Next-Gen GPS Satellite, Accurate to Within Three Feet and Indoors, is Ready for Testing

By Clay Dillow Posted 12.15.2011 at 4:41 pm 8 Comments

GPS Satellite NASA via Wikimedia

Were America’s NavSat handlers perhaps feeling slighted when it was revealed that the new Apple iPhone 4S would augment its existing GPS coverage with Russia’s GLONASS constellation? The U.S. is getting ready to launch a new generation of Global Positioning System satellites starting in 2014--part of a $5.5 billion upgrade--and the first prototype has been delivered for testing to Lockheed Martin.

The new satellites, called Block III, are set to make America’s GPS constellation more powerful, more reliable, and more accurate on the ground. Right now, GPS is reliable for a location fix to within ten feet of a person’s actual location. Block III satellites should cut that margin of error down to within three feet. Boosted signals should also boost penetration and coverage, making receivers on the ground more accurate when under tree canopies or in so-called urban canyons where coverage is presently spotty. It should even make indoor GPS somewhat better.

What’s good for the military is good for you. Air Force Space Command oversees the U.S. GPS constellation, but the aforementioned upgrades will translate to civilian GPS applications. For its part, the military is getting its own private upgrade. A new military signal called M-code will be much harder to jam, giving troops on the ground an added layer of security. That’s also good for civilian users of GPS (which is basically everybody these days), as sending two separate signals will also allow for better error correction should a satellite get slightly out of sync with the rest of the constellation.

That’s about all we civilians get to know for now, aside from the fact that the Pentagon eventually expects to field 32 Block III satellites (hence the hefty price tag). And that rhetorical question that opened this post? That’s just a little good-natured ribbing. In actuality, the U.S. and other countries around the globe are working toward a new common civilian positioning signal so your Garmin can use whatever satellites are best for the job regardless of which nation they belong too. That means not only is the U.S GPS constellation getting an upgrade, but GPS coverage on the whole should get a lot better.

[AP via Discovery News]

Previous Article: Wound-Treating Jelly Regenerates Fresh, Scar-Free Skin

Next Article: Chimps are Unnecessary for Most Research and Should Be Used Sparingly, Report Says

8 Comments

Link to this comment

Dumky

12/15/11 at 5:03 pm

"What’s good for the military is good for you."

It is true that benefits that are applicable to the military can often be applicable to civilians. But when it comes to costs (and therefore trade-offs), things are different.
Is this the best way to spend $5.5 billion to get more accurate and indoor positioning? I doubt it.

Link to this comment

racinjetford

12/15/11 at 5:32 pm

@Dumky "...Is this the best way to spend $5.5 billion to get more accurate and indoor positioning? I doubt it."

You must expand your view of this! Use your imagination a bit. This will benefit everyone and reduce wasted, unproductive time, allowing that time to be spent producing or consuming... which grows the economy as a whole. This will surely pay for itself right away, even just with more accurate farm-GPS systems and the resulting reduced waste... etc etc etc... Stuff like this, better roads, fast internet, and other infrastructure are investments made because the benefits greatly outweight the costs. Take the time to look past the costs to see all the benefits!

Link to this comment

mbrd71

12/15/11 at 6:06 pm

All well and good until a psycho-hacker with a laptop and an antenna in the car next to you drives your self-driving car into a concrete pylon a la Iran.

The weather is making me negative today. Going to need more coffee.

Link to this comment

maxb500

12/15/11 at 6:13 pm

The European Galileo System which now launched it`s first satellites and starts operations in 2014 will be accurate to around 3 feet as the free version (payed version is accurate to within 4 inches). Seems more like they are in direct competition and the US military doesn`t want to fall behind. Perhaps they will cooperate one day on a future version.

Link to this comment

Grunt

12/15/11 at 6:56 pm

I read an interesting article today how the Iranians Engineer spoof the GPS data being sent to the drone and get a landing zone in Irian. It is said many of military equipment is subject to this type of spoofing.

Link to this comment

JediMindset

12/15/11 at 8:37 pm

4 words-Enemy of the State
you really want me to believe that this is new? the governments been having tabs on us since the 80's. accurate within centimeters.

"religion is like a prison for the seekers of wisdom"

-Killah Priest

Link to this comment

GeeWillikers

12/19/11 at 11:20 am

Mr. JediMindset,
As you post your closing comment, "religion is like a prison for the seekers of wisdom", I thought you might appreciate a phrase my father always told me as a child.

"The greatest limitation we have in life, is the ones we put upon ourselves", then he follow with, "Son, you can do anything you put your mind too!"

Kind of nice, huh. ;)

Link to this comment

JediMindset

12/20/11 at 4:26 pm

@GeeWillikers

that is some really good insight given by your father. what a smart man.

"religion is like a prison for the seekers of wisdom"

-Killah Priest

Popular Tags

Technology

All Tags All Photos All Videos

Technology

+ More Photo Galleries

June 2013: American Energy Independence

Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.