Relative GNSS Integrity Monitoring for Mobile Aircraft Landing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft landing systems, such as GPS and its augmentation systems like GBAS and SBAS, are ineffective for precision approaches when there is no known survey point, particularly in dynamic or uncharted environments like rescue operations on mountains or mobile platforms, due to lack of positional accuracy and integrity, and inability to detect sudden system corruption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Relative GNSS (RGNSS) system with a mobile base station that uses at least two GNSS antennae at known fixed distances to determine relative positions, calculate integrity, and transmit data to an aircraft for approach guidance, allowing precision approaches on both moving and earth-fixed platforms without pre-surveyed locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional GPS or GBAS/SBAS systems are used, then aircraft landing can be supported on known surveyed terrain, but the system fails to provide precision approach capability on uncharted or moving platforms without pre-surveyed locations
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static surveyed ground stations to a mobile base station that can be deployed on moving platforms. The mobile base station maintains its position through continuous GPS tracking and dynamically updates the approach path coordinates, enabling precision approaches on moving platforms while maintaining system reliability through real-time position correction and integrity monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary position determination and approach path construction before the aircraft begins its final approach. The mobile base station pre-calculates approach paths based on its current position and transmits this data to the aircraft, allowing the aircraft to navigate accurately without requiring pre-surveyed terrain data.
2Measurement precision
If GPS augmentation systems are implemented, then positional accuracy is improved, but the system lacks real-time self-monitoring capability to detect sudden accuracy corruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the mobile base station monitors its own GPS signal quality and positional accuracy in real-time. When degradation or corruption is detected, the system immediately alerts the aircraft and can switch to alternative positioning methods or terminate the approach, ensuring both high measurement precision and reliability through active integrity monitoring.
3Measurement precision
If ground-based augmentation systems with surveyed stations are used, then high accuracy and integrity are provided for fixed approach segments, but the system cannot operate in areas without pre-surveyed points
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile base station system serves multiple functions: it acts as a portable surveyed station, a dynamic reference point, and a real-time position correction source. This universal system can be deployed on any platform (ground-based or moving) and provides both the accuracy of surveyed stations and the adaptability to operate in previously unsurveyed areas, eliminating the limitation of fixed location requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for confirming mobile base station integrity in a relative GNSS aircraft landing system, the method comprising: determining a relative position of a first GNSS antenna fixed to the mobile base station with respect to a second GNSS antenna also fixed to the mobile base station by processing signals from a GNSS satellite constellation; calculating a distance between the first GNSS antenna and the second GNSS antenna using the measured relative position; comparing a calculated distance to a known fixed distance; and confirming mobile base station integrity if the calculated distance is within a predetermined threshold of the known fixed distance.