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Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (2012)

Chapter: Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen

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Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
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Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System

TAN SHUSEN

ABSTRACT

After an overview of the COMPASS Navigation Satellite System, the author introduces its Radio Determination Satellite Service (RDSS) and Regional Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS) and their performances, which can serve group users based on location information sharing. The typical application modes of COMPASS group users are presented. Furthermore, possible applications in the near future are also explored.

OVERVIEW OF COMPASS’S THREE-STEP DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Research on satellite navigation in China was first initiated in the 1980s. Mainly learning from the GPS and GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS), China had been groping for a development strategy for its own satellite navigation system. It is Academician Chen Yunfang who first proposed a positioning theory that makes use of two geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites and user elevation. In 1994, the project based on this idea was formally approved by the state. A demonstration system of COMPASS was established after the successful launch of three GEOs between 2000 and 2003.

The COMPASS demonstration system consists of three GEOs, all of which are equipped with RDSS payloads (Figure 1). One of them is also equipped with RNSS experimental payloads. RDSS is the major service, with functions of positioning, user location report, short message communication, and timing.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
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image

FIGURE 1 COMPASS Navigation Satellite System.

 

Phase II of COMPASS aims at meeting users’ demands in the Asia-Pacific region (Figure 2). A constellation made up of 12 satellites will be put in place before 2012. By then, the COMPASS system with RDSS and RNSS will be able to provide users with continuous positioning, velocity measurement, and location report services. COMPASS will achieve compatibility with GPS and provide equivalent accuracy as GPS.

Phase III of COMPASS is to establish a global constellation with 30 to 35 satellites by 2020 (Figure 3). It adopts RDSS and RNSS as well. As a member of the GNSS community, COMPASS will achieve compatibility and interoperability with GPS and Galileo within multi-frequency bands.

COMPASS SYSTEM’S PERFORMANCE

RDSS and RNSS

RDSS can provide information of both the user’s location and time parameters (X, Y, Z, T). It can provide location reports among the users, short message and timing services at the same time.

RNSS can provide user’s location, velocity, and time parameters (X, Y, Z, Vx, Vy, Vz, T).

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

image

FIGURE 2 Phase II of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System.

image

FIGURE 3 Phase III of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

Performance

Accuracy levels of the positioning and timing services provided by the COMPASS system can reach 10 m and 20~50 ns respectively, while the response time for its positioning and location reporting is 1 s. Two more features of the system are location information sharing among group users and feasibility of achieving possible interoperability with GPS as well as Galileo.

Major Group Users

The COMPASS system is mainly applied to group users based on location information services in the following sectors:

  • Traffic Management, Transport of Hazardous Goods;
  • Marine Fishery, Geology, Water Reserve;
  • Fleet Management, Forest Fire Prevention, Relief in Earthquake and Flood; and
  • Aerial and Offshore Rescue.

APPLICATION MODE

No matter what kind of application of COMPASS, there are three elements: (1) various sensors, (2) the COMPASS information system, (3) and the group user’s management center, which can be illustrated as in Figure 4.

A brief explanation of the three elements follows.

image

FIGURE 4 Typical application.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

First, various sensors will gather information that will be used for further processing, such as the onboard sensors of networked vehicles, as well as onboard oil and gas sensors of networked ships, etc.

Second, the COMPASS information system, usually incorporating the user terminal, RDSS satellites, and COMPASS application center, can achieve marking of moving articles’ position and time, data transmission, and distribution.

Finally, the group user management center is in charge of cloud computing, intelligent processing, and real-time dispatching and management in various industries to satisfy the needs of all users within the group.

The above three elements constitute an integrated application mode of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System.

TYPICAL APPLICATION PROJECTS

COMPASS Dispatching System in Marine Fishery

China has realized offshore real-time monitoring of about 20,000 fishing vessels by taking advantage of COMPASS in rapid positioning, location report, and short message communication (Figure 5). Moreover, many other functions, such as alarms for dangerous zone and bad weather, monitoring and commanding, ship tracking, operation track recording, and oil fuel data collection, etc., are possible. An even larger-scale system for offshore group users is under construction.

COMPASS Hydrological Data Collection System at Three Gorges of the Yangtze River

Regular water reports about the Three Gorges Conservatory of the Yangtze River are urgently needed by local governments. The Hydrological Data Collection System (Figure 6) can get reports on the tributaries along the upstream of the Yangtze River covering an area of about 370,000 square kilometers; can provide automatic monitoring and reporting for cascade hydroelectric stations on the downstream of Jinsha River, with a coverage of 45.443 square kilometers; and can report on the hydroelectric stations on the middle stream of the Jinsha River. The system has successfully solved the problems of delays in flood forecasting for the upstream of the Yangtze River and scarce monitoring stations and inconvenient communication.

Moreover, a weather station has been set up at Mount Everest that helped in meteorological observations for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, as illustrated in Figure 7.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

image

FIGURE 5 COMPASS dispatching system in marine fishery.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

image

FIGURE 6 COMPASS hydrological data collection system.

image

FIGURE 7 Meteorological observation system at Mount Everest.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

Detection and Report of Forest Fire by COMPASS

A forest fire warning system based on COMPASS is supported by the National Forestry Bureau. This system can send real-time positions of all fire fighters, vehicles, and airplanes, make the related digital map, and keep everyone in contact by short messages. In this system, fire fighting airplanes can outline the areas on fire and inform the rescuers regarding tree species, terrain, and the onsite situation of the on-fire area, which is illustrated in Figure 8.

Inspection and Monitoring System for High-voltage Power Line in Remote Areas

The inspection and monitoring system for the 500-kilovolt power transmission line, which extends about 3,000 kilometers in total and has 4,000 inspection

image

FIGURE 8 COMPASS forestry fire prevention system.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

tower-poles in the Tsitsihar Super-grid Bureau of the State Grid Cooperation of China, can provide real-time inspection, dispatching, security, and recording of staff, vehicle, and helicopter. The inspection and monitoring system used by helicopter for high-voltage power lines is shown in Figure 9.

Yangtze River Environmental Protection and Energy Conservation in Shipping

COMPASS performs as a data center as well as distribution center in environmental protection and energy conservation of the Yangtze River shipping.

With the help of COMPASS, this vessel monitoring system provides real-time monitoring of the on-board and offshore dispatching systems. In this way, not only can voyage security be guaranteed but also exhaust emissions and energy

image

FIGURE 9 Inspection and monitoring system for high-voltage power line.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

consumption can be reduced. The latter, however, is of more important significance to us.

COMPASS Vehicle Navigation System

The main objective of an automobile network is to share information of all vehicles in operation and to help lessen traffic jams. The key lies in the data transmission of cars on the road to the information center. COMPASS RDSS performs as a radio communication and positioning system, which is like the first runner in the automobile network relay race. The vehicle navigation system is illustrated in Figure 10.

The Two-Way Timing Service of COMPASS Can Provide a Standard of High Accuracy Time and Frequency for Upgrading the Old Power Grid

On February 18, 2011, an industrial park for COMPASS satellite navigation civil applications was set up at the Jiaozhou City of Shandong Province. Initial results of COMPASS timing services for the power industry have been satisfactory. Also in 2010, intelligent upgrading of 23,500-kilovolt stations of the East China Power Grid was completed successively. By taking advantage of high-accuracy timing services provided by COMPASS, both the accident rate caused by timing accuracy and the malfunction rate of sampled facilities are zero, exceeding the internationally accepted standards. How the time synchronization system of the intelligent power grid is incorporated is shown in Figure 11.

PROSPECTS OF INTEROPERABILITY BETWEEN COMPASS AND GPS

Coordination Between COMPASS and GPS Under the ITU Framework Has Been Accomplished

In September 2010, frequency coordination between COMPASS and GPS on the L band was finished, with the frequency compatibility of both authorized and open signals. Consensus has been achieved on the maximum and minimum power of B1C/L1C and B2a/L5 as well as the sequential correlation of spreading codes.

Interoperability

Interoperability in B1C/L1C and B2a/L5 will be discussed for the users’ benefits to the largest extent.

Enormous efforts will be made to reduce complexity of receivers and provide the most convenient access.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

image

FIGURE 10 Vehicle navigation system.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×

image

FIGURE 11 COMPASS two-way timing service system.

CONCLUSION

  1. COMPASS has been largely used as the three-step development strategy planned.
  2. The position data sharing service by COMPASS has been widely accepted.
  3. There is a good and broad foundation for cooperation in compatibility and interoperability for GPS and COMPASS.
  4. Some Perspectives on Future Cooperation

There are many possible areas of cooperation between COMPASS and GPS, such as aerial navigation application and standards discussion, geodetic surveying and the coordinate system, receiver technology and consumer products, as well as mitigating the interference with civil signals, etc.

Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
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Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
Page 173
Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
Page 174
Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
Page 175
Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
Page 176
Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
Page 177
Suggested Citation:"Present and Future Applications of COMPASS Navigation Satellite System--Tan Shusen." National Academy of Engineering. 2012. Global Navigation Satellite Systems: Report of a Joint Workshop of the National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/13292.
×
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The Global Positioning System (GPS) has revolutionized the measurement of position, velocity, and time. It has rapidly evolved into a worldwide utility with more than a billion receiver sets currently in use that provide enormous benefits to humanity: improved safety of life, increased productivity, and wide-spread convenience. Global Navigation Satellite Systems summarizes the joint workshop on Global Navigation Satellite Systems held jointly by the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering on May 24-25, 2011 at Hongqiao Guest Hotel in Shanghai, China.

"We have one world, and only one set of global resources. It is important to work together on satellite navigation. Competing and cooperation is like Yin and Yang. They need to be balanced," stated Dr. Charles M. Vest, President of the National Academy of Engineering, in the workshop's opening remarks. Global Navigation Satellite Systems covers the objectives of the workshop, which explore issues of enhanced interoperability and interchangeability for all civil users aimed to consider collaborative efforts for countering the global threat of inadvertent or illegal interference to GNSS signals, promotes new applications for GNSS, emphasizing productivity, safety, and environmental protection.

The workshop featured presentations chosen based on the following criteria: they must have relevant engineering/technical content or usefulness; be of mutual interest; offer the opportunity for enhancing GNSS availability, accuracy, integrity, and/or continuity; and offer the possibility of recommendations for further actions and discussions. Global Navigation Satellite Systems is an essential report for engineers, workshop attendees, policy makers, educators, and relevant government agencies.

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