Institute of Navigation Announces Parkinson and Kepler Awards

Dr. Shivaramaiah Wins Parkinson Award

Manassas, Virginia, September 26, 2011 – The Institute of Navigation’s (ION) Satellite Division awarded Dr. Nagaraj Channarayapatna Shivaramaiah of The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia its Bradford W. Parkinson Award September 23, 2011 at the ION GNSS Conference (Portland, Oregon). Dr. Shivaramaiah was recognized for graduate student excellence in Global Navigation Satellite Systems in his thesis Enhanced Receiver Techniques for Galileo E5AltBOC Signal.

In his thesis Nagaraj introduced a number of algorithms specific to E5, the most sophisticated GNSS signal, including a patented multipath technique. He is now responsible for developing a space-capable multi-GNSS (L1/E1/L5/E5) version of UNSW’s Namuru receiver.

The Bradford W. Parkinson Award was established in June 2003 and is awarded annually to an outstanding graduate student in the field of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).  This award, which honors Dr. Parkinson for his leadership in establishing both the U.S. Global Positioning System and the Satellite Division of the ION, includes a personalized plaque and a $2500 honorarium. 
 
Any graduate student who is a member of the ION and is completing a degree program with an emphasis in GNSS technology, applications, or policy is eligible for the award.  This year’s recipient was selected by an independent committee of academics and experts in the technologies covered in the theses submitted this year.

Dr. Gary Mcgraw Wins Kepler Award

Institute of Navigation recognizes Dr. Gary McGraw with prestigious Johannes Kepler Award at the ION GNSS 2011 Conference

The Institute of Navigation’s (ION) Satellite Division awarded Dr. Gary McGraw its Johannes Kepler Award September 23, 2011 at the ION GNSS Conference (Portland, Oregon) for his contributions to GPS in the areas of high accuracy, high integrity and highly survivable precision guidance and control of aircraft. 

Dr. McGraw has made significant contributions to the field of satellite navigation and has become a central figure in a number of navigation technology development efforts. As a member of Rockwell Collins’ Advanced Technology Center, he made many contributions to the development of GPS-based precision approach and landing systems. He was instrumental in the receiver development and system architecture definition for the Rockwell Collins team that demonstrated the first triplex differential GPS autoland system during the Boeing GPS Autoland Program. He was also heavily involved in the work of RTCA SC-159 in the development of industry standards for GPS landing systems, in particular leading the effort that developed the first set of standardized models for use in the certification of GPS-based avionics. These models have become internationally accepted and widely used. He also contributed significantly to the development of radio frequency interference industry standards for GPS receivers.  Dr. McGraw also participated in early GPS Modernization activities, including the M-code definition team, definition of the GPS L5 signal as member of RTCA SC 159, and the GPS-III System Analysis & Requirements Development program. Dr. McGraw led the development of a number of GPS signal processing concepts in the areas of multipath mitigation and in the use of dual-frequency measurements in advanced differential GPS architectures. This dual frequency differential architecture is the basis for the next generation military landing and test range systems. He pioneered the use of anti-jam GPS systems for high accuracy and high integrity applications. Dr. McGraw also led the development of the GPS Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM) algorithms now in use in all Rockwell Collins commercial avionics GPS products. 

Dr. Gary McGraw currently leads the Navigation and Control Section of the Rockwell Collins Advanced Technology Center.  He and the team he leads develop and analyze advanced navigation system concepts and work to transition technologies to internal business units as well as external agencies under contract.  This work includes developing technologies for GPS denied positioning, precision positioning and timing, GPS anti-jam and anti-spoofing, and autonomous path planning. Dr. McGraw has numerous conference and journal publications and holds 14 patents. He has served the ION as conference track chair and session chair on several occasions and is an Associate Editor of the ION journal NAVIGATION.

The Kepler Award recognizes and honors and individual for sustained and significant contributions to the development of satellite navigation. It is the highest honor bestowed by the ION’s Satellite Division.
 
About ION
The Institute of Navigation is the world’s premier professional society dedicated to the advancement of the art and science of positioning, navigation and timing. The Institute is a national organization whose membership spans worldwide. Additional information about the ION can be found at http://www.ion.org.