Multi-Layer Defences for Robust GNSS Timing Retrieval

A multi-layered interference mitigation approach can significantly improve the performance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers in the presence of jamming. In this work, three levels of defence are considered including: pre-correlation interference mitigation techniques, post-correlation measurement screening and FDE at the Position, Velocity, and Time (PVT) level. The performance and interaction of these receiver defences are analysed with specific focus on Robust Interference Mitigation (RIM), measurement screening through Lock Indicator (LIs) and Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM). The case of timing receivers with a known user position and using Galileo signals from different frequencies has been studied with Time-Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (T-RAIM) based on the Backward-Forward method. From the experimental analysis it emerges that RIM improves the quality of the measurements reducing the number of exclusions performed by T-RAIM. Effective measurements screening is also fundamental to obtain unbiased timing solutions: in this respect T-RAIM can provide the required level of reliability.

Research on Satellite Selection Strategy for Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring Applications

Satellite selection is an effective way to overcome the challenges for the processing capability and channel limitation of the receivers due to superabundant satellites in view. The satellite selection strategies have been widely investigated to construct the subset with high accuracy but deserve further studies when applied to safety-critical applications such as the receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) technique. In this study, the impacts of subset size on the accuracy and integrity of the subset and computation load are analyzed at first to confirm the importance of the satellite selection strategy for the RAIM process. Then the integrated performance impact of a single satellite on the current subset is evaluated according to the performance requirement of the flight phase. Subsequently, a performance-requirement-driven fast satellite selection algorithm is proposed based on the impact evaluation to construct a relatively small subset that satisfies the accuracy and integrity requirements. Comparison simulations show that the proposed algorithm can keep similar accuracy and better integrity performances than the geometric algorithm and the downdate algorithm when the subset size is fixed to 12, and can achieve an average 1.0 to 2.0 satellites smaller subset in the Lateral Navigation (LNAV) and approach procedures with vertical guidance (APV-I) horizontal requirement trial. Thus, it is suitable for real-time RAIM applications and low-cost navigation devices.

Prediction of RTK positioning integrity for journey planning

Positioning integrity is crucial for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications. In this article, a method is presented for prediction of GNSS positioning integrity for ITS journey planning. This information, in addition to other route information, such as distance and time, can be utilized to choose the safest and economical route. We propose to combine the Advanced Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (ARAIM) technique, tailored for ITS, with 3D city models. Positioning is performed by GNSS Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) method, which can provide the accuracy required for ITS. A new threat model employed for computation of the protection levels (PLs) for RTK positioning is discussed. Demonstration of the proposed approach is performed through a kinematic test in an urban area in Tokyo. The comparison between the prediction method and the actual observations show that the two estimate close satellite geometry and PLs. The method produced PLs that bounds the actual position errors all the time and they were less than the preset alert limit.

Kalman Filter-Based RAIM for Reliable Aircraft Positioning with GPS and NavIC Constellations

This paper presents a novel Kalman filter (KF)-based receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) algorithm for reliable aircraft positioning with global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The presented method overcomes major limitations of the authors’ previous work, and uses two GNSS, namely, Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) of India and the Global Positioning System (GPS). The algorithm is developed in the range domain and compared with two existing approaches—one each for the weighted least squares navigation filter and KF. Extensive simulations were carried out for an unmanned aircraft flight path over the Indian sub-continent for validation of the new approach. Although both existing methods outperform the new one, the work is significant for the following reasons. KF is an integral part of advanced navigation systems that can address frequent loss of GNSS signals (e.g., vector tracking and multi-sensor integration). Developing KF RAIM algorithms is essential to ensuring their reliability. KF solution separation (or position domain) RAIM offers good performance at the cost of high computational load. Presented range domain KF RAIM, on the other hand, offers satisfactory performance to a certain extent, eliminating a major issue of growing position error bounds over time. It requires moderate computational resources, and hence, shows promise for real-time implementations in avionics. Simulation results also indicate that addition of NavIC alongside GPS can substantially improve RAIM performance, particularly in poor geometries.

A Modified Residual-Based RAIM Algorithm for Multiple Outliers Based on a Robust MM Estimation

The residual-based (RB) receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) detector is a widely used receiver integrity enhancement technology that has the ability to rapidly respond to outliers. However, the sensitivity and vulnerability of the residuals to the outliers are the weaknesses of the method especially in the case of multi-outlier modes. It is an effective method for enhancing the validity of residuals by robust estimation instead of least squares (LS) estimation. In this paper, a modified RB RAIM detector based on a robust MM estimation with a higher detection performance under multi-outlier modes is presented. A fast subset selection method based on the characteristic slope that could reduce the number of subsets to be calculated is also presented. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm maintains a more robust performance than the RB RAIM detector based on the LS estimator and M estimator with an IGG III function especially with the increase in the number of outliers. The proposed fast subset selection method can reduce the calculation time by at least 80%, demonstrating the practical application value of the algorithm.