A new pseudolite battlefield navigation system

Abstract

Rockwell Collins is developing a pseudolite (PL) based Battlefield Navigation System (BNS). (Farley, 1998) The BNS is intended for use as a navigational aid when GPS signals are unavailable or being interfered with. This paper will present a new PL navigation system concept based on the Rockwell Collins Personal Computer Signal Generator (PCSG) satellite simulator product line. The PL navigation system requires modifications to the current PCSG design and an innovative adaptation of the GPS Keplerian equations. The Keplerian equation modifications allow reuse of the GPS downlink data structure and current GPS receiver hardware designs. In order to facilitate testing of the BNS system concept, Rockwell Collins has developed a prototype laboratory PL navigation system. This paper will document the laboratory demonstration system test configuration and test results. Mitigation of the PL Near / Far problem is a goal of the BNS development team. A number of PL RF pulsing schemes were investigated to determine the optimum solution for use with a standard military GPS receiver (PLGR -Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver).An enhancement program is currently underway to add a self-surveying capability to the PCSG based PL design. The Self-surveying Pseudolite (SSPL) will be a portable PL transmitter that determines its location and then begins broadcasting PL navigation signals. A military GPS receiver, such as the PLGR, modified only with a new version of software, can use the SSPL signals as a navigational aid or as an independent SV constellation in lieu of GPS. At the completion of the enhancement program, Rockwell Collins will conduct a series of outdoor, system validation tests on the SSPL battlefield navigation system.

Pulse Position Detection of the Pseudo Random Time-Hopping Pseudolite for the Participative GNSS Receivers

“…The pseudolite can be used to augment the navigation and positioning performance of the participative GNSS receivers in environments as indoors, city crayon, mountain valleys and so on, where the number of visible GNSS satellites decreases dramatically [1]- [3]. Meanwhile, four or more pseudolites can also be used to constitute an independent positioning system in environments where the received GNSS satellite signals are virtually blocked or jammed [4], [5]. Since the distance from the pseudolite to GNSS receivers is much closer than that of the navigation satellites in the sky, the received power of the pseudolite signal is much stronger than that of the navigation satellites, and this will bring the "near-far" interference to GNSS receivers [6], [7].…”

“…With the PRN code initial phase fp  obtained above, the estimated baseband signal can be written as ˆ( ) , meanwhile, change the integral intervals of Eqs (5). …”

Visibility Analysis of GNSS Satellites in Mountainous Area

“…But GNSS could not perform well in some specific areas, such as indoors, underground or mountainous area, where pseudolites could improve the performance by changing the geometric distribution of satellites. In the past few years, a great deal of work of pseudolites has been carried out focusing on the design of receiver or signal format [1][2][3][4][5]. This paper proposed a novel analytical method of visible GNSS satellites based on mountainous area Jiuzhai Valley scenic spot, which contributes a lot to the final pseudolites-location determination.…”

Research on pseudolite and its application in air-based information system

“…Pseudolites (PLs) offer a means of overcoming these limitations in GPS. By developing several PL transmitters and simply modifying the software of an existing GPS receiver, a user can extend the area in which they can effectively navigate [1] . Furthermore, it is inexpensive and flexible.…”