GPS pseudolites: Theory, design, and applications

Pseudolites (ground-based pseudo-satellite transmitters) can initialize carrier-phase differential GPS (CDGPS) navigation systems in seconds to perform real-time dynamic positioning with one-sigma errors as low as 1 cm. Previous CDGPS systems were rarely used due to cumbersome initialization procedures requiring up to 30 minutes; initialization of the carrier-phase integer ambiguities via pseudolite removes these constraints. This work describes pseudolites optimized for this application which cost two orders of magnitude less than previous pseudolites.; Synchrolites (synchronized pseudolites) which derive their timing from individual Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites are also described. Synchrolites can replace the CDGPS reference station and datalink, while simultaneously serving to initialize CDGPS navigation. A cluster of well-placed synchrolites could enable CDGPS navigation even if only one GPS satellite signal is available.; A prototype CDGPS system initialized by pseudolites and synchrolites was designed and tested. The goal of this system, known as the Integrity Beacon Landing System (IBLS), was to provide navigation accurate and reliable enough to land aircraft in bad weather. Flight test results for prototype pseudolite and synchrolite systems, including results from 110 fully automatic landings of a Boeing 737 airliner controlled by IBLS, are presented.; Existing pseudolite applications are described, including simulation of the GPS constellation for indoor navigation experiments. Synchrolite navigation algorithms are developed and analyzed. New applications for pseudolites and synchrolites are proposed. Theoretical and practical work on the near/far problem is presented.