Doppler Null Steering for GNSS-Independent Bearing and Ranging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airspace management systems like IFF, TCAS, and TASC rely heavily on GNSS for positioning and data transfer, making them vulnerable to GNSS threats and inefficient in establishing spatial awareness during initial node discovery.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing Doppler nulling and two-way time-of-flight ranging to determine bearing angle and range without relying on GNSS, employing Doppler null steering and time synchronization to apply corrections, enabling passive spatial awareness and efficient network topology discovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If GNSS-based positioning and data transfer are used in airspace management systems, then absolute positioning and identity exchange are achieved, but vulnerability to GNSS threats and inefficiency in initial node discovery occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Doppler nulling as an intermediary mechanism between nodes to establish spatial awareness without relying on GNSS. By using Doppler frequency shifts as a mediator to infer relative motion and position, the system bypasses vulnerable GNSS dependency while maintaining reliable spatial information exchange
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic/GNSS-based positioning system with a physics-based Doppler effect measurement system. By substituting mechanical/physical phenomenon (Doppler frequency shift) for electronic signal-based positioning, the system achieves resilience against spoofing and noise that affect electronic systems
2Loss of information
If explicit two-way data transfer is used for spatial awareness, then position and speed information are exchanged, but bandwidth consumption and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables nodes to self-determine their spatial awareness by measuring Doppler frequency shifts from received signals. Instead of requiring explicit data transfer of position and speed information, each node autonomously extracts spatial information from the physical characteristics of received signals, eliminating the need for bandwidth-intensive data exchanges
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses Doppler frequency shift as a natural indicator of relative motion, similar to how color changes indicate properties in other domains. By measuring the frequency shift (an inherent property of the signal) rather than exchanging explicit data about motion, the system efficiently obtains spatial awareness information without consuming additional bandwidth
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances spatial awareness and network efficiency by providing robust, low-bandwidth communication for initial node discovery and tracking, reducing reliance on explicit data transfers and improving network resilience against spoofing and noise.
Implementation Method 1
time synchronized to apply Doppler corrections to signals, the Doppler corrections associated with the receiver or transmitter node's own motions relative to the common reference frame
Implementation Method 2
determine a range based on two-way time-of-flight based ranging signals
Data Source
AI summary
A system is disclosed. The system may include a receiver or transmitter node. The receiver or transmitter node may include a communications interface with an antenna element and a controller. The controller may include one or more processors and have information of own node velocity and own node orientation relative to a common reference frame. The receiver or transmitter node may be time synchronized to apply Doppler corrections to signals, the Doppler corrections associated with the receiver or transmitter node's own motions relative to the common reference frame, the Doppler corrections applied using Doppler null steering along Null directions. The receiver node is configured to determine a bearing angle based on the signals based on Doppler null steering; and to determine a range based on two-way time-of-flight based ranging signals.