Unambiguous Tracking Method Based on Combined Correlation Functions for sine/cosine-BOC CBOC and AltBOC Modulated Signals

Unambiguous tracking for Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) modulated signals is an important requirement of modern Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers. An unambiguous tracking method based on combined correlation functions for even/odd order sine/cosine-BOC, Composite BOC(CBOC) and Alternate BOC(AltBOC) modulated signals is proposed. Firstly, a unitary mathematical formulation for all kinds of BOC modulations is introduced. Then an unambiguous tracking method is proposed based on the formulation and the idea of pseudo correlation function (PCF) method. Finally, the tracking loop based on the proposed method is designed. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method can remove side peaks while retaining the sharp main peak for all kinds of BOC modulations. The tracking performance for AltBOC is examined and the results show that the proposed method has better performance in thermal noise and long-delay multipath mitigation than the traditional unambiguous tracking methods

Universality and Realistic Extensions to the Semi-Analytic Simulation Principle in GNSS Signal Processing

Semi-analytic simulation principle in GNSS signal processing bypasses the bit-true operations at high sampling frequency. Instead, signals at the output branches of the integrate&dump blocks are successfully modeled, thus making extensive Monte Carlo simulations feasible. Methods for simulations of code and carrier tracking loops with BPSK, BOC signals have been introduced in the literature. Matlab toolboxes were designed and published. In this paper, we further extend the applicability of the approach. Firstly, we describe any GNSS signal as a special instance of linear multi-dimensional modulation. Thereby, we state universal framework for classification of differently modulated signals. Using such description, we derive the semi-analytic models generally. Secondly, we extend the model for realistic scenarios including delay in the feed back, slowly fading multipath effects, finite bandwidth, phase noise, and a combination of these. Finally, a discussion on connection of this semi-analytic model and position-velocity-time estimator is delivered, as well as comparison of theoretical and simulated characteristics, produced by a prototype simulator developed at CTU in Prague

Cross-Correlation-Function-Based Multipath Mitigation Method for Sine-BOC Signals

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning accuracy indoor and urban canyons environments are greatly affected by multipath due to distortions in its autocorrelation function. In this paper, a cross-correlation function between the received sine phased Binary Offset Carrier (sine-BOC) modulation signal and the local signal is studied firstly, and a new multipath mitigation method based on cross-correlation function for sine-BOC signal is proposed. This method is implemented to create a cross-correlation function by designing the modulated symbols of the local signal. The theoretical analysis and simulation results indicate that the proposed method exhibits better multipath mitigation performance compared with the traditional Double Delta Correlator (DDC) techniques, especially the medium/long delay multipath signals, and it is also convenient and flexible to implement by using only one correlator, which is the case of low-cost mass-market receivers

Unambiguous Acquisition and Tracking Technique for General BOC Signals

This article presents a new unambiguous acquisition and tracking technique for general Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) ranging signals, which will be used in modern GPS, European Galileo system and Chinese BeiDou system. The test criterion employed in this technique is based on a synthesized correlation function which completely removes positive side peaks while keeping the sharp main peak. Simulation results indicate that the proposed technique completely removes the ambiguity threat in the acquisition process while maintaining relatively higher acquisition performance for low order BOC signals. The potential false lock points in the tracking phase for any order BOC signals are avoided by using the proposed method. Impacts of thermal noise and multipath on the proposed technique are investigated; the simulation results show that the new method allows the removal of false lock points with slightly degraded tracking performance. In addition, this method is convenient to implement via logic circuits

The Global Navigation System Scope (GNSScope): a toolbox for the end-to-end modelling simulation and analysis of GNSS

The thesis provides a detailed overview of the work carried out by the author over the course of the research for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Westminster, and the performance results of the novel techniques introduced into the literature. The outcome of the work is collectively referred to as the Global Navigation System Scope (GNSScope) Toolbox, offering a complete, fully reconfigurable platform for the end-to-end modeling, simulation and analysis of satellite navigation signals and systems, covering the signal acquisition, tracking, and range processing operations that take place in a generic Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, accompanied by a Graphical User Interface (GUI) providing access to all the techniques available in the toolbox. Designed and implemented entirely in the MATLAB mathematical programming environment using Software Defined Radio (SDR) receiver techniques, the toolbox offers a novel new acquisition algorithm capable of handling all Phase-Shift Keying (PSK) type modulations used on all frequency bands in currently available satellite navigation signals, including all sub-classes of the Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) modulated signals. In order to be able to process all these signals identified by the acquisition search, a novel tracking algorithm was also designed and implemented into the toolbox to track and decode all acquired satellite signals, including those currently intended to be used in future navigation systems, such as the Galileo test signals transmitted by the GIOVE satellites orbiting the Earth. In addition to the developed receiver toolbox, three novel algorithms were also designed to handle weak signals, multipath, and multiple access interference in GNSScope. The Mirrored Channel Mitigation Technique, based on the successive and parallel interference cancellation techniques, reduces the hardware complexity of the interference mitigation process by utilizing the local code and carrier replicas generated in the tracking channels, resulting in a reduction in hardware resources proportional to the number of received strong signals. The Trigonometric Interference Cancellation Technique, used in cross-correlation interference mitigation, exploits the underlying mathematical expressions to simplify the interference removal process, resulting in reduced complexity and execution times by reducing the number of operations by 25% per tracking channel. The Split Chip Summation Technique, based on the binary valued signal modulation compression technique, enhances the amount of information captured from compressing the signal to reveal specific filtering effects on the positive and negative polarity chips of the spreading code. Simulation case studies generated entirely using the GNSScope toolbox will be used throughout the thesis to demonstrate the effectiveness of the novel techniques developed over the course of the research, and the results will be compared to those obtained from other techniques reported in the literature

Linear-Combined-Code-Based Unambiguous Code Discriminator Design for Multipath Mitigation in GNSS Receivers

Unambiguous tracking and multipath mitigation for Binary Offset Carrier (BOC) signals are two important requirements of modern Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) receivers. A GNSS discriminator design method based on optimization technique is proposed in this paper to meet these requirements. Firstly, the discriminator structure based on a linear-combined code is given. Then the requirements of ideal discriminator function are converted into the mathematical constraints and the objective function to form a non-linear optimization problem. Finally, the problem is solved and the local code is generated according to the results. The theoretical analysis and simulation results indicate that the proposed method can completely remove the false lock points for BOC signals and provide superior multipath mitigation performance compared with traditional discriminator and high revolution correlator (HRC) technique. Moreover, the proposed discriminator is easy to implement for not increasing the number of correlators

Navigation/traffic control satellite mission study. Volume 4 - Critical technology, growth and economic summaries Final report

Navigation and traffic control satellite network developmen

Signal Quality Monitoring of GNSS Signals Using a Chip Shape Deformation Metric

The Global Navigation Satellite System continues to become deeply em-bedded within modern civilization, and is depended on for confident, accurate navigation information. High precision position and timing accuracy is typically achieved using differential processing, however these systems provide limited compensation for distortions caused by multi-path or faulty satellite hardware. Signal Quality Monitoring (SQM) aims to provide confidence in a receivers Position, Navigation, and Timing solution and to offer timely warnings in the event that signal conditions degrade to unsafe levels. The methods presented in this document focus on implementing effective SQM using low-cost Commercial Off-the-Shelf equipment, a Software Defined Radio, and a typical software receiver architecture that tracks the Galileo E1C signals and the Global Positioning System L1 Coarse-Acquisition signals. Techniques are centered on acquiring and discriminating signal chip shapes with a goal of identifying both 1) clean and 2) deformed signals. The demonstrated identification method is relevant to the growing significance of SQM for SoL applications while providing benefit for confidently monitoring received GNSS signal integrity without requiring specialized receiver hardware