Algorithms and Methods

Track Chair: Dr. Li-Ta Hsu, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

ADVANCED PROCESSING OF TERRESTRIAL SIGNALS OF OPPORTUNITY
Developments in the use of signals of opportunity for PNT. Fusion of new-generation communication system signals with GNSS. Alternative location methods based on received signal strength estimation, ToA, TDoA, DoA, or advanced RF propagation models. Signal processing techniques to improve receiver synchronization to terrestrial signals; hybrid positioning techniques; and fine synchronization of terrestrial networks. The signals of interest include but are not limited to: Wi-Fi, cellular (3G, 4G, 5G), RFID, Bluetooth, NFC, HD Radio/DAB, Digital TV, LEO satellites, etc.
Chairs:
Dr. Christian Gentner, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Stefan Maier, Rohde & Schwarz

ALL-SOURCE INTELLIGENT PNT METHODS
Intelligent PNT with new techniques for sensing, measurement, data processing, and fusion. Participating PNT sources: GNSS, RNSS, UWB, Wi-Fi, and opportunistic radio signals. Intelligent PNT systems make use of diverse sensors, including inertial sensors, odometers, magnetometers, altimeters, radar, LiDAR, cameras, etc. in order to provide reliable measurements under challenging or variable conditions. Topics include intelligent PNT data filtering and integration, stochastic model optimization, advances in uncertainty representation, real-time critical information perception, interpretation and smart fusion, reinforcement learning, cloud-based computing, trustworthy navigation in urban and smart urban areas, etc. Innovative ideas about close integration between machine learning and Bayesian inference.
Chairs:
Dr. Guohao Zhang, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Dr. Ryan Watson, Xona Space Systems

GNSS NAVIGATION IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS
Developments and technologies improving the performance and efficiency of receivers and sensors in challenging environments: in urban or indoor areas with multipath interferences; or in the presence of ionospheric/tropospheric scintillations, for ground-based or satellite-based platforms. Receiver behavior under deep amplitude fading or fast phase fluctuations in signals, jamming, spoofing, highly dynamic conditions, signal anomalies, etc. Fusion algorithms, signal processing and receiver designs, machine learning and neural network approaches, and potential improvements to the signals themselves, with an emphasis on robustness, adaptation, multi-signal/multi-sensor capabilities, and sensor aiding. Vision-based modelling, 3D city map assistance, ray tracing, non-line-of-sight ranging for multipath detection, or simulation and mitigation in urban environments. Experimental tests and new models in real environments.
Chairs:
Dr. Nesreen Ziedan, Zagazig University
Dr. Paul Groves, University College London

HIGH PRECISION AND HIGH INTEGRITY NAVIGATION
High-precision and high-integrity navigation algorithms designed for safety-critical applications of GNSS and other sensors. Precise Point Positioning (PPP), Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) and other precise positioning techniques; integrity monitoring and performance evaluation of multi-GNSS PPP/RTK/ PPP-RTK correction services; end-user integrity monitoring, fault detection and exclusion algorithms for GNSS or multi-sensor integrated high-precision navigation systems; satellite- and ground-based integrity augmentation techniques and performance evaluation.
Chairs:
Dr. Sriramya Bhamidipati, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dr. Jianghui Geng, Wuhan University

HIGH PRECISION GNSS POSITIONING IN CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENTS

Chairs:
Dr. YuXiang (Phillip) Peng, Qualcomm Technologies Inc.
Dr. Michael Fu, Google

LEO FOR POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING

Chairs:
Dr. Ryan Watson, Xona Space Systems
Dr. Kirsten Strandjord, University of Minnesota

SENSOR NETWORK AND COOPERATIVE NAVIGATION
Cooperative navigation applies techniques from the field of multi-agent systems to improve navigation performance and reduce hardware costs by exploiting network connectivity. Modeling of sensor network topologies, data transfer and sharing, multi-node collaborative information processing, non-linear optimization, relative navigation, centralized and distributed estimation, and fault detection and exclusion in cooperative navigation. Other techniques helping to achieve highly accurate, efficient, and reliable cooperative and networked positioning in dynamic and uncertain environments such as methods enabled by connected vehicles and infrastructure aiding.
Chairs:
Dr. Taro Suzuki, Chiba Institute of Technology
Dr. Alex Minetto, Politecnico di Torino

PANEL: ALGORITHMS AND METHODS FOR GNSS CYBER PHYSICAL SECURITY
(Presentations by invitation only)
Networked or cooperative applications of GNSS have become pervasive in low-cost devices such as smartphones, wearables, and geolocated Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and similar needs are rapidly growing in aerial and automotive settings. The potential vulnerability of PNT networked connectivity may be inherent in centralized large-network processing; in the use of heterogeneous and potentially untrustworthy sources of data for inference; and in the development of cyber-physical institutions for sensor certification, fraud prevention, and cooperative use of network resources. What new security challenges will arise in networked deployments of PNT technology for IoT, aerial, and vehicular applications? And what are the right coping strategies or methods to ensure cyber physical security?
Moderators:
Dr. Ramsey Faragher, Focal Point Positioning
Dr. Pau Closas, Northeastern University

Advanced GNSS Technologies

Track Chair: Dr. Seebany Datta-Barua, Illinois Institute of Technology

ADVANCED SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE TECHNOLOGIES FOR GNSS RECEIVERS
Developments that improve the performance and efficiency of GNSS receiver technology. Wide-band GNSS antennas, high-sensitivity/high-dynamic range RF front ends, robustness to multipath and interference, use of assistance data, multi-constellation receiver algorithms, innovative and efficient software for GNSS receivers and new/existing applications, machine learning and deep learning algorithms for signal processing, experimental tests in real environments, software-defined GNSS receivers and associated processing methods, low power-consumption techniques, open source projects, and the use of software radio standards and tools.
Chairs:
Dr. Yu (Joy) Jiao, Trimble
Dr. Roohollah Parvizi, Hemisphere GNSS

ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS ON GNSS
Tropospheric and ionospheric modeling, measurements, and algorithms to compensate for atmospheric errors. Novel methods for data collection, processing and analysis. Characterization of propagation environments. Ionospheric scintillation studies and impacts on GNSS services and applications. GNSS signatures and impact of travelling ionospheric disturbances including applications. Space weather and terrestrial weather applications. New ground-based and space-based GNSS networks and experiments.
Chairs:
Dr. Susan Skone, University of Calgary
Dr. Endawoke Yizengaw, The Aerospace Corporation

GNSS ROBUSTNESS TO VULNERABILITIES 1
Algorithms and techniques for improving the resilience of GNSS PNT. GNSS signal authentication, including approaches such as signal design, receiver based anti-spoofing techniques, and use of external infrastructure. This includes signal anomaly detection algorithms and metrics, GNSS threat modeling as well as intentional and unintentional sources of signal interference and spectrum issues. Topics include characterization, detection, mitigation and localization of: interference sources such as multipath, scintillation, and solar storms; jamming, repeaters and spoofers; impact analysis, trials and test results across a range of navigation application domains; and methods for authenticating map and data base information. Also, time certification technology and applications.
Chairs:
Dr. Anna B. O. Jensen, Swedish Maritime Administration
Jason Anderson, Stanford University

GNSS ROBUSTNESS TO VULNERABILITIES 2

Chairs:
Dr. Brady O’Hanlon, The MITRE Corporation
Shubh Gupta, Stanford University

LUNAR POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING 1
Systems, techniques, and algorithms for navigation to the Moon and on the Moon: Lunar navigation satellite orbit design and trade-offs; satellite constellation design; end-to-end system architectures and performance analysis; precise orbit determination and timing synchronization techniques for Moon navigation; reference frames suitable for precise lunar radionavigation; signal modulations techniques for one-way and two-way one-service; lunar radio navigation message definition; sensor fusion techniques and PNT algorithms for low lunar orbits, landing, navigation on the surface of the Moon GNSS use for lunar navigation; enabling lunar navigation technologies; and lunar beacons.
Chairs:
Dr. Cosimo Stallo, Thales Alenia Space
Dr. Angela Stickle, Johns Hopkins University APL Civil Space

LUNAR POSITIONING, NAVIGATION, AND TIMING 2

Chairs:
Dr. Cosimo Stallo, Thales Alenia Space
Erin E. Fowler, Johns Hopkins University APL

REMOTE SENSING, TIMING, SPACE AND SCIENTIFIC APPLICATIONS
GNSS Earth observation techniques; radio occultation measurements of the troposphere and ionosphere; reflectometry for environmental remote sensing of land, ocean and ice; and GNSS remote sensing for detecting geophysical events such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and man-made events. Search and rescue application based on GNSS search and rescue payload (MEOSAR). GNSS metrology and its applications; advances in precision timing; multi-GNSS for timing applications; GNSS receivers for space applications; high sensitivity signal processing algorithms; integration solutions with sensors and orbital filters; precise orbit determination algorithms; antenna technologies for space; multi-GNSS receivers, technical advances of both COTS and specialized systems for space applications; topics in constellation navigation and attitude determination; GNSS for LEO, GEO and HEO satellites; and lunar GNSS technologies.
Chairs:
Dr. Rebecca Bishop, The Aerospace Corporation
Dr. Sebastian Mrak, University of Colorado Boulder

PANEL: BEYOND GNSS: EMERGING TRENDS IN LEO-BASED SATNAV AND SIGNALS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PNT
(Presentations by invitation only)
The rapid deployment of LEO-based mega constellations for broadband has given us a myriad of signals from space with unprecedented availability and frequency diversity. Early research has shown that these signals can be used opportunistically for navigation. Furthermore, several entities are working on LEO-based constellations that are purpose built for PNT. Other terrestrial signal sources offer promising navigation performance – in some cases potentially outperforming space-based sources. Together, these technologies represent the exciting future of radionavigation-based technologies for PNT. They promise to augment the pros and overcome the cons of GNSS. Our panel of experts will describe these technologies, their expected performance, technical and policy challenges yet to overcome, and when we can expect operational capabilities.
Moderators:
Dr. Sanjeev Gunawardena, Air Force Institute of Technology
Dr. Joanna Hinks, AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate

PANEL: INTERNATIONAL CIVILIAN AGENCY LUNAR PNT SYSTEMS
(Presentations by invitation only)
To support safe sustained operations on the lunar surface and in orbit, international civilian agencies are investing in multiple in-situ navigation capabilities. This panel provides an overview of the various efforts in development and their status, insights into implementation challenges, and approaches to interoperability, including lunar reference systems.
Moderators:
Dr. Evan Anzalone, NASA
Mauro Cardone, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana