Satellite navigation is teetering on the edge of being a ubiquitous technology. Although not standard in every car, it’s well into the mainstream; nobody’s surprised by it, and if it’s not in the majority of vehicles now, it soon will be. But those who depend on the little screen and the vaguely reproachful synthesised voice to find their way should take care, and keep their road atlases handy — glitches with the system could be just around the corner, it seems.
A report prepared for the US Congress warns that the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites could be on the verge of failure. Devised and operated by the US Department of Defense, GPS is one of the classic examples of military technology that’s moved into the civilian sector, but its oldest components are now almost 20 years old. Plans are well advanced to update it, but according to the US Government Accountability Office, which oversees public spending, cost overruns and delays are threatening to put the whole system out of commission.
The first of the new generation of GPS satellites was supposed to be launched two years ago, but the US Air Force, which builds them, has had considerable trouble with the technology and the finance involved. Launch is now scheduled for next year, but the GAO warns that this might be too late to keep the system running without interruptions.
So, what now? Is there going to be a sudden increase in cars driving into rivers and articulated lorries getting stuck down country lanes? Is this the best news ever for London taxi drivers, who keep the entire A-Z stored in their heads and scorn the use of technology? Probably not: industry observers have pointed out that GPS is of such strategic importance that the Pentagon can’t possibly let it fail. But we’ve heard the ‘too big to fail’ argument several times in the past month, generally in connection with organisations that have just failed. And money’s tight everywhere. Better to be safe than sorry, surely.
And this is where alternative systems come in. The European Union’s Galileo global navigation satellite system, which is scheduled to come into service in 2012, is specifically designed to be an alternative and a complement to GPS, designed from the outset as a civilian system. This sets it apart from GPS, which could, theoretically, be withdrawn from civil applications at any time. It’s a costly project — €3.4bn — and has received some flack for this. Why spend all this money, the critics argue, when GPS is working perfectly well?
The GAO report provides the answer to this. It’s not just motorists that use satellite positioning data; it’s become indispensable for many infrastructure applications. The functionality itself is clearly too important to be allowed to fail, even if individual systems are not. Redundancy is seen as vital for many critical systems, and satellite positioning is that critical.
Of course, Galileo is good for the UK engineering sector. As we’ve pointed out many times, Britain is a leading player in the satellite technology industry, and many systems for the new satellites — and probably some of the satellites themselves — will undoubtedly be built here. These satellites that stop us losing our way can’t be allowed to lose their own way.
Stuart Nathan
Special Projects Editor
(Not great at reading maps)
This is refreshing news. What does it matter whether you are 1m or 500m from where you want to be? We always found our destination before GPS came on the scene. From my business point of view, we just might see the return of “near free” inertial navigation. Then my business could boom again.
The reliance on GPS or other satellite based systems (GNSS) for critical infrastructures such as shipping, tolls etc is woefully silly. Yes there is the danger of the military switching it off, lack of finance etc but there are even less controllable factors which can take the system down. For example meteorites, ionising radiation and, of course, terrorists with low cost jamming equipment.
What is required is a land based system to supplement/backup up GNSS systems – fortunately there is renewed interest in an enhanced version of the LORAN system (dates back to WWII) which looks promising. So maybe this warning might spur on the building of a ‘new’ LORAN network. Of course, no one will see its wisdom until the GPS system goes down!
Cue vision of hordes of bewildered SATNAV motorists/editors going round the one way systems forever and a day 🙂
Obviously the American GPS system will be rectified or modernised in time. It’s too vital and Galileo could be years away and will cost people to use which is commercial suicide if alternatives are free. Soon, the Chinese will present a global alternative as well.
But a period of complete unreliability or failure will be good. People will have to concentrate more on their driving but the greatest benefit is they will have to relearn how to use maps with the subsequent fillip to that business.
The problem with the Loran system is that it’s land based and is of little use to the distant ocean travellers of this world.