Siemens researchers have developed simulation software that can test the precision of Galileo, Europe’s satellite system of the future, even though not all of the satellites are yet in position.

A collaborative undertaking between the EU and the European Space Agency the €3,6-billion Galileo project will go into opera- tion in 2010.

When it comes to determining positions, the system is expected to be even more precise than GPS, today’s navigation standard. With this improved performance, entirely new services will be possible.

The principle of satellite navigation is simple; satellites continually transmit signals that are picked up by receivers.

Such a signal contains information on the satellite transmitting it and on the time at which it is sent.

At the same time, the receiver has the coordinates of the individual orbits. Using the signals sent by a number of satellites, the receiver then calculates its own position.

Thanks to a denser network of satellites and improved algorithms, Galileo will have a margin of error of only one metre when determining a position – an unprecedented degree of precision.

Reception of the signals in cities will also be much improved. Private users will thus be able to use less expensive receivers, which makes the service more attractive.

The new system features more than 30 satellites and is linked with the 24 satellites of the American GPS, because a Galileo receiver can also receive GPS signals.

The 54 satellites will make it possible to provide an entirely new navigation service, and the combination of mobile communications and satellite navigation will be more efficient.

[via miningweekly]