Perspectives for the Inclusion of “Flying Clocks” in the System Time Generation of Regional Navigation Systems

Francis Soualle, Quirin Meindl, Roland Braun, Johann Vilzman and Jonas-Raphael Kienitz

Abstract:	The objectives of this paper are manifolds. First, it presents the evolution of the architectures for the System Time Generation Function (STGF) along the different generations of Radio Navigation Satellites Systems. Here, the goal is to demonstrate that an STGF incorporating satellite clocks (also called “Flying clocks”) represents a continuity of the past and current STGF architectures based on master clocks, or on an ensemble of ground clocks. Then, the advantages and drawbacks for this new architecture are highlighted. A description of the functional flow of the STGF for Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) is then given, together with the main timing requirements allocated to this specific STG function. An example of SBAS Network Time (SNT) generation based on stations clocks (Low Cost Rubidium) and GPS satellite clocks (Cesium and Rubidium) is proposed to illustrate the expected stability performances of the SNT and also to provide first quantitative values for the SNT Retrieval Error (SBNTRE). First models for the propagation of jumps affecting (non-) participative satellites or station clocks, onto the SBNTRE and up to PVT solution at user level are proposed, and are also supported with simulations. A final part concentrates on additional aspects of an STGF for SBAS and based on flying clocks, such like the possibility to incorporate clocks from different GNSSs.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 28th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2015) September 14 - 18, 2015 Tampa Convention Center Tampa, Florida
Pages:	1790 - 1806
Cite this article:	Soualle, Francis, Meindl, Quirin, Braun, Roland, Vilzman, Johann, Kienitz, Jonas-Raphael, "Perspectives for the Inclusion of “Flying Clocks” in the System Time Generation of Regional Navigation Systems," Proceedings of the 28th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS+ 2015), Tampa, Florida, September 2015, pp. 1790-1806.
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