LEO Satellite Navigation Signal Blending for Urban Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems, such as GPS, face challenges in providing sufficient signal power and geometry to penetrate buildings or urban areas and are susceptible to jamming, limiting their effectiveness in demanding scenarios and safety-of-life applications.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system utilizing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that integrate passive ranging signals from multiple sources, including spaceborne and terrestrial transmitters, to provide high-integrity navigation, with LEO satellites broadcasting a composite signal containing communication and navigation channels, and using pseudo-random noise ranging overlays to enhance signal strength and resistance to interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If GPS signals are used for navigation, then global coverage is provided, but signal power and geometry are insufficient to penetrate buildings or urban areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple navigation signal sources (GPS, LEO satellites, and terrestrial transmitters) into a unified navigation system. The receiver integrates signals from these diverse sources to provide robust navigation coverage, particularly in urban environments where single-source signals fail. This merging approach allows the system to leverage the complementary strengths of each signal type to achieve both global coverage and local penetration capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces LEO satellites as intermediary nodes between GPS satellites and the receiver. These LEO satellites relay navigation information and provide additional signal paths that can penetrate urban canyons and building structures. The intermediary LEO satellites bridge the gap between the global GPS coverage and the local penetration requirements, enabling reliable navigation in challenging environments.
2Reliability
If existing navigation signals are used, then navigation coverage is provided, but the system is susceptible to jamming in hostile environments
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple navigation signal sources with different propagation characteristics, the system reduces susceptibility to jamming. The receiver can switch between or combine signals from GPS, LEO satellites, and terrestrial transmitters depending on the operational environment. This diversity approach ensures that if one signal source is jammed, alternative sources can maintain navigation availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic signal selection and switching capabilities that adapt to the operational environment. The receiver dynamically adjusts which signals to use based on signal quality, availability, and threat assessment. This dynamic approach allows the system to respond to jamming attempts by switching to alternative signal sources, maintaining navigation reliability under varying threat conditions.
3Reliability
If LEO satellites broadcast composite signals with multiple channels, then signal penetration and anti-jamming performance are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the navigation signal into distinct channels and components (communication channels, navigation channels, ranging overlays). The receiver processes each segment separately using dedicated algorithms, then combines the results. This segmentation approach manages complexity by organizing the signal processing into manageable modules, each handling specific functions such as carrier tracking, code acquisition, and ranging measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiver is designed with multi-functional capabilities that can handle various signal types and processing requirements through a unified architecture. The same receiver hardware and software platform process signals from GPS, LEO satellites, and terrestrial transmitters, as well as perform navigation, communication, and ranging functions. This universality reduces overall system complexity by avoiding separate dedicated processing paths for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A low earth orbit (LEO) satellite data uplink is provided. In one embodiment, a method of providing a data uplink to a LEO satellite includes determining position information using a LEO signal received from the LEO satellite, a first ranging signal received from a first ranging source, and a second ranging signal received from a second ranging source. The method also includes determining a timing advance parameter using a local clock reference and a LEO satellite clock reference. The method further includes preparing a data uplink signal comprising uplink data to be broadcast to the LEO satellite. In addition, the method includes synchronizing the data uplink signal with the LEO satellite using the timing advance parameter. The method also includes broadcasting the data uplink signal to the LEO satellite.