Multi-Constellation Navigation Integrity via Domain Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) face accuracy and integrity issues due to atmospheric conditions and satellite failures, which introduce random noise and errors in position solutions, particularly in single-constellation systems.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system that utilizes multiple GNSS constellations to separate navigation solutions into domains, allowing for fault detection and exclusion, using a dual-layer approach to monitor integrity and isolate faulty satellites or constellations, thereby maintaining high-integrity navigation even in the presence of failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple GNSS constellations are used to improve accuracy and integrity, then navigation reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the navigation solution into multiple independent domains (e.g., GPS domain, GLONASS domain, Galileo domain). Each domain processes signals from a specific constellation independently, allowing fault isolation within individual domains while maintaining overall system integrity through cross-domain comparison. This segmentation enables the system to handle multiple constellations without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary integrity monitoring mechanism that compares solutions across different constellation domains. This intermediary layer detects inconsistencies between domains and triggers fault isolation procedures, mediating between the multiple constellations and the final navigation solution. This approach improves reliability while containing complexity within the monitoring framework.
2Measurement precision
If dual-layer approach with multiple domains is implemented to detect faults, then fault detection capability is improved, but computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrity monitoring is segmented into two layers: intra-domain monitoring (comparing solutions within each constellation domain) and inter-domain monitoring (comparing across constellation domains). This segmentation allows fault detection to be distributed across multiple independent checks rather than requiring a single computationally intensive comparison of all possible fault scenarios simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial integrity checks within each domain before performing full inter-domain comparisons. By conducting preliminary intra-domain monitoring first, the system can quickly eliminate obviously faulty domains without requiring complete inter-domain analysis, reducing overall computational load while maintaining detection capability.
3Measurement precision
If constellation-based domain separation is used to isolate faults, then fault isolation accuracy is improved, but solution convergence time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-segments the navigation solution into constellation-based domains with predetermined processing paths. When a fault is detected, the system can immediately isolate and exclude specific domains without requiring time-consuming analysis of which satellites or constellations are faulty. This pre-segmentation enables rapid fault isolation while maintaining high accuracy through cross-domain validation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary integrity checks within each constellation domain before final solution integration. By pre-validating each domain's solution quality and establishing baseline expectations, the system can quickly identify and isolate faults during operation without requiring extensive post-fault analysis, thus reducing convergence time while maintaining isolation accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method comprises receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of space-based satellites, wherein the plurality of space-based satellites comprises at least one space-based satellite from each of a plurality of Navigation Satellite System (NSS) constellations. The method also comprises determining, in a first domain, a first plurality of sub-solutions based on a respective sub-set of the plurality of signals, each respective sub-set in the first domain chosen according to a characteristic defining the first domain; and determining, in a second domain, a second plurality of sub-solutions based on a respective sub-set of the plurality of signals, each respective sub-set in the second domain chosen according to a characteristic defining the second domain. The method further comprises determining if an error is present in the navigation system based on the first plurality of sub-solutions and on the second plurality of sub-solutions.