Research Accomplishment Reports 2011

Standardized Testing of Global Navigation Staellite System Technology

T.S. Stombaugh, M.P. Sama, S. A. Shearer
Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

 

Non-Technical Summary

Researchers at the University of Kentucky have developed unique capabilities for testing the dynamic accuracy of satellite-based positioning devices such as GPS receivers. At the core of this development is a track system that allows receivers to be moved in patterns typical of agricultural field operations. At the same time this system was being developed, international efforts have been nearing completion of a set of ISO standards that will dictate how GPS receiver dynamic accuracy is determined and reported.

The purpose of this project is to further develop the capabilities of the UK testing fixture so that it can conform to the requirements of the ISO standard making it a useful tool for the internation community to test receivers and so that it has the capability to evaluate the most accurate satellite-based positioning devices that are currently being produced.

2011 Project Description

Researchers continued to analyze test hardware, particularly the latency of the various components, so that the highly precise system can be developed. Initial development of the integrating software has begun. The information gained has been used to aid discussions on development of the ISO 12188 standard for dynamic testing of satellite-based positioning devices.

A software package has been developed to utilize Kentucky CORS network RTK differential corrections. Additional development has been initiated to add elevation testing capabilities to the test fixture. Using equipment and techniques developed in this study, tests have been conducted of various continuously operating reference stations to determine their utility.

2011 Impact

The methodology, hardware, and software developed through this project was critical to help with completion of the ISO standard for dynamic GPS testing (12188-1) that will govern the dynamic accuracy specifications for all GPS equipment used in agriculture.

2011 Publications

Zandonadi, R.S., J.D. Luck, T.S. Stombaugh, M.P. Sama, S.A. Shearer. 2011. A computational tool for estimating off-target application areas in agricultural fields. Trans. of ASABE, 54(1): 41-49.

Gomez-Gil, J., S. Alonso-Garcia, F.J. Gomez-Gil, and T.S. Stombaugh. 2011. A simple method to improve autonomous GPS positioning for tractors. Sensors, 11:5630-5644

Sama, M.P., R.S. Zandonadi, J.D. Luck, T.S. Stombaugh, S.A. Shearer. 2011. A Static Evaluation of Continuously Operating Reference Stations. 2011 ASABE Annual Meeting.