GPS Support, Test, and Research Laboratory

We conduct research on the performance and vulnerability of GPS devices embedded in military and civilian systems.

The GPS antenna farm provides the laboratory with live-sky access to GPS satellite signals.

The GPS receiver in this test and evaluation device is typically used on small unmanned aerial vehicles or precision-guided munitions.

The U.S. Global Positioning System, familiarly known as GPS and providing navigation guidance to users worldwide, has become integral to civilian and military transportation. Moreover, GPS is an enabling technology for vehicles and systems, and is an active area of navigation and timing research.

The Systems and Analysis Group operates a GPS laboratory to support the Air Vehicle Survivability Evaluation program and the Air Force Red Team with investigations into threats to the military's use of GPS. Researchers in the group use GPS military code simulators and threat emulators to assess the performance of GPS equipment in controlled threat environments.

Our research also extends to evaluating risks to civilian uses of GPS. We maintain GPS receivers and navigation equipment used in a variety of military and civilian applications, such as aviation, navigation and control of unmanned aerial vehicles, guided munitions, land surveying, and agricultural monitoring.

Additionally, the GPS lab is a resource for multiple Lincoln Laboratory divisions, providing equipment and expertise in GPS and navigation systems to support programs for various agencies within the U.S. government.