Satellite Positioning with 3D Laser Reflection Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Satellite navigation systems face inaccuracies due to changing propagation conditions, detour, and multipath reception effects, which affect position determination in safety-critical applications like aviation and surveying, necessitating improved methods for faulty signal detection and exclusion.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a georeferenced 3D laser scanner to create a 3D reflection image, where a laser beam is emitted to check satellite visibility, and only signals without reflection are used for position determination, enabling improved georeferencing and minimizing computing power requirements through on-site acquisition and post-processing evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite signals are used for position determination without checking for reflections, then the positioning process is simple and fast, but position measurement errors occur due to multipath reception and detour effects
Solution Approach 1:
A laser scanner is introduced as an intermediary device to detect reflections in the environment. The laser scanner independently identifies reflective surfaces and obstacles that could cause multipath reception, providing auxiliary information to the satellite signal evaluation process without directly processing satellite signals themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines satellite navigation receiver functionality with laser scanner functionality into an integrated system. The results from both the satellite signal processing and laser reflection detection are merged to jointly determine position, allowing the system to exclude satellite signals that would be affected by detected reflections.
2Measurement precision
If a radar scanner is used to check line of sight to each GPS satellite, then position determination accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical radar scanner approach with an optical laser scanner. The laser scanner uses optical beams instead of radio waves to detect reflections, providing more precise directional information about reflective surfaces. This substitution allows for more accurate determination of which satellite signals are affected by reflections while reducing interference with the satellite signals themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser scanner creates a three-dimensional model of the environment including reflective surfaces and obstacles. This spatial dimensionality allows the system to determine not just the presence of reflections, but their specific locations and orientations, enabling more precise exclusion of affected satellite signals based on geometric relationships between the receiver, satellites, and reflective surfaces.
3Reliability
If the entire surrounding area is scanned with a laser to create a 3D reflection image, then complete visibility information is obtained, but computing power requirements on site increase
Solution Approach 1:
The laser scanner first creates a complete 3D reflection image of the surrounding environment before processing satellite signal data. This preliminary action captures all reflective surfaces and obstacles in advance, allowing subsequent satellite signal evaluation to reference this pre-acquired spatial information without performing computationally intensive 3D reconstruction during signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the processing into two distinct stages: first, the laser scanner acquires raw spatial data and creates a 3D model; second, this pre-processed spatial information is used to evaluate satellite signals. This segmentation allows the computationally intensive laser scanning and 3D modeling to be performed once, while satellite signal processing can efficiently reference the pre-computed spatial data.
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
This approach achieves high positional accuracy and reliability in georeferencing, effectively addressing position measurement errors caused by multipath reception and detour effects, while allowing for efficient processing by separating data acquisition and evaluation.
Implementation Method 1
emitting a laser beam from the preliminary position in the direction of at least one receivable satellite and determining whether the laser beam is reflected
Implementation Method 2
determining whether the laser beam is reflected
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves determining temporary position (pos0) of a receiver (2). A laser beam (12) is emitted from the temporary position in a direction (4) of receivable satellites (s3,s4). Determination is made whether the laser beam is reflected. A position (pos) of the receiver is determined by evaluating transmission signals (sig3,sig4) of the satellites in whose direction no reflection is detected. The transmission of the laser beam and determination of the refection take place by scanning a region of a surrounding of a receiver using a three-dimensional laser scanner. An independent claim is also included for a system for determining position in a global satellite navigation system.