Open Architecture Dual Frequency Software GPS Receiver and Applications

Aleksandar Jovancevic, Andrew Brown, Suman Ganguly, Logan Scott and Phillip Ward

Abstract:	The Global Positioning System is being used for a growing variety of diverse applications. All these applications have somewhat different requirements in terms of the receiver functionality. Although the core design is similar, the final development must be done separately. There is a need for unified platform that will allow receiver development and testing for various applications, thus speeding the design process and reducing its cost. Such a platform would need to have an open architecture and design flexibility so that modifications and testing can be done quickly and efficiently. Center for Remote Sensing is developing an open architecture dual frequency software GPS receiver. It is a highly modular design suitable for development and testing of various receiver concepts. The potential applications of such a system are both non real-time, such as development and testing of new receiver configurations, educational tool for learning GPS operation etc, and real-time, such as complete system for navigation, time synchronization, atmospheric measurement, integration with other navigation systems etc. For non-real time operation, the receiver can be run on a PC. For real-time operation, the receiver must be run on a DSP or utilize a specialized hardware for correlation function. The software-based approach together with digital storage of received signals enables a comparison of different receiver designs under controlled conditions. The objective of this paper is to present the structure of the software based GPS receiver as well as address relevant issues and related problems. The paper considers modules used in a GPS receiver such as acquisition, tracking, carrier and code loops, dual frequency coded and codeless operation, navigation etc. with special focus on the interface between modules. Such an interface is crucial in allowing easy modification and addition of new modules. The configuration for a robust acquisition and improved operation under scintillating conditions is presented. Implementations for several other specific applications are described as well. The paper also discusses the architecture issues for real-time applications.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2001 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 22 - 24, 2001 Westin Long Beach Hotel Long Beach, CA
Pages:	799 - 808
Cite this article:	Jovancevic, Aleksandar, Brown, Andrew, Ganguly, Suman, Scott, Logan, Ward, Phillip, "Open Architecture Dual Frequency Software GPS Receiver and Applications," Proceedings of the 2001 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Long Beach, CA, January 2001, pp. 799-808.
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