Examination of a Distributed Architecture GPS Simulation Test Bed

Kevin Barltrop and Bryant Elrod

Abstract:	A versatile and realistic simulation test bed serves as an excellent vehicle for exploring hardware and algorithm performance in wide-area differential GPS (DGPS) and in pseudolite (PL) systems. The signal dynamics and data for a complete DGPS network can be simulated by employing a distributed architecture that controls and synchronizes several GPS signal generators and receivers simultaneously. Adopting an object-oriented approach to the creation of the simulation scenarios provides the flexibility to efficiently make use of and combine available GPS simulation hardware and data. This paper describes the use of the Synchronicity simulation software in generating typical simulation applications with a discussion of three different scenarios. The first scenario recreates real-world test data logged by monitor station and aircraft receivers during recent Wide Area DGPS testing at the Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center (FAATC) in Atlantic City, N.J. The second scenario simulates a real-time interactive Local Area DGPS/PL-based landing in which a user operating a flight simulator receives realistic course deviation instrument (CDI) command guidance. The final scenario explores the use of the simulation models in choosing optimal PL locations near the FAATC hangar. This paper also relates each of the simulation results to the continuing development of GPS augmentation systems under consideration by the FAA.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1994) September 20 - 23, 1994 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	747 - 754
Cite this article:	Barltrop, Kevin, Elrod, Bryant, "Examination of a Distributed Architecture GPS Simulation Test Bed," Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1994), Salt Lake City, UT, September 1994, pp. 747-754.
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