GNSS Signal Power Analysis for Urban Building Height Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Navigation systems, such as GNSS, suffer from accuracy reduction due to errors caused by multipath, reflections, and shadowing from urban environments, leading to biased position estimates.
Innovation Solution
Estimate characteristics of objects like buildings and foliage using signal power levels from transmitters, comparing them to expected signals to correct navigation errors by determining the most likely characteristics of the environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GNSS signals are used for navigation in urban environments, then location determination is enabled, but accuracy deteriorates due to multipath effects and signal obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful multipath signals and obstructions into useful information by analyzing signal characteristics to estimate environmental characteristics. Instead of discarding degraded signals, the system uses them to infer building heights, foliage densities, and atmospheric conditions, which then correct navigation errors and improve location accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using estimated environmental characteristics to correct GNSS position estimates. The process continuously refines location determination by comparing expected signals with actual received signals, adjusting position estimates based on the differences caused by environmental factors.
2Measurement precision
If environmental characteristics are estimated using signal power levels, then navigation accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex estimation problem into distinct components: signal reception, power level measurement, environmental characteristic estimation, and position correction. Each component processes specific aspects independently, making the overall system more manageable and implementable despite the complexity of the task.
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
Improves navigation accuracy by correcting for signal obstructions and multipath effects, enhancing the precision of location determination in urban areas.
Implementation Method 1
a receiver 102 may receive signals and record the power level of the received signals
Implementation Method 2
These errors may be caused by multipath, reflections, shadowing, refraction, diffraction, etc.
Implementation Method 3
These errors may be caused by multipath, reflections, shadowing, refraction, diffraction, etc.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems disclosed herein may include receiving signals from a transmitter in a receiver; determine a bias of the transmitter and receiver; generating expected observations, based on the bias, corresponding to the received signals; and calculate a building height based on a power level of the received signals and a power level of the expected observations.