
 Remote controlled vehicle and robot
guidance.
 Satellite positioning and tracking.
 Shipping.
 Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Position is Based on Time
Signal leaves satellite
at time “T”
T

Signal is picked up by the

T+3 receiver at time “T + 3”
Distance between satellite
and receiver = “3 times the
speed of light”
Method of Operation
 Global positioning
system (GPS)
 Receiver determines
location, speed,
direction, and time
 3 satellite signals are
necessary to locate the
receiver in 3D space
 4th satellite is used for
time accuracy
 Position calculated
within sub-centimeter
scale