THE ADVANCED OPLE FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE

Abstract

The OMEGA Position Location Experiment (OPLE) was performed in 1967 by the Goddard Space Flight Center in order to demonstrate a position location and data collection system. OMEGA navigation signals were received at a remote site and retransmitted via a synchronous satellite to a ground processing center where data collecting and position determination was performed. Recent technological advances have made it possible to develop an Advanced OPLE system towards a global search and rescue application. This application generated some new problem areas such as the OMEGA lane ambiguity, random access, location accuracy, real time processing, and size and weight of the Search and Rescue Communication (SARCOM). This experiment will demonstrate the feasibility of instantaneous alarm and position location by using a relatively inexpensive, battery operated, three-pound package. This package can transmit the alarm and position through a synchronous satellite to a search and rescue station in less than three minutes, in an environment of 50,000 to 100,000 subscribers drawn from the maritime, aircraft, recreational communities and others.