GNSS TIMELINE 1990 - 1998

1991 October System Successes “GPS users show an insatiable appetite for ever more precise When GPS World debuted in January 1990, 15 satellites had been launched, including the 10 prototypes of Block I data. Give them a mile and they want an inch.” satellites, and four of them had ceased operation. By the end 1995, 18 more had risen; with some decomissionings, — Hale Montgomery, GPS World columnist this brought the total number of GPS satellites set healthy to 25.

BLOCK II DESERT STORM NAVCEN IOC WAAS FAVORED GPS FOC BLOCK IIF CONTRACT IIR LAUNCHED L2 SIGNAL The 11th operating A GPS-guided weapon, Worldwide, 24-hour The Air Force declares The FAA cancels a On April 27, the A presidential The first IIR satellite Vice President Al Gore GPS satellite in orbit, the conventionally 3D + time coverage Initial Operational microwave landing Air Force Space decision directive is launched. Congress announces a new civil GPS Block II-5, is armed air-launched is achieved. The U.S. Capability (IOC). system in favor of Command declares Full (PDD) establishes the approves a nationwide signal on L2, centered activated on Jan. 6; the cruise missile (CALCM), Coast Guard’s GPS GPS and releases an Operational Capability guidelines for dual use differential GPS at 1227.6 MHz. The Federal Aviation 12th is launched on is used for the first Information Center RFP for the Wide Area (FOC). of GPS. (DGPS). Administration (FAA) The U.S. Department Jan. 24. time in Operation begins 24-hour watch Augmentation System approves GPS use by The GPS Joint Program of Transportation Desert Storm. standing. (WAAS). civil aviation. Office awards a (DOT) recommends The GPS constellation contract to The Boeing extending the life of experiences repeated Company for Block IIF Loran-C beyond the delays in satellite satellites. end of 2000. launches.

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Industry Advances

HANDHELD INDUSTRY SPEAKS ENSIGN MUTIPATH INFOTAINMENT POPULARITY GNSS/INS GOING PUBLIC JAVAD Sony develops a GPS The U.S. GPS Industry Trimble announces NovAtel’s invention General Motors The 1996 Ford CAST Navigation joins NovAtel announces an Javad Ashjaee, founder handheld receiver. Council is launched a new handheld and patent of the announces its Lincoln Continental, with Honeywell and initial public offering and former CEO of as an association receiver for less than narrow correlator Oldsmobile 88 LSS the first car to have Litton (now Northrop (IPO). Ashtech, founds JAVAD Trimble Navigation files of manufacturers $1,000, the Ensign for technique allows models will have a GPS-based vehicle Grumman) to develop Positioning Systems for an initial public offering Magellan Systems and users to seek to mariners. receivers to GPS-based navigation/ location and cellular the Embedded GPS/ (JPS) and introduces (IPO). Corp. plans to merge promote commercial significantly reject information system — communications, is INS Tester (EGIT). Legacy, Odyssey and AT&T begins with Ashtech Inc. Pioneer Electronics Corp. use of GPS and multipath signals and the first in a U.S.-made introduced. There are Regency products, to use GPS for offers the first GPS-based to address issues makes the company car. The navigation more than 1 million GPS followed by HiPer, a synchronization. car navigation system, in affecting those groups. a key player in the system option costs receivers worldwide, 76-channel geodetic Japan. industry. $2,000. with the number receiver. GPS World begins growing at 60,000 units publication. per month.

PHOTO CREDITS: (Top left to bottom right) U.S. Air Force, DOD, U.S. Coast Guard, FAA, Retro-GPS.info, GPSIA, Trimble, NovAtel. PHOTO CREDITS: (Top left to bottom right) FAA, U.S. Air Force, White House, GM, Smithsonian, CAST Navigation, JuSun/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images, GPS World. 18 GPS WORLD WWW.GPSWORLD.COM | SEPTEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020 | WWW.GPSWORLD.COM GPS WORLD 19 GNSS TIMELINE 1999 - 2007 2001 January “[A] funny thing happened to GPS on the way to the millennium. The technology began disappearing into its System Successes applications. As it became more commonplace, GPS also became more ephemeral. As GPS became more widely recognized in advertising, popular media, and consumer products — three letters that everyone could spell — GPS’s presence became more invisible within the systems that use it.”

— Glen Gibbons, GPS World founding editor INMARSAT > Coverage map I-4 and Alphasat I-4 and Alphasat coverage

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90° 180° 160° 140° 120° 100° 80° 60° 40° 20° 0° 20° 40° 60° 80° 100° 120° 140° 160° 180° Combined I-4 and I-4 Americas Alphasat I-4 MEAS I-4 Asia-Pacific This map is for general information purposes only and should not be construed or used as a legal description or representation. No guarantee or warranty is given that the map is spatially Alphasat coverage or temporally accurate or fit for a particular use. Coverage is subject to change at any time. Inmarsat shall have no liability for decisions made or actions taken/not taken in reliance upon DGPS SERVICE SA TURNED OFF VULNERABLE 911 CALLS WAAS 50 BIRDS ALOFT ENTER L2C the map or for any resulting losses suffered. Alphasat and I-4 coverage April 2019. ACCURACY UP GPS III RFP The U.S. Coast Guard President Bill Clinton The DOT releases The Federal The FAA commissions The 50th GPS satellite The Inmarsat-4 F1 Accuracy improves by The GPS Wing declares full operational orders selective a report assessing Communications the Wide Area is launched. satellite, over the 10–15% for GPS users releases an RFP for capability (FOC) of availability (SA) turned the vulnerability of Commission (FCC) Augmentation System Indian Ocean, worldwide after the development and The U.S. Air Force its DGPS service and off on May 1. the transportation mandates hybrid (WAAS) for instrument broadcasts the first Joint Program Office production of the awards contracts its expansion into a infrastructure relying GPS/cellular flight use supporting SBAS-like signal at (JPO), with help from Block IIIA satellites, the The U.S. Department to Lockheed Martin national DGPS. on GPS. positioning either in minimums as low as the third civil GPS other agencies and first of three GPS III of Defense (DOD) and the Boeing cellphone handsets 250 feet. frequency (L5). industry, upgrades increments. Vice President Al wins funds for GPS Company for Phase A or towers to enable software processing Gore announces a modernization. development for the The first IIR-M GPS emergency services to and modeling. proposal to finance GPS III program. satellite is launched, locate 911 callers. GPS modernization, broadcasting the new including the addition L2C signal. of two new civil signals.

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Industry Advances

IN THE FIELD AGRICULTURE EXPANSIONS SMART STATION MERGING PROFITS UP OLD IS NEW RETAIL EXPERIENCE M&A FEVER Magellan and Topcon Now a wholly owned Leica buys ERDAS and In a new partnership, Trimble acquires SiRF Technology files GPS and satellite radio opens a retail CSI Wireless changes agree to form a jointly subsidiary of Deere the remaining shares NovAtel begins Applanix, focusing for an IPO. receivers are eBay’s top- store on Chicago’s its name to Hemisphere owned company & Company, NavCom of LH Systems from customizing GPS on survey and selling categories; both Magnificent Mile. GPS. Trimble, Garmin, CSI to develop and sell Technology and its BAE Systems for a components for Leica construction products show triple-digit gains. Wireless, and NovAtel Broadcom buys GPS precise positioning StarFire positioning foothold in the GIS Geosystems’ surveying that augment GPS all have record profits SiRF Technology acquires chip-maker Global products for the are deemed important and remote-sensing devices. The first product with INS. in the second fiscal Motorola’s GPS chipset Locate. surveying, industrial, to the agricultural sectors. developed was Leica’s Lockheed Martin quarter of the year. product lines. GIS, mapping, and industry. System 1200, launched Topcon acquires Javad Thales buys Magellan and Spectrum Astro machine-control in February 2004, which reaches 100 Navigation Systems. Topcon Corp. buys Corp. and Navigation announce plans to markets. uses a NovAtel precise million gpsOne-enabled Javad Positioning Solutions to bolster combine their efforts Nokia purchases Navteq. positioning engine and handsets worldwide. Systems (JPS). its position in the to win future contracts geodetic quality antenna. Hexagon acquires U.S. equipment and for the GPS III NovAtel. services market. modernization.

PHOTO CREDITS: (Top left to bottom right) Swedish Maritime Administration, White House, Laser1987 & Joe_Potato & kalasek/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images, John Deere, PHOTO CREDITS: (Top left to bottom right) U.S. Air Force, Inmarsat, USGS, NAVSTAR, Oranat Taesuwan & masterSergeant/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images, eBay, Garmin, priyanka gupta/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images. FrankRamspott/E+/Getty Images, Leica. 20 GPS WORLD WWW.GPSWORLD.COM | SEPTEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020 | WWW.GPSWORLD.COM GPS WORLD 21 GNSS TIMELINE 2008 - 2016 2010 January “I started GPS World back in 1989. With a $1,200 investment and business plan in hand, I struggled System Successes through 43 investor presentations until finally receiving an approval nod for funds to launch the magazine. What I remember most during those times was invariably a potential investor would say, ‘Now explain this to me again — what is GPS and why does it need a magazine?’” — Stephen Colwell, GPS World publisher

GPS III AWARD BLOCK IIR-M BLOCK IIF LAUNCHED LIGHTSQUARED LOCATA DEMO SPACEX ARRIVES CIVIL SIGNALS DRONES TAKE OFF OCX RECEIVERS The U.S. Air Force The final Block GPS satellite IIF-1, first U.S. government tests The U.S. Air Force signs The U.S. Air Force signs a The U.S. Air Force The FAA issues Harris Corp. delivers the awards a $1.4 billion IIR-M satellite is of a new generation, is show that 75% of GPS a contract with Locata to cooperative research and Space Command regulations authorizing first of 34 modernized development and launched and begins launched with a full L5 receivers examined install a ground-based development agreement begins broadcasting six unmanned aerial receivers to support the production contract for to broadcast a transmitter. were interfered LocataNet positioning with SpaceX. The FAA civil navigation (CNAV) systems (UAS) test GPS Next-Generation the first eight GPS III demonstration of the with at a distance of system at White Sands releases a new roadmap messages on all operational sites, one in each of Operational Control satellites (Block IIIA) L5 signal. 100 meters from a Missile Range, New for the integration of GPS satellites capable of six states, to operate System (OCX). They to a team headed by LightSquared base Mexico, fielding Locata’s civil unmanned aerial transmitting the L2C and without requiring receive 13 military and Lockheed Martin. Team station. technology for reference- systems (UAS) in the L5 signals. L2C is designed authorization for each civilian signals. members include ITT truth positioning when National Airspace to meet commercial type of aircraft flown. On Dec. 15, Galileo Initial Corp. and General GPS is being completely System. needs; L5 meets safety- Operational Capability Dynamics. jammed. of-life transportation (IOC) is declared. requirements.

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Industry Advances

GPS + GLONASS SiRF > CSR > QUALCOMM BY ANY OTHER NAME COALITION FORMS MANY DAGRS INDUSTRY ALLIES IMAGES FROM SPACE CORRECTIONS POKEMON GO GNSS capabilities of SiRF merges with CSR, Magellan changes The Coalition to Save Rockwell Collins The GPS Innovation acquires Skybox Hemisphere GNSS Pokémon GO fever the International GNSS which is acquired by its name to Ashtech. Our GPS is formed by delivers its 450,000th Alliance is launched, Imaging for $500 million. releases its Atlas sweeps the land. The Service (IGS) tracking Qualcomm in 2015. Septentrio releases the industry represenatives Defense Advanced GPS replacing both the U.S. Skybox — renamed Terra GNSS global correction augmented-reality network are greatly Trimble introduces its AP multi-GNSS receiver in response to the FCC’s Receiver (DAGR) to U.S. GPS Industry Council Bella in 2016 — develops service, along with Android game uses enhanced, giving rise Series of embedded GNSS/ AsteRx 3. conditional waiver for and allied warfighters. and the Coalition to small, high-resolution its AtlasLink smart GPS to bring the to a truly global GNSS inertial OEM boards plus an LightSquared. Save Our GPS. imaging satellites. In antenna. imaginary Pokémon tracking system with inertial measurment unit 2017, Planet acquires creatures into the real Trimble acquires Ashtech Locata’s LocataLite more than 100 GNSS from Applanix. Terra Bella. world. and launches the system creates (GPS + GLONASS) EADS Astrium acquires Trimble CenterPoint RTX ground-based, Google reveals a self- receivers. Surrey Satellite Technology correction service. centimeter-level, driving auto prototype Ltd., maker of Galileo’s autonomous local JAVAD GNSS announces without a steering wheel. initial satellite, GIOVE-A. replicas of GPS. a partnership with Wearables are big at CES. LightSquared. PHOTO CREDITS: (Top left to bottom right) U.S. Air Force, NPEF, IGS, SiRF, Septentrio, Trimble. PHOTO CREDITS: (Top left to bottom right) Locata, SpaceX, FangXiaNuo/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images, smckenzie/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images, Raytheon, Rockwell, GPSIA, Terra Bella, Hemisphere GNSS, Niantic. 22 GPS WORLD WWW.GPSWORLD.COM | SEPTEMBER 2020 SEPTEMBER 2020 | WWW.GPSWORLD.COM GPS WORLD 23 GNSS TIMELINE 2017 - 2020 System Successes

NEXT-GEN OCX VESPUCCI ALOFT GPS III PRODUCTION LIGADO DECISION The U.S. Air Force The first GPS III satellite Lockheed Martin’s The FCC approved an accepts delivery of (“Vespucci”) is launched GPS III production order to allow Ligado the OCX Launch and aboard a SpaceX rocket. facilty keeps new Networks to deploy a Checkout System (LCS) The U.S. Air Force awards satellites rolling off the low-power nationwide (Block 0) baseline from Lockheed Martin a $7.2 production line. GPS 5G network, despite Raytheon. LCS is a fully billion contract to build 22 III SV02 and SV03 are objections from the modernized cyber- more GPS III satellites. launched. DOD, DOT and major U.S. secure ground system. airlines concerned about The U.S. Navy awards GPS interference. Raytheon a contract for a next-generation precision China completes landing system (JPALS). BeiDou-3 launches. Australia invests in an SBAS.

2017 2018 2019 2020

Industry Advances

ENTER LIGADO DUAL FREQUENCY STORY MAPS COVID-19 HITS LightSquared re-emerges Mobile brand Xiaomi Esri introduces a new A pandemic of the as Ligado Networks. launches the first Story Maps beta. The coronavirus COVID-19 dual-frequency GNSS Story Maps team disrupts the industry. Garmin agrees to acquire smartphone, which was founded in 2010 Many employees DeLorme. is outfitted with a to enable place- begin to work from Google announces it Broadcom BCM47755 based multimedia home, while those will provide raw GNSS chip. storytelling. at facilities wear measurements via personal protective Android phones. equipment. New GNSS Iridium introduces products continue to its Satellite Time and be introduced. Location (STL) service.

PHOTO CREDITS: (Top left to bottom right) Raytheon, U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin, Thitichaya Yajampa/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images, Google, Xiaomi, kasezo & ktsimage/iStock/Getty Images Plus/Getty Images. 24 GPS WORLD WWW.GPSWORLD.COM | SEPTEMBER 2020