JNC Tutorials
Tutorials are included with a full conference registration.
Click on course titles for detailed information and instructor biographies.
MONDAY MORNING, June 27
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Alternative Navigation
Instructor: LtCol Michael Veth, U.S. Air Force 46th Range Group
GPS 101
Instructors:
Dr. John Raquet, Air Force Institute of Technology
Dr. Jacob Campbell, AFRL Sensors Directorate
Vector Tracking Theory and Implementation
Instructor: Dr. Matthew Lashley, AMRDEC/NTA
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fundamental Reference Systems
Instructors:
Brian Luzum, U.S. Naval Observatory
John Bangert, U.S. Naval Observatory
Precise Time & Frequency
Instructor: Dr. Joe White, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Urban Indoor Navigation
Instructor: Dr. R. James Duckworth, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Alternative Navigation
Lt. Col. Michael
Veth, U.S. Air Force
48th Range Group
Course Description:
This tutorial develops the concept of navigation using non-traditional methods. Topics include techniques used to calculate the navigation solution based on general classes of available measurements: Examples of various techniques from both man-made and biological systems will be presented and discussed. These will include pseudolite navigation techniques, vision-based navigation, signals-ofopportunity navigation, and a general discussion of biological navigation systems. This tutorial will be presented at the introductory level and will be conceptual in nature.
Fundamental Reference Systems
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| Dr. Brian Luzum, U.S. Naval Observatory | Dr. John Bangert, U.S. Naval Observatory |
Course Description:
Navigation is the process of determining a position (or direction) and its motion with respect to a specific reference system. The navigational accuracy depends directly on the accuracy with which that reference system can be specified. Two components are required to realize a reference system for practical applications. These are (1) the reference frame and (2) the conventionally accepted models and standards used in the process. The frame is specified by an adopted set of coordinates and motions of the elements (site coordinates and motions, for example) used in its definition. The models and standards also include the software used in the navigational solutions. The tutorial reviews the fundamental elements of reference systems and demonstrates the practical aspects of the procedures used to transform from the terrestrial to celestial reference systems.
GPS 101
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| Dr. John Raquet, Air Force Institute of Technology | Dr. Jacob Campbell, AFRL Sensors Directorate |
Course Description:
This course presents the fundamentals of the GPS system, and it is intended for people with a technical background who do not have a significant GPS experience. Topics covered include time-of-arrival positioning, overall system design of GPS, signal structure, error characterization, dilution of precision (DOP), differential GPS, and GPS modernization.
Precise Time & Frequency Applications
Dr. Joe White, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
Course Description:
This tutorial will introduce precise time and frequency (PT&F) applications and includes an overview of the fundamentals of PT&F signals, their generation and measurement. An introduction to time scales, those in use, and their origin will be described to provide an understanding of how traceability of PT&F is needed throughout its generation, dissemination and use. The distinction between global time scales and those generated and used within systems will be described to provide an understanding of their basic differences and strengths. The distinctions and commonalities between telecommunications and navigation positioning will be discussed. How GPS supports time dissemination and time transfer interfaces with many and varied systems will be covered and examples of different system applications will be discussed. The session will conclude with a projection of future directions of PT&F and its application.
Urban Indoor Navigation
Dr. R. James Duckworth, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Course Description:
Many research and development projects have been funded by government agencies and industry over the past two decades to develop indoor location and tracking systems, yet no single or composite technology solution has yet achieved demonstration of a fieldable system that provides reliable operation in settings representative of typical urban structures. There is a broad range of scientific problems to be blamed for the current unavailability of deployable indoor navigation systems. This tutorial will review current technologies, either singly, or through integration, that are being used on systems designed for urban and indoor navigation, and discusses their advantages and weaknesses for this difficult problem. Recent field testing results will be presented to indicate the current state of the art and the areas where new research and development thrusts may be required.
Vector Tracking Theory and Implementation
Dr. Matthew Lashley, AMRDEC/NTA
Course Description:
This course provides an overview of GPS vector tracking receiver algorithms, their performance, and their coupling with inertial measurement units (IMUs). The course begins with a review of the standard, scalar tracking loop based architecture and then introduces vector tracking. The differences between scalar and vector tracking loops are then explored. The performance of vector tracking relative to scalar tracking loops is discussed in detailed. The course then focuses on the fusion of GPS vector tracking loops with IMUs. The combination of a vector tracking receiver architecture with an IMU is commonly called ultra-tight coupling (UTC) or deep integration (DI). The performance advantages of UTC and DI relative to tightly coupled systems are then discussed.