Implementation of IRNSS Based Navigational Satellite Receivers in Ocean Observation Platforms

This article explains first attempt on implementation of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) based NavIC satellite position acquisition receiver module in Lagrangian drifting buoy. Presently, most of Ocean observation systems developed by international community are developed using US satellite based Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver modules for acquiring Geo-position and time synchronization applications. The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has attempted and built INSAT based drifting buoys (DB) interfaced with Indian made NavIC satellite receiver modules operated using IRNSS satellite constellations and carried out extensive laboratory and field validations. This IRNSS based satellite receiver technology is fully planned, developed, established and controlled by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space. It is designed to provide accurate Geo-positional information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from Indian terrestrial boundary. NavIC L5 signal ensures to obtain a single point positional accuracy of ±2.5 m. The implementation and successful demonstration of our Indian made IRNSS-NavIC satellite receiver module will lead a way for the replacement of existing GPS gadgets thus to make drifting buoy a complete indigenous product. The Drifting buoys are deployed to measure sea surface temperature and ocean current. A unique attempt with NavIC satellite receiver module to have near real time data at every hour is achieved and results of recent field deployment carried out in Bay of Bengal (BoB) is presented in this paper.