Disruptive GPS-denied Precision Navigation System

ABSTRACT: This effort will develop an easily deployable polarization-sensitive asset navigation system that can be employed when GPS is denied, or enhanced when GPS is (partially) available. Multimodal polarization will allow the system to operate in a nearly-completely RF-jammed environment. The electronics developed during this program can also serve as a GPS receiver when GPS is available, thereby minimizing hardware. The GPS-denied position and attitude performance of the system will be comparable to that obtained with GPS. The use of signals of opportunity, both terrestrial and extraterrestrial, will allow the system to improve upon GPS-only performance. The navigation system will comprise one or more polarization-sensitive reference stations, asset-based receivers (or transceivers) and, when available, auxiliary sensors. The navigation system will use signal polarization to improve asset navigation performance, and with just two reference stations, will enable full 3-D navigation in position, orientation and time. Since only two reference stations are needed, which can be airborne or space-based, the performance of the system in real and urban canyons will improve over that of GPS. Moreover, the system will provide attitude measurements without requiring large baseline antennas. BENEFIT: The polarization-sensitive reference navigation system for assets developed under this program will enable accurate navigation when GPS is denied. The low-cost system will not require in-theater calibration and will be easily deployable. The system will also serve as a GPS receiver when it is available, thereby minimizing system hardware requirements. This asset-based technology is applicable to virtually any military or civilian platform that navigates.