GPS in an Automated Age… …and its implications for the future of alternative energy, travel, and tomorrow’s breakfast. David Fort April 23, 2007

GPS in an Automated GPS in an Automated Age…Age…

……and its implications for the and its implications for the future of alternative energy, travel, future of alternative energy, travel,

and tomorrow’s breakfast.and tomorrow’s breakfast.

David FortDavid Fort

April 23, 2007April 23, 2007

April 23, 2007April 23, 2007 David FortDavid Fort

Areas of FocusAreas of Focus

AeronauticalAeronautical AutomotiveAutomotive NauticalNautical


Flying WindmillsFlying Windmills

http://www.museoscienza.org/english/leonardo/vite.asp


The Basic IdeaThe Basic Idea

Position tethered, light weight roto-copters above the jet Position tethered, light weight roto-copters above the jet stream winds over 15,000 ft. high.stream winds over 15,000 ft. high.

Tether provides energy to the copter, and energy Tether provides energy to the copter, and energy generated by the propellers is passed down the tether. generated by the propellers is passed down the tether.

http://www.skywindpower.com/ww/index.htm


Harvesting High Altitude WindsHarvesting High Altitude Winds

The Benefits:The Benefits: Minimal environmental Minimal environmental

footprintfootprint More consistent winds, More consistent winds,

so rotors can operate so rotors can operate close to full capacity close to full capacity

Local topography does Local topography does not matternot matter


Controversy over Flying Controversy over Flying WindmillsWindmills

Many different possible sources for energy in the future: corn-Many different possible sources for energy in the future: corn-based ethanol, nuclear fission, solar power, etc. based ethanol, nuclear fission, solar power, etc.

Sky WindPower Corporation would argue that its approach is Sky WindPower Corporation would argue that its approach is superior to all of these. superior to all of these.

Is it correct? I don’t know; I’m not an engineer. What is Is it correct? I don’t know; I’m not an engineer. What is certain is that if this technology is going to take off, GPS will certain is that if this technology is going to take off, GPS will play a major role in its implementation.play a major role in its implementation.

For those of you skeptical about the general technology at For those of you skeptical about the general technology at play, refer to the peer reviewed IEEE paper, “Harvesting High play, refer to the peer reviewed IEEE paper, “Harvesting High Altitude Wind Power,” accessible online.Altitude Wind Power,” accessible online.


The role the GPS playsThe role the GPS plays

Determining Attitude (i.e. Determining Attitude (i.e. pitch, roll, and yaw)pitch, roll, and yaw)

Pinpoints position and Pinpoints position and angle of helicopters even angle of helicopters even tens of thousands of feet tens of thousands of feet high; allows for maximal high; allows for maximal wind collectionwind collection

Reduces risk of collision Reduces risk of collision or wind shadowingor wind shadowing

http://www.skywindpower.com/ww/index.htm


Automated LandingAutomated Landing

http://www.qinetiq.com/home/


STOVL SuccessSTOVL Success

STOVL (Short take-off vehicle landing)STOVL (Short take-off vehicle landing) In 2005, QinetiQ, a leader in world defense and In 2005, QinetiQ, a leader in world defense and

security companies, engineered the first security companies, engineered the first successful, completely automated landing of an successful, completely automated landing of an aircraft onto a ship.aircraft onto a ship.

Used relative-GPS-based system to coordinate Used relative-GPS-based system to coordinate aircraft movement with that of moving ship. aircraft movement with that of moving ship. Required precision in 4D, in order to account for Required precision in 4D, in order to account for both spatial and temporal restraints.both spatial and temporal restraints.


Technology ImplicationsTechnology Implications

Allows for landing in any Allows for landing in any weather and at any time weather and at any time of dayof day

Takes pressure off pilot Takes pressure off pilot after mentally exhausting after mentally exhausting missionmission

Reduces risk of human Reduces risk of human error inherent in error inherent in dangerous and highly dangerous and highly sensitive landing sensitive landing proceduresprocedures


Ghost DriversGhost Drivers

http://www.twitchguru.com


Robotic CarsRobotic Cars

Positive implications:Positive implications: Frees driver’s attentionFrees driver’s attention Provides a check Provides a check

against human against human carelessnesscarelessness

Reduces personnel Reduces personnel requirement for requirement for dangerous military dangerous military missionsmissions

Possible Drawbacks:Possible Drawbacks: High costsHigh costs GPS is only accurate GPS is only accurate

to at best within to at best within meters. In heavy meters. In heavy traffic, higher precision traffic, higher precision is needed in order to is needed in order to avoid collisions.avoid collisions.


What Role Does GPS Play?What Role Does GPS Play?

GPS’ role in automated cars is rather limited. GPS must be integrated with GPS’ role in automated cars is rather limited. GPS must be integrated with sensor and laser technology in order to account for obstacles in the road sensor and laser technology in order to account for obstacles in the road and heavy traffic.and heavy traffic.

GPS already plays a role in terms of navigation and personal convenience GPS already plays a role in terms of navigation and personal convenience (e.g. ONSTAR), but is unlikely to facilitate safe, fully automatic (e.g. ONSTAR), but is unlikely to facilitate safe, fully automatic performance in the near future in urban areas.performance in the near future in urban areas.

Likely improvements predicted to be in the form of “increasingly Likely improvements predicted to be in the form of “increasingly sophisticated cruise controls”sophisticated cruise controls”

http://whyfiles.org/044robot/robocar.html


The Maritime RealmThe Maritime Realm

http://www.ibiblio.org/maritime/photolibrary/


AISAIS Automated Identification SystemAutomated Identification System Uses augmented GPS for accurate positioning dataUses augmented GPS for accurate positioning data Primarily taking off in Europe in response to oil tanker accidentsPrimarily taking off in Europe in response to oil tanker accidents

http://www.gpsworld.com/


Why bother with AIS?Why bother with AIS?

Expensive, and possibly intrusive, to outfit all Expensive, and possibly intrusive, to outfit all ships with AIS receiversships with AIS receivers

However, here benefits outweigh the costHowever, here benefits outweigh the cost In addition to GPS accurate position, AIS In addition to GPS accurate position, AIS

relays ship identity, speed, course, and even relays ship identity, speed, course, and even cargo informationcargo information

System can handle 2000 reports a minuteSystem can handle 2000 reports a minute Greatly improves ship routing in crowded Greatly improves ship routing in crowded

shipping lanes; results in fewer collisions…shipping lanes; results in fewer collisions…


……ensuring that tomorrow’s ensuring that tomorrow’s banana shipment survives banana shipment survives

the trip from Port Au Prince the trip from Port Au Prince to Princetonto Princeton


ConclusionsConclusions

Technologies may seem far-fetched, but with the Technologies may seem far-fetched, but with the aid of positioning tools may actually be feasible aid of positioning tools may actually be feasible in the not-too-distant future.in the not-too-distant future.

Whatever forms these automated inventions Whatever forms these automated inventions take, they will almost certainly require GPS to take, they will almost certainly require GPS to make them work. Moreover, falling price and make them work. Moreover, falling price and mainstreaming of GPS technologies will make mainstreaming of GPS technologies will make these technologies even more cost-efficient. these technologies even more cost-efficient.

These technological advances will play a These technological advances will play a significant role in significant role in youryour everyday life everyday life


ReferencesReferences “QinetiQ achieves world’s first automatic landing of a STOVL aricraft

onto a ship.” http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/news_releases_homepage/2005/2nd_quarter/QinetiQs_JSF_world_first.html, Online, April 21, 2007

“To All Ships at Sea,” http://www.gpsworld.com/gpsworld/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=105041&pageID=1&sk=&date=, Online, April 21, 2007

SkyWind Power Corporation website Twitchguru.com

Documents

GPS in an Automated Age… …and its implications for the future of alternative energy, travel, and tomorrow’s breakfast. David Fort April 23, 2007