What is GLONASS And How It Is Different From GPS

GLONASS is an acronym, which stands for Globalnaya Navigazionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema, or Global Navigation Satellite System. GLONASS is Russia’s version of GPS (Global Positioning System).

Who built GLONASS?

Soviet Union started the development of GLONASS in 1976. GLONASS is the most expensive program of the Russian Federal Space Agency, consuming a third of its budget in 2010.

Versions-

The various versions of GLONASS are

1. GLONASS – launched in 1982, the satellites launched were intended to work for weather positioning, velocity measuring and timing anywhere in the world or near-Earth space by the military and official organisations.
2. GLONASS-M – launched in 2003 add second civil code. It is important for GIS mapping receivers.
3. GLONASS-k – started in 2011 again has 3 more types namely k1, k2 and km for research. Adds third civil frequency.
4. GLONASS-K2 – will be launched after 2015 (currently in design phase)
5. GLONASS-KM – will be launched after 2025 (currently in research phase)

What is A-GLONASS?

A-GLONASS, Assisted GLONASS is very similar to GLONASS but A-GLONASS brings more features for smartphones. It brings features such as turn by turn navigation, real time traffic data and more. It uses the cell towers near your location to lock your location quickly with the help from your data connection. A-GLONASS also enhances the performance in chip-sets that come with GLONASS support.

How much did GLONASS cost?

Up to 2011 the Russian government spent about 5 billion dollars on GLONASS project, and further invested 320 billion rubles ($10 billion) for the period of 2012 to 2020. GLONASS happens to be the most expensive project ever by Russian Federal space Agency.

How is GLONASS different from GPS?

GPS developed by USA has a network of 31 satellites covering this planet and has been widely used in commercial devices like mobile phones, navigators etc.

GLONASS is developed by Russia originally started by Soviet Union in 1976. This has a network of 24 satellites covering the earth.

The image shows the orbit and constellation of GLONASS (left) and GPS (right).

Here is a table of specs comparing GPS vs GLONASS

Advantage of GLONASS over GPS (GLONASS Vs GPS)

There is no clear advantage other than accuracy over GPS. When used alone GLONASS doesn’t have that strong coverage as GPS has, but when both used together certainly increases accuracy with coverage. And it is more useful in northern latitudes as Russia started GLONASS originally for Russia.

The accuracy is an advantage of GLONASS with up-to 2 meter of accuracy. GPS + GLONASS allows your device to be pin pointed by a group of 55 satellites all across the globe. So when you are in a place where GPS signals are stuck like between huge buildings or subways, you will be tracked by GLONASS satellites accurately.

Commercial Use of GLONASS

GLONASS was first commercially used in car navigator as Glospace SGK-70 but was bulky and expensive.  Russian government is trying hard to promote GLONASS commercially.

iPhone 4S was the first apple product to use both GPS and GLONASS for pinpointing location on maps.

All the high end devices that supports GPS facilities, especially navigators include GLONASS receivers on their chip to use location based services.

What is offered for smartphones?

Today any mobile phone whether it is a high end or a low budget smartphone is equipped with A-GPS (assisted Global Positional System) which uses network capabilities to find your location.

Now with GLONASS being offered for public services, more and more smartphones are being launched with GPS+GLONASS technology to use dual core location based service to find location. Initially only Flagship or high end smartphones boasts these features but as time will progress, we will see both these technologies being equipped on low and mid-range smartphones. More and more companies and chip manufacturers seem to be interested in GLONASS technology, so more and more smartphones are expected to be launched with this technology.

List of Smartphones supporting GLONASS

How Google Maps makes use of GLONASS and GPS?

Google Maps and the other mapping apps like Nokia’s HERE Maps and Apple Maps use the data connection to connect to the satellites of GLONASS and GPS. The modern day smartphones come with A-GPS and A-GLONASS support, which brings features such as turn by turn navigation, location tracking and real time location info.

What’s next after GLONASS and GPS?

• European Union is currently working on a system called GALILEO which provides highly accurate global positioning service under civilian control. Galileo system consists of 30 satellites (27 operational + 3 active spares), positioned in three circular Medium Earth Orbit planes at 23 222 km altitude above the Earth, and at an inclination of the orbital planes of 56 degrees to the equator.

• China is developing its own constellation of 35 satellites called BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and is under construction since January 2015. It will offer more capabilities than current GPS. It is currently operational in China and Asia pacific region with 11 satellites in use, will be globally available by 2020.

• IRNSS or Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System is autonomous satellite system being developed by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and will offer public service and restricted service (authorized users like military). This system would consist constellation of 7 satellites out of which 4 are already placed in the orbit. The project is expected to be operational by 2016.

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Image Courtesy: Wikipedia