ECE/MAE 415
Global Positioning System Theory and Design

Course Description

An analysis of GPS operating principles and engineering practice

Course Details

ECE 415 is appropriate for juniors, seniors, or graduate students interested in GPS, GPS receivers, and applications of GPS. The course consists of lectures and 8 labs during the first 9 weeks. Laboratories will use the Zarlink/Plessey GPS Builder receiver and will in part "reverse engineer" the receiver. During the last weeks, students will choose a topic for the final design project. A variety of GPS receivers, differential receivers, and simulators are available for the projects.

Labs will make extensive use of MATLAB and experience with MATLAB is helpful (though not a prerequisite). Handouts will be given during lecture. These consist of text sections covering the week's lecture, homework problems, lab exercises, and analysis. MATLAB templates will be provided online for the labs. In these templates, lines of code will be filled in with material from the readings and lectures.

As this is a CDE course, course grades will primarily be based on lab grades and the design project. After completing the laboratories, but before the final project, there will be an in-class open book exam.

Course Scheduling

ECE 415 is offered every Fall semester at Cornell University. The lectures are every Tuesday and Thursday from 1010 to 1115. Labs are offered Tuesday through Friday from 1400 to 1630. For more information, please contact Dr. Paul Kintner.

Topics Covered

Navigational Algorithms
Receiver Analysis
Ranging Errors
Ionospheric Delays
Dilution of Precision
Differential GPS
Social Implications

Equipment - Receivers

Zarlink Plessey Engine (GP2021) on Aerospace Innovations PCI card
Magellan Handheld Portable Receiver
Novatel Dual Frequency Receiver

Required Textbooks

For this course we will use "Global Positioning System: Signals, Measurements, and Performance" by Pratap Misra and Per Enge (2nd edition). Additional notes will be handed out in class.

Optional Textbooks

GPS: Theory and Practice,

Hofmann-Wellenhof, Lichtenegger & Collins, Springer-Verlag, 1994.

Global Positioning System, Volume 1,

The Institute of Navigation, 1980.

Global Positioning System,

Parkinson & Spilker, ed., AIAA, 1996.

Understanding GPS Principles and Applications,

Kaplan, ed., Artech House, 1996.