The GLONASS system is the largest navigation complex that allows you to track the location of various objects. The project, launched in 1982, is still actively developing and improving. Moreover, work is being done both on the technical support of GLONASS, and on the infrastructure that allows the use of the system by an increasing number of people. So, if the first years of the complex’s existence, navigation through satellites was mainly used to solve military problems, today GLONASS is a technologically advanced positioning tool that has become mandatory in the life of millions of civilian users.
Global Satellite Navigation Systems
Due to the technological complexity of the implementation of global satellite positioning projects, only two systems can now fully correspond to this name - GLONASS and GPS. The first is Russian, and the second is the fruit of American developers. From a technical point of view, GLONASS is a complex of specialized hardware equipment located both in orbit and on the ground.
For communication with satellites, special sensors and receivers are used that read signals and form location data on their basis. To calculate the time parameters, special atomic clocks are used . They serve to determine the position of the object, taking into account the broadcast and processing of radio waves. Reducing errors allows for a more reliable calculation of positioning parameters.
Satellite Navigation Features
The range of tasks of global satellite navigation systems includes determining the exact location of ground objects. In addition to the geographical position, global navigation satellite systems allow you to take into account time, route, speed and other parameters. These tasks are realized through satellites located at different points above the earth's surface.
The use of global navigation is used not only in the transport industry. Satellites help in search and rescue operations, performing geodetic and construction works, as well as coordinating and servicing other space stations and devices without them. The military industry also does not go without GPS support . GLONASS navigator for such purposes provides a secure signal designed specifically for authorized equipment of the Ministry of Defense.
GLONASS system
The system began to work fully only in 2010, although attempts to introduce the complex into active work have been undertaken since 1995. In many respects, the problems were associated with the low durability of the satellites used.
At the moment, GLONASS is 24 satellites that operate at different points in the orbit. In general, the navigation infrastructure can be represented by three components: spacecraft, a control complex (provides control of the constellation in orbit), as well as navigation technical means of users.
24 satellites, each of which has its own constant altitude, are divided into several categories. There are 12 satellites for each hemisphere. Through satellite orbits above the surface of the earth, a grid is formed, due to the signals of which the exact coordinates are determined. In addition, the GLONASS satellite has several backup facilities. They are also each in their own orbit and are not inactive. Their tasks include expanding coverage over a specific region and replacing failed satellites.
GPS system
The American analogue of GLONASS is the GPS system, which also began its work in the 1980s, but only in 2000, the accuracy of determining the coordinates made it possible for its wide distribution among consumers. To date, gps satellites guarantee accuracy of up to 2-3 m. The delay in the development of navigation capabilities has long been due to limitations of artificial positioning. Nevertheless, their removal made it possible to determine the coordinates with maximum accuracy. Even with synchronization with miniature receivers, a result corresponding to GLONASS is achieved.
Differences between GLONASS and GPS
There are several differences between navigation systems. In particular, there is a difference in the nature of the arrangement and movement of satellites in orbits. In the GLONASS complex, they move in three planes (eight satellites each), and the GPS system provides for work in six planes (about four per plane). Thus, the Russian system provides a wider coverage of the terrestrial territory, which is reflected in higher accuracy. However, in practice, the short-term “life” of domestic satellites does not allow using the full potential of the GLONASS system. GPS, in turn, maintains high accuracy due to the excessive number of satellites. Nevertheless, the Russian complex regularly introduces new satellites, both for targeted use and as backup support.
Different signal coding methods are also used - Americans use the CDMA code, and in GLONASS - FDMA. When calculating positioning data by receivers, the Russian satellite system provides for a more complex model. As a result, the use of GLONASS requires a high energy consumption, which is reflected in the dimensions of the devices.
What do GLONASS capabilities allow?
Among the basic tasks of the system is the determination of the coordinates of an object capable of interacting with GLONASS satellites . GPS in this sense performs similar tasks. In particular, the motion parameters of land, sea and air objects are calculated. In a few seconds, a vehicle provided with an appropriate navigator can calculate its own motion characteristics.
Moreover, the use of global navigation has already become mandatory for certain categories of transport. If in the 2000s the spread of satellite positioning was related to the control of certain strategic objects, today ships and aircraft, public transport, etc. are supplied with receivers. In the near future, mandatory provision of all private cars with GLONASS navigators is not excluded.
What devices work with GLONASS
The system is capable of providing continuous global service to all categories of consumers without exception, regardless of climatic, territorial and temporary conditions. Like GPS services, the GLONASS navigator is provided free of charge and anywhere in the world.
Among the devices that have the ability to receive satellite signals, there are not only airborne navigation aids and GPS receivers, but also cell phones. Data on the location, direction and speed are sent to a special server via the networks of GSM-operators. In using the capabilities of satellite navigation helps a special program GLONASS and various applications that deal with map processing.
Combined receivers
The territorial expansion of satellite navigation has led to the merging of the two systems from the point of view of the consumer. In practice, GLONASS devices are often supplemented by GPS and vice versa, which increases the accuracy of positioning and time parameters. Technically, this is realized through two sensors integrated into one navigator. Based on this idea, combined receivers are produced that work simultaneously with GLONASS, GPS systems and related equipment.
In addition to increasing the accuracy of determining geographical coordinates, such a symbiosis makes it possible to track location when the satellites of one of the systems are not captured. The minimum number of orbital objects whose “visibility” is required for the navigator to work is three units. So, if, for example, the GLONASS program becomes unavailable, then gps satellites will come to the rescue.
Other satellite navigation systems
Projects similar in scale to GLONASS and GPS are being developed by the European Union, as well as India and China. The European Space Agency plans to implement the Galileo system, consisting of 30 satellites, which will achieve unsurpassed accuracy. India plans to launch an IRNSS system operating via seven satellites. The navigation complex focuses on domestic use. Compass from Chinese developers should consist of two segments. The first will include 5 satellites, and the second - 30. Accordingly, the authors of the project assume two service formats.