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Session F6: PNT for Uncrewed Systems

Fusion Artificial Intelligence Link Synchronization Array for eVTOL Systems (FAILSAFES)
Wil Myrick, ENSCO
Location: Room 6-8
Alternate Number 1

Fusion Artificial Intelligence Link Synchronization Array for eVTOL Systems (FAILSAFES) is a resilient and redundant timing and positioning architecture based on low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) RF Ranging links for eVTOL systems navigating with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in degraded or denied environments. FAILSAFES combines PNT Situational Awareness (PNT-SA) while simultaneously enabling eVTOL systems to operate throughout a GPS denied PNT environment. The underlying Complementary Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (CPNT) capabilities is based on combining ENSCO’s PicoRanger Array technology with an open source Time Card. The PicoRanger Array technology provides an array of low-cost RF ranging links between ground sites and aircrafts to support navigation and timing distribution in GNSS degraded or denied environments while the Time Card provides a robust timing reference.

Current eVTOL systems leverage the GNSS for autonomous navigation. Layers of resiliency and redundancy are important for these eVTOL systems to navigate in GNSS degraded or denied environments. Networked ground sites can provide CPNT technology for eVTOL systems while providing its own timing resiliency based on a network of timing references. ENSCO has been developing CPNT technology in high-precision Radio Frequency (RF) wireless two-way time-frequency transfer (TWTFT) technology based on ENSCO’s patented Timing, Communications, and Ranging (TCR) technology for years. This presentation is to explore how to combine TWTFT measurements with networked ground sites to provide PNT-SA and terrestrial positioning sources for eVTOL systems based on a FAILSAFES architecture.

ENSCO is currently developing low Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWAP-C) form factors targeting small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) and micro air vehicles (MAVs). This miniaturized version of the TCR technology is known as the PicoRanger Array Technology. ENSCO is currently exploring fusion CPNT algorithms to demonstrate PicoRanger Array Technology within the FAILSAFES architecture. We plan to discuss the CPNT architecture of FAILSAFES around an open source Time Card for providing networked ground sites with resilient timing while exploring how a timing fusion architecture scales with sUAS and MAVs.

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