MerlinTPS XXXXXXXXXX

Problem PNT data from GNSS constellations undergirds critical societal infrastructure across the globe. In the US, the economic implications of a broken or sabotaged GPS are estimated at $1B a day. GPS compromise means a staggering loss of military advantage, a halt to shipping/transport, supply chain logjams and societal chaos. The power grid relies on GPS clock discipline. In the absence of GPS, utility generation is heavily throttled. ItÆs now admitted across the DoD and USG: GPS is a glaring national security risk! Efforts to supplant it and/or increase its resilience are top priority. Solution GPSÆ replacement must not be another fragile standalone system but a fusion of systems offering deep resilience to GPS vulnerabilities and improvements upon its limitations. An improved system should incorporate mGNSS, IMU, cellular and SoOP (Signals of Opportunity) receivers. The APNT standard should feature ML/AI-enabled threat mitigation, and automated and user selectable sensor fusion options. Dependable integrated mGNSS and IMU systems already exist. While more resilient than either technology on its own, the system remains deficient. Integrating additional APNT sources is mandatory. The conspicuous solution is a terrestrial-based wide area PNT network. MerlinTPS is a critical and novel component of a resilient fused solution. Based off the familiar concept of trilateration, Merlin exploits signals anywhere in the sub-gigabyte range. Where GPS uses satellites, MerlinTPS exploits SoOP (signals of opportunity) from existing towers to produce PNT data. MerlinTPS leverages AM radio broadcasting due to optimal waveform characteristics and ubiquity (44,000 stations = 100% population centers) AM is MerlinTPS' initial wavelength of choice yet other parts of the RF spectrum may be employed, adding resilience to Merlin's capabilities. MerlinTPS delivers time transfer & synchronization with no satellite reliance. MerlinTPS development is clearly applicable to five of seven Air Force Operational Imperatives. Relative to other systems, MerlinTPS requires minimal infrastructure, implying speed-to-IOC and cost-efficiency. Infrastructure costs to deploy MerlinTPS in a single market are ~$30k. Infrastructure costs for CONUS network are ~$30M. Merlin participated at PNTAX 23 at request of DoD CIO. Tests at TRL5-6 at PNTAX and other testing in metro areas validated MerlinÆs viability in both permissive and GPS-denied environments. Merlin accepted invitation to PNTAX 24. Testing confirms MerlinTPS surpasses NISTÆs one ms requirement for timing accuracy in critical power grid applications, and achieves consistent results of < +/-100 nanoseconds and peak precision < +/- 40 nanoseconds. Future development will improve these results.Ā