Satellite Beacon Positioning with Inertial Data for GNSS-Denied Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Navigation systems relying on inertial measurements after GNSS signal spoofing or jamming suffer from increasing errors over time, necessitating improved positioning methods.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing atomic clock derived time, satellite beacon data, and inertial measurement units to generate probability density functions (PDFs) for accurate geographical positioning, even in the absence of reliable GNSS signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inertial navigation is used after GNSS signal spoofing or jamming, then navigation can continue without GNSS signals, but positioning accuracy deteriorates over time due to accumulating errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation continuityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces satellite beacon signals as an intermediary measurement source between GNSS and pure inertial navigation. These beacons provide periodic position updates that correct inertial drift without requiring full GNSS signals, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy while ensuring navigation continuity during GNSS denial scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple navigation sources (inertial measurement unit, satellite beacon signals, and probability density function estimators) into a unified navigation solution. This combination allows the system to leverage the strengths of each source - the continuity of inertial navigation with the accuracy corrections from beacon-based position updates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If satellite beacon data and probability density functions are integrated with inertial measurements, then positioning accuracy is enhanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeographical positioning accuracyVSAvoidnavigation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the navigation solution into modular components: inertial measurement unit, satellite beacon receiver, probability density function estimators for each satellite, and a fusion processor. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and simplifies the overall system architecture by dividing the complex estimation problem into manageable probabilistic modules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the navigation problem from deterministic position calculation to probabilistic parameter estimation. By representing position uncertainty through probability density functions and using statistical parameters (mean, covariance) to characterize the state, the system achieves higher accuracy while maintaining computationally tractable complexity through efficient parameter updates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4641260A1Techniques for using satellites to aid in geographical position determination
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4641260A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4641260A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4641260A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Techniques are provided for more accurately determining a geographical position of a body when Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are jammed and/or spoofed. In the absence of valid GNSS data, data about beacon signals emitted by a plurality of satellites and each of the plurality of satellites is used with inertial measurement data to estimate the body's geographical position.