Multi-Platform Signal Processing and Trajectory Estimation for Navigation in Difficult GPS Environments

ABSTRACT: The proposed Phase II effort will develop algorithms and methods of the multi-platform receiver technology and will demonstrate their performance in a real-time brassboard prototype. The MUlti-platform Signal and Trajectory Estimation Receiver (MUSTER) has been developed to enable: 1) Integration of networked receivers at the signal processing level, including: multi-platform signal tracking of attenuated GPS signals; and, multi-platform phased arrays for electronic support and electronic protection; and, 2) Integration at the measurement level, including: joint estimation of the receiver trajectory states (position, velocity and time); and, multi-platform integrity monitoring for detection and identification of measurement failures. Phase II will further develop MUSTER technical concepts and algorithmic approaches that were initially established during Phase I; will demonstrate their performance with experimental data; and, will address real-time prototyping aspects. The ultimate goal of Phase II is to demonstrate a multi-platform signal tracking architecture (which is the key technological enabler of MUSTER) that can operate in degraded GPS signal environments in real-time. This demonstration will a) mature the core MUSTER capability into the state ready for transitioning to a development program; and b) produce development tools that can be efficiently utilized for prototyping of the other aspects of the MUSTER technology. BENEFIT: The proposed multi-platform receiver technology has a significant potential for both DOD applications and a private sector. Example DOD applications include indoor search and rescue; multi-platform surveillance and reconnaissance with teams of autonomous aerial and ground vehicles; and, groups of solders with hand-held GPS receivers. The highest commercialization potential for the private sector will be achieved by bringing the technology to the consumer market of location-based services and personal navigation devices. In addition, the development of MUSTER directly correlates with other DOD programs that research and develop multi-agent collaborative applications. Many of the prospective collaborative missions will occur in environments that are difficult for navigation such as urban and under interference. MUSTER will equip multi-platform agents with precise GPS-based navigation capabilities (including relative and absolute localization) in such challenging conditions.