Integrated satellite receiver navigation system for survey ships

A satellite receiver navigation system (SRNS) was developed to provide precise navigation data to bathymetric survey ships operating in broad ocean areas. The system tracks both Transit and GPS satellites, computes positions, performs real-time determination of data validity and distributes valid satellite information to the navigation system for use in determining best present position. Computer monitoring of receiver performance as well as integration with an onboard cesium-beam standard permits extended use of GPS navigation data beyond that for typical shipboard applications. The system has been installed and integrated with other shipboard navigation equipment onboard four survey ships. The SRNS has been shown to improve the performance of the overall survey ship navigation system in ocean areas lacking Loran-C coverage