Stanford Engineering
Center for Position, Navigation and Time

Research Focus

Research Banner Graphic

Stanford is widely considered by many as the world’s leading institution performing PNT and GPS research today. It all started in the early 1990’s. The early research included:

  • Use of GPS for Spacecraft Attitude and Translation Control

  • Autonomous Aircraft

  • Airplane Navigation, Takeoffs & Landings

  • Precision Farming / Agriculture

  • En-route Flight Safety

  • GPS Augmentation Systems (WAAS and LAAS)

SCPNT was formally organized in 2006 and SCPNT sponsored research continued to evolve. In the last 10+ years the research includes:

  • WAAS and SBAS Augmentation Systems

  • Cyber Safety for Transportation including anti-spoofing & jamming

  • Alternative PNT

  • Time and Time Transfer

  • IMU Development & Testing

  • Multi-Constellation GNSS

  • GNSS Software Receiver

… and more recently:

  • Marine Animals Tracking

  • Positive Train Control

Today there are over 3 billion users of GPS.  GPS, GNSS and PNT have become a de facto utility. We expect the Center’s PNT research to continue to evolve as demand for accurate position location and time is desired and/or required in more-and-more applications worldwide.

The Current and Continuing PNT/GPS Research pages in this section describe the various new and ongoing research projects sponsored by SCPNT.

The Early PNT/GPS Research pages in this section describe research projects from the formative years SCPNT from the decades of 1990 and 2000.