Laptop Automated Aid Positioning System (LAAPS) with Differential GPS

Charles F. Klinger, Michael R. Wroblewski, Scott Krammes

Abstract:	The advent of GPS brought about changes in positioning and surveying that are only now being fully exploited. When GPS is in place, positioning accuracy of 1OOm or less will be available worldwide, 24 hours-a-day, in all weather and visibility conditions. The Coast Guard has realized the potential of the GPS system and has developed a system to improve the accuracy of GPS from 100 meters to 5-10 meters: this is the differential GPS system or DGPS. The Short Range Aids to Navigation Division recognized the potential use of DGPS as a new tool for aid positioning. Our present manual buoy positioning methods are tedious, time consuming and error prone. For these reasons, our units must continually check and re-check their positions with electronic navigation aids, radar information, and horizontal sextant angles to place a buoy on station. Automation of this procedure with DGPS input would allow units to obtain real-time positioning information for navigation and aid placement. The Coast Guard Research 6; Development Center was tasked with the development of an Automated Aid Positioning System. Their efforts have provided us with the Laptop Automated Aid Positioning System or LAAPS. LAAPS is everything it was expected to be. The USCGC BITTERSWEET out of Woods Hole, MA, is testing the system and is finding they can position aids with 2 to 3 meter accuracy. Plans call for nationwide coverage of DGPS by 1996. By that time, all Coast Guard aids to navigation units will have LAAPS ready for operation.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 47th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1991) June 10 - 12, 1991 Williamsburg Hilton and National Conference Center Williamsburg, VA
Pages:	473 - 478
Cite this article:	Klinger, Charles F., Wroblewski, Michael R., Krammes, Scott, "Laptop Automated Aid Positioning System (LAAPS) with Differential GPS," Proceedings of the 47th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1991), Williamsburg, VA, June 1991, pp. 473-478.
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