Deeply Integrated GPS/INS Navigation System

Qunav and its subcontractor, Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (NGES), propose to prototype and transition a deeply integrated GPS/INS navigation (DIGINAV) system in support of the Navy Warfighter. DIGINAV is based on three technological innovations: (i) deep integration with mutual GPS/INS aiding, (ii) high-sensitivity GPS baseband signal processing, and (iii) software-defined M-code GPS receiver with an open architecture compatible with other anti-jam (AJ) anti-spoofing options, future signals and other sensor integrations. Existing test results indicate strong AJ capabilities of DIGINAV, stemming from its extremely long coherent integration (LCI) of received GPS signals (e.g., 1 second). LCI eliminates squaring loss of traditional 20-ms integration, thus providing 8~10 dB AJ gain as compared to other deep integration and ultra-tightly coupled solutions that limit their coherent integration to 20 ms. Phase I will demonstrate the deeply-integrated signal processing software and its capabilities with experimental data and perform a proof-of-concept functionality demonstration with an external SAASM card in a real-time mode. Partnering with NGES, Qunav will optimize DIGINAV within a navigation processor card to satisfy SWAP requirements of UAS and PGM applications. The DIGINAV development status currently corresponds to TRL 4. Phase I and Phase II efforts will bring the technology into TRL 6.