GPS Satellite Network Simulation on Matlab
Ertan AKÇAY
Electric-Electrical Engineering
ANKARA UNIVERSITY
ANKARA /TÜRKİYE
ertanakcay296@[Link]
maintains the GPS system, it is freely accessible
to anyone with a GPS receiver.[. GPS relies on a
Abstract: This report presents a simulation of constellation of satellites in medium Earth orbit
a GPS satellite network using MATLAB. The to provide precise geolocation and time
model includes Earth’s rotation, multiple information. This report focuses on simulating a
satellite orbits, and satellite motion. A realistic simplified GPS satellite network to explore
scenario is created to estimate the location of a fundamental aspects of satellite motion and
target on Earth’s surface based on noisy target location estimation.
measurements of distances from satellites. Key
methodologies, simulation parameters, and The objective is to:
results, including the visualization of satellite
paths, target location estimation, and the effects 1. Simulate the orbital paths of satellites in
of noise, are discussed in detail. This study a GPS-like network.
highlights the importance of satellite network 2. Analyze the effect of Earth’s rotation on
geometry and measurement accuracy in GPS- satellite visibility.
based localization systems. 3. Estimate the location of a target on
Earth’s surface based on simulated
Keywords: GPS, satellites, least squares distance measurements with added noise.
estimation, positioning, earth's notation, noise,
localization II. Methodology
2.1 System Design The simulation considers a
[Link]: GPS-like network with the following
parameters:
The Global Positioning System (GPS),
originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based Earth’s Radius: 6371 km
radio navigation system owned by the United Orbit Radius: 20200 km (relative to
States Space Force . It is one of the global Earth’s center)
navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that Number of Orbits: 6
provide geolocation and time information to Satellites per Orbit: 4
a GPS receiver anywhere on or near the Earth Inclination Angle: 56°
where there is an unobstructed line of sight to Simulation Steps: 360 (representing a
four or more GPS satellites.[4] It does not require complete orbit)
the user to transmit any data, and operates Receiver Location: Latitude 10°,
independently of any telephone or Internet Longitude -150°, with 0.005 km noise
reception, though these technologies can added to measurements
enhance the usefulness of the GPS positioning
information. It provides critical positioning
capabilities to military, civil, and commercial 2.2 Coordinate System The simulation uses a
users around the world. Although the United Cartesian coordinate system with the Earth’s
States government created, controls, and
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center as the origin. Satellite positions and the Rotation impacts satellite geometry.
target’s location are defined in this space.
Noise analyzed through measurement errors.
2.3 Target Localization The target’s true
position is computed based on latitude and 4. Least Squares Estimation
longitude coordinates. A noise level is added to Performance:
the computed distances between the target and
the satellites to simulate realistic measurements. Accuracy improves over time, even with noise.
An optimization algorithm (least squares
nonlinear optimization) estimates the target’s
position from the noisy measurements.
2.4 Animation and Visualization The
animation visualizes:
1. Satellite trajectories in 3D.
2. Earth’s rotation.
3. Real-time updating of the target’s
estimated position.
[Link] Model:
Satellite Position Calculation:
Noise and Distance Estimation: Figure I
Figure I shows the modeling of GPS system.
Position Estimation Using Least Squares:
[Link] and Results:
Figure II
1. Satellite and Orbit Modeling:
Figure II shows the receiver and estimated
Satellites modeled with different configurations position.
and plotted.
2. Receiver Localization:
True and estimated receiver positions simulated.
3. Earth’s Rotation and Error Analysis:
[Link]
This report highlights the impact of satellite
network configurations, noise, and Earth's
rotation on GPS positioning accuracy,
demonstrating improvements through estimation
techniques.
Referance:
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
alAeMQkQU&t=29s
• [Link]
gps/
• "Global Positioning System Standard
Positioning Service Performance
Standard" (PDF) (4th ed.). Archived (PD
F) from the original on April 27, 2017.
Retrieved April 21, 2017.
• GLOBAL KONUM BELİRLEME
SİSTEMİ (GPS)/Celalettin
KARAALİ, Ömer YILDIRIM
Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi,
Mühendislik Fakültesi, Jeodezi ve
Fotogrametri Mühendisliği Bölümü,
Trabzon