SATELLITE NAVIGATION USING LONG-TERM NAVIGATION INFORMATION AND AUTONOMOUS ORBIT CONTROL
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting a navigation satellite orbit, the method comprising:
- determining a nominal orbital path of the navigation satellite;
transmitting ephemeris data corresponding to the nominal orbital path from the navigation satellite to a plurality of navigation devices;
determining an actual orbital path of the navigation satellite locally at the navigation satellite;
determining a deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path locally at the navigation satellite; and
autonomously adjusting the actual orbital path locally at the navigation satellite to reduce the deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved approach to satellite-based navigation (e.g., GPS) is provided. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a nominal orbital path of a navigation satellite. The method also includes transmitting ephemeris data corresponding to the nominal orbital path from the navigation satellite to a plurality of navigation devices. The method further includes determining an actual orbital path of the navigation satellite locally at the navigation satellite. In addition, the method includes determining a deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path locally at the navigation satellite. The method also includes autonomously adjusting the actual orbital path locally at the navigation satellite to reduce the deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path.
53 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting a navigation satellite orbit, the method comprising:
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determining a nominal orbital path of the navigation satellite; transmitting ephemeris data corresponding to the nominal orbital path from the navigation satellite to a plurality of navigation devices; determining an actual orbital path of the navigation satellite locally at the navigation satellite; determining a deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path locally at the navigation satellite; and autonomously adjusting the actual orbital path locally at the navigation satellite to reduce the deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A navigation satellite comprising:
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a receive antenna adapted to receive ephemeris data from a ground station, wherein the ephemeris data corresponds to a nominal orbital path of the navigation satellite; a memory adapted to store the ephemeris data; a transmit antenna adapted to transmit the ephemeris data to a plurality of navigation devices; a plurality of propulsion actuators; and a processor adapted to; determine an actual orbital path of the navigation satellite, determine a deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path, and command the propulsion actuators to adjust the actual orbital path to reduce the deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A navigation satellite comprising:
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means for determining a nominal orbital path of the navigation satellite; means for transmitting ephemeris data corresponding to the nominal orbital path from the navigation satellite to a plurality of navigation devices; means for determining an actual orbital path of the navigation satellite locally at the navigation satellite; means for determining a deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path locally at the navigation satellite; and means for autonomously adjusting the actual orbital path locally at the navigation satellite to reduce the deviation between the actual orbital path and the nominal orbital path. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification