Passive Object-Based Location Determination Without GNSS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining location, such as GNSS, inertial navigation, and visible landmarks, are unreliable or inaccurate in scenarios where GNSS is unavailable or denied, and inertial navigation suffers from drift errors.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using radar and electromagnetic signal detection to identify and determine the relative position and absolute position of detected objects, such as satellites and aircraft, by analyzing reflected signals and associating them with publicly available databases to calculate the asset's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inertial navigation systems are used to determine location via dead reckoning, then location can be determined without external references, but accuracy deteriorates due to drift errors from path integration over extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses detected objects (satellites, aircraft, ships) as intermediary reference points between the inertial navigation system and external references. By detecting these objects and determining their identities and positions, the system obtains periodic position corrections without continuous external reference, thereby maintaining location accuracy while preserving the autonomy advantage of inertial navigation.
2Measurement precision
If GNSS is used for location determination, then accurate location can be obtained, but the system becomes vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, and signal denial in conflict situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of position determination from the vulnerable GNSS system by using passive detection of electromagnetic signals from natural and artificial sources. This extraction creates an alternative location determination method that does not depend on GNSS infrastructure, thereby maintaining location accuracy while eliminating vulnerability to GNSS jamming and spoofing.
3Reliability
If visible landmarks are used for location determination, then location can be found without GNSS, but accuracy deteriorates due to lack of recognizable landmarks at night, in poor weather, or at sea
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal detection system that can identify objects under all environmental conditions by detecting electromagnetic signals. Unlike visual landmarks that require line-of-sight visibility, this system can detect satellites, aircraft, and ships through their electromagnetic emissions regardless of time of day, weather conditions, or geographic location, thereby maintaining both reliability and accuracy universally.
4Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If radar signals are emitted actively to detect objects, then detection capability is improved, but the asset becomes detectable by adversaries and loses operational stealth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional active radar approach by using passive electromagnetic signal detection instead of active signal emission. The asset detects objects by receiving their emitted electromagnetic signals (communications data, surveillance data, AIS signals) rather than transmitting radar signals, thereby maintaining detection capability while preserving operational stealth and avoiding adversary detection.
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
Provides accurate and reliable location determination without GNSS, using existing vehicle hardware, and enhances confidence through iterative processing and publicly verified data, while being robust against path integration errors.
Implementation Method 1
The received signals may comprise reflected radar signals received in response to the asset emitting radar signals from a radar array
Implementation Method 2
The received signals may comprise electromagnetic signals emitted or reflected by the one or more detected objects
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer-implemented method of determining the location of an asset is provided, the method comprising: performing, from the asset, detection of one or more detected objects based on received signals received by the asset; determining, based on the received signals, a relative position of the one or more detected objects with respect to the asset; determining, based on the received signals, an identity of the one or more detected objects; determining a current absolute position of the one or more detected objects; and determining a current absolute position of the asset based on the relative position of the asset with respect to the one or more detected objects and the current absolute position of the one or more detected objects.