A Robust Collaborative GPS Navigation System (RC-GNS)

ABSTRACT: The military GPS users operating in urban, indoor and forested area environments experience a multitude of problems including intentional/unintentional jamming, multipath and signal blockage resulting in degraded or denied navigation. In this Phase II program, Mayflower proposes to refine, implement and demonstrate the innovative Robust Collaborative GPS Navigation (RC-GNS) System algorithms for processing GPS and WiFi RSSI/TOA measurements on a prototype hardware platform consisting of Mayflower NavAssure SAASM receiver and WiFi chipsets. The demonstration will be performed in a representative (of urban degraded GPS) outdoor environment. The demonstration will include both WiFi range measurement processing as well as network aiding to enhance GPS PNT performance in degraded or denied GPS environment. The RC-GNS algorithms were originally developed during Phase I of this SBIR program to provide high integrity, continuous PNT solution to the military/civilian government GPS users operating in the above-mentioned adverse signal conditions. RC-GNS is a hardware/software enhancement to the GPS receiver that makes use of the aiding data available from signals of opportunity (namely Wi-Fi). The benefits of Wi-Fi augmentation of GPS will be demonstrated on the Mayflower NavAssure SAASM P(Y) Code GPS Receiver in this Phase II program. BENEFIT: This study addresses the need for augmentation to the military GPS receivers operating in indoor, urban canyon and forested areas using signals of opportunity. The enhancements are equally applicable to First Responders using commercial GPS receivers.