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ARGOS satellite system
status & improvements
AST 14th meeting, Wellington, New-Zealand
Yann Bernard
CLS, Oceanography
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METOP-B & SARAL satellites
2 new Argos satellites recently successfully launched !!!
METOP-B on September 17, 2012
SARAL on February 25, 2013
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Argos system status
8 Argos operational satellites:
- 4 x Argos-2
- 4 x Argos-3
(only 2 with downlink ON)
Argos-4 instruments under
preparation at CNES
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1
Argos-2
401.650
Argos-3
Argos-4
401.690 MHz 401.300
Sustainability of the Argos satellite system is compatible with
long lifetime program (like Argo with floats lifetime ~10 years)
Argos-
Argos satellites launch years
401.580
High data rate platforms
Initial Argos frequency band and uplink modulation are preserved
2006 2012 2009
2016 2020 2018
1998 2002 2000 2005
2013
…
Argos uplink frequency band
1978…
Argos system status
Dedicated bandwith for low
ouput power applications
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A new operations center in
Toulouse, France
Operational 24/7
ISO 9001 certified
30 000 platforms tracked
3M of msg processed
per day
500 Tb of data stored
every month
99.68% of system
availability
For the reception, processing, validation, distribution
and archiving of data collected by Argos
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More data online on ARGOS Web
(20 days of positions)
Possibility to download 1 year of
archived data through ArgosWeb
A new web interface with
improved cartography
An Android application available
to consult Argos positions tracks
from Smart phones or Pads
Coming soon…
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SHARC = Satellite High-performance ARGOS-3/-4
Receive/transmit Communication
30-month ESA project of 2 Millions €
To implement ARGOS-3 and ARGOS-4 capabilities
onboard an Integrated Circuit
Such component will be provided at very low cost to
all Argos manufacturers/integrators
This miniaturized ARGOS transceiver will work at very
low power consumption allowing deployments of
ARGOS-3/4 technology in most applications.
SHARC project
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SHARC = Satellite High-performance ARGOS-3/-4
Receive/transmit Communication
It will be used either as:
a regular PTT (transmitter),
a single downlink receiver,
a half duplex transceiver or
two separate modules that can be directly managed
by the application controller.
We expect this module to deliver a signal output power of
250 mWatt (TBC) without having to implement an
external amplification.
First prototype application will be a pop-up tag produced
at very low cost (~1000€)
Expected to be available 2015.
SHARC project
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How to use Argos ?
UNTIL 2016:
For a volume of data per profile < 0.5 Kbytes Argos-2 (reliable,
easy to implement)
For a volume of data per profile from 0.5 Kbytes to 2.5 Kbytes
Argos-3 low data rate mode (reliable, low cost, short time on surface, low
power consumption, secured data transmission, no restriction of areas)
For a volume of data per profile > 2.5 Kbytes Argos-3 high data rate
mode (reliable, low cost, short time on surface, low power consumption,
secured data transmission, areas restricted to open seas)
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How to use Argos ?
AFTER 2016:
ARGOS-2 mode still available (ascending compatibility)
ARGOS-3 mode still available with a 3-satellite constellation (Metop-
B, Saral, Metop-C)
ARGOS-4 available with new improved performances (especially for
high volume of data to be transmitted). Operational until 2028 -2030
“ARGOS-5” already under studying
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Argos Location with KF method
One Argos location can be computed with:
• at least one received Doppler frequency
• integration of platform dynamics (previous
set of positions if exist)
• the use of a KF to calculate positions.
Error estimates provided
New method applied on all Argo
floats since the 13th of June 2011
GPS free positioning system
Position accuracy up to 250 m
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OLD
NEW
Main benefits for the Argo program:
More positions = +8% in average of new Argos positions
computed with the new method
Better accuracy = more class 3 locations (accuracy
<250m) + 138.1 % in average
Advantages of Argos Location
with KF method
Elimination of all
unrealistic positions
Error estimations provided
as error ellipses for all
location classes
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Proposed improvements for Argo
trajectory data
ADMT action item 25 & 56
CLS & JCOMMOPS cooperative project
Project is composed by 3 work packages
Improve the existing Argo trajectory dataset from
January 2008 with:
the reprocessing of all Argos locations with the
Kalman filtering method
providing diagnostic data with error ellipses
Provide easier access to Argos error ellipses data to all
DACs for future profiles
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WP1 : Reprocessing of all Argos locations with the Kalman
filtering method and providing error ellipses for the Argo array
from January 2008 to June 2011
5133 Argo floats active on this period
424 179 Argo profiles transmitted via Argos system
More than 7.6 millions of Argos locations to reprocess
Work package duration: 28.5 days
Proposed improvements for Argo
trajectory data
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WP2: Provide all Argos error ellipses information to DACS
from June 2011 until the setup of a routine service & a
dedicated distribution environment on the JCOMMOPS
information system.
Work package duration: 15.5 days
WP 3: Setup of a routine service to provide and archive all
trajectory data, including error ellipses, for official Argo floats
using the Argos system on a monthly basis in the
JCOMMOPS information system.
Work package duration: 17.5 days
Proposed improvements for Argo
trajectory data
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Total project duration estimation is 63.5 days
Proposed improvements for Argo
trajectory data
A proposal will be sent to the AST for decision
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Thanks for your attention
Questions ?