The GLONASS system is the largest navigation system that allows you to track the location of various objects. The project, launched in 1982, is actively developing and improving to this day. Moreover, work is being done both on the technical support of GLONASS and on the infrastructure that allows more and more people to use the system. So, if the first years of the complex's existence, navigation via satellites was used mainly in solving military problems, today GLONASS is a technological 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, today only two systems can 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 located both in orbit and on the ground.
For communication with satellites, special sensors and receivers are used that read signals andgenerating location data from them. Special atomic clocks are used to calculate time parameters. They serve to determine the position of an object, taking into account the broadcast and processing of radio waves. Reducing errors allows 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 geographic location, global navigation satellite systems allow you to take into account time, route, speed and other parameters. These tasks are implemented through satellites located at different points above the earth's surface.
The application of global navigation is used not only in the transport industry. Satellites help in search and rescue operations, geodetic and construction work, as well as coordination and maintenance of other space stations and vehicles. The military industry is also not left without the support of the GPS system. A GLONASS navigator for such purposes provides a secure signal designed specifically for authorized equipment of the Ministry of Defense.
GLONASS system
The system began full-fledged work only in 2010, although attempts to put the complex into active operation have been made 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. GenerallyThe navigation infrastructure can be represented by three components: spacecraft, control complex (provides constellation control in orbit), as well as user navigation hardware.
24 satellites, each of which has its own constant height, are divided into several categories. Each hemisphere has 12 satellites. By means of satellite orbits, a grid is formed above the earth's surface, due to the signals of which the exact coordinates are determined. In addition, satellite GLONASS has several backup facilities. They are also each in their own orbit and are not idle. Their tasks include expanding coverage over a specific region and replacing failing satellites.
GPS system
The American analogue of GLONASS is the GPS system, which also began its work in the 1980s, but only since 2000, the accuracy of determining the coordinates made it possible for its wide distribution among consumers. To date, GPS satellites guarantee accuracy up to 2-3 m. The delay in the development of navigation capabilities has long been due to artificial positioning limitations. Nevertheless, their removal made it possible to determine the coordinates with maximum accuracy. Even if synchronized 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 characterarrangement and movement of satellites in orbits. In the GLONASS complex, they move along three planes (eight satellites for each), while the GPS system provides for work in six planes (about four per plane). Thus, the Russian system provides a wider coverage of the terrestrial area, which is also 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 redundant number of satellites. Nevertheless, the Russian complex regularly introduces new satellites, both for targeted use and as backup support.
Also, different methods of signal coding are used - the Americans use the CDMA code, and in GLONASS - FDMA. When calculating data for positioning by receivers, the Russian satellite system provides for a more complex model. As a result, the use of GLONASS requires high power 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 parameters of the movement of ground, sea and air objects are calculated. In a few seconds, a vehicle provided with the appropriate navigator can calculate the characteristics of its own movement.
While usingglobal 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, the mandatory provision of GLONASS navigators for all private cars is not excluded.
Which devices work with GLONASS
The system is able to provide continuous global service to all categories of consumers without exception, regardless of climatic, territorial and temporal conditions. Like the services of the GPS system, GLONASS navigator is provided free of charge and anywhere in the world.
Among the devices that have the ability to receive satellite signals are not only on-board navigation aids and GPS receivers, but also cell phones. Location, direction and speed data are sent to a special server via GSM networks. A special GLONASS program and various applications that process maps help to use the capabilities of satellite navigation.
Combo receivers
The territorial expansion of satellite navigation led to the merging of the two systems from the point of view of the consumer. In practice, GLONASS devices are often complemented by GPS and vice versa, which improves the accuracy of positioning and time parameters. Technically, this is implemented by means of two sensors integrated into one navigator. Basedof this idea, combined receivers are produced that work simultaneously with GLONASS, GPS systems and related equipment.
In addition to improving the accuracy of determining geographic coordinates, this symbiosis makes it possible to track the location when the satellites of one of the systems are not captured. The minimum number of orbital objects, the "visibility" of which is required for the operation of the navigator, is three units. So, if, for example, the GLONASS program becomes unavailable, then gps satellites will come to the rescue.
Other satellite navigation systems
The European Union, as well as India and China, are developing projects similar in scale to GLONASS and GPS. The European Space Agency plans to implement the Galileo system, consisting of 30 satellites, which will achieve unsurpassed accuracy. In India, it is planned to launch the IRNSS system, operating through seven satellites. The navigation complex is oriented towards domestic use. The Compass system 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.
