GPSL Receiver Development
Hardware
The GPSL currently uses several models of GPS hardware receivers. In the past our main work-horse was based on the Zarlink/Plessey GP2015 and GP2021 chipsets. We operate and maintain ISA, PCI, and ARM versions of the receiver, all of which are 12 channel L1 GPS receivers. The ISA and PCI versions run on computers running RTAI Linux and are primarily used for ionospheric scintillation studies since they are capable of 50 Hz amplitude and 10 Hz phase measurements. The PCI version of the card was also used extensively for receiver algorithm development and for undergraduate teaching labs. The PCI cards were designed by Aerospace Innovations. The ARM version of the receiver is known as the COUGAR and is still used for our sounding rocket program.
Clockwise from top left of photo: ISA version of 2015-based receiver, prototype dual-frequency software receiver running on a TI DSP, initial production version of the same receiver with custom PCBs and embedded linux (now dubbed the CASES receiver), the COUGAR receiver, and the PCI version of 2015-based receiver.
Software
The GPSL is an international leader in the development of GPS software receivers. Non-real time receivers have been developed in Matlab for GPS L1, L2, and L5 signals. Graduate courses are also offered on the development of Matlab receivers. Real-time receivers have been demonstrated on PC and embedded platforms for both L1-C/A and L2C signals, and a receiver designed by Cornell and the UT Radionavigation Lab is being made available for purchase by ASTRA. Down conversion and digitization is implemented with designs developed at Cornell University.