Faculty & Research

personnel profile

Bradford W. Parkinson

 
Title:Professor Emeritus
Department(s):Aeronautics and Astronautics
Affiliation(s):Co-Principal Investigator, Gravity Probe B Project
Location:Aeronautics & Astronautics Department Durand Bldg. Rm 365 Stanford, CA 94305-4035
Mail Code:4035
Phone:650.725.4105       
Fax:650.725.3377
E-mail: brad.parkinson@stanford.edu
URL: http://einstein.stanford.edu/
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/aeroastro/
Administrator: Grace Fontanilla

Research Statement

Professor Parkinson's research teams are funded by FAA, NASA, and commercial companies. His groups are recognized as world leaders in pioneering numerous innovative Global Positioning System (GPS) applications including the dynamic control of vehicles, the development and demonstration of the Wide Area Differential GPS concept for air traffic control, applications suitable for the blind landing of aircraft, robotic control of land vehicles, and use of GPS to perform closed-loop control of satellites in orbit. Professor Parkinson is also breaking new scientific ground in two other related directions. First, he is the program manager of the NASA-funded Gravity Probe B program, a test effort to validate Einstein's General Theory of Relativity using orbiting gyroscopes. Second, he is managing the development of advanced technology for that mission, including precision metrology, control of spacecraft, and estimaton of atmospheric effects.

Degree Discipline Year School
PhD 1966 Stanford

Membership in National Academies

National Academy of Engineering

Academic Honors & Awards

Elected to National Inventors Hall of Fame, 2004
Fellow, IEEE - 2004
Member, ASME
Goddard Astronautics Award, AIAA 2006
Space Technology Hall of Fame -Individual Certificate of Commendation, 2006
ASME Gold Medal Award, American Society of Mechanical Engineers - 2004
Charles Stark Draper Prize, NAE 2003
Simon Ramo Award, IEEE 2002
Discover Innovation Award for Communications, Discover Magazine - 2002
Fellow, The Institute of Navigation (ION) - 1999
NASA Hall of FAME - 1998
Sperry Award, IEEE 1998
Magellanic Premium Award, American Philosophical Society - 1997
Edward C Wells Professor of Aeronautics & Astronautics (1995)
GPS Hall of Fame Award, NAVSTAR Joint Program Office - 1995
Pioneer Award, AESS/IEEE - 1994
NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal - 1994
Johannes Kepler Award , ION - 1991
Fellow, American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA) - 1990
Member, Sigma Xi
Member, International Academy of Astronautics (IAA)
Fellow, The Royal Institute of Navigation - 1990
Member, National Academy of Engineers (NAE) - 1990
Burka Award, ION - 1987
Kirschner Award, IEEE - 1986
Thurlow Award, ION - 1986
Engineer of the Year for Silicon Valley, AIAA - 1985
Gold Medal Award - Royal Inst. of Navigation - 1983
Defense Department Superior Performance Award, NAVSTAR (GPS) GPO - 1977