The Nordnav Indoor GNSS Reference Receiver

A. Mitelman, P-L. Normark, M. Reidevall, J. Thor, O. Grönqvist, L. Magnusson

Abstract:	This paper introduces a unique platform for testing and verification of GNSS algorithms indoors and in other situations requiring extremely high receiver sensitivity. The platform is built upon the previously presented Nordnav GNSS software receiver, and consists of a dual RF front end with a common reference oscillator, an indoor antenna, and an optimally sited outdoor reference antenna. The receiver software makes use of signal timing and related information from the outdoor antenna to provide essentially perfect aiding to the indoor channel, enabling acquisition, tracking, and positioning at the indoor antenna down to extremely low signal levels. Specifically, the system computes a real-time position fix from signals as low as -170 dBm and heavily distorted by multipath, and continuously tracks undistorted signals in a laboratory setting down to -176 dBm (corresponding to C/N0 = -2 dB-Hz). The functionality and performance of the reference receiver are demonstrated in several ways. First, the device is calibrated against a GPS generator to determine its inter-channel isolation and sensitivity limits. Next, the system is used to characterize a typical indoor environment (a set of offices inside a concrete building), illustrating the demanding signal conditions that often exist in such locations. Finally, the system is used to benchmark a variety of third-party receivers in several indoor environments, and to predict achievable positioning performance in a location where it is currently impossible with any tested standalone receiver.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2006) September 26 - 29, 2006 Fort Worth Convention Center Fort Worth, TX
Pages:	2494 - 2502
Cite this article:	Mitelman, A., Normark, P-L., Reidevall, M., Thor, J., Grönqvist, O., Magnusson, L., "The Nordnav Indoor GNSS Reference Receiver," Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2006), Fort Worth, TX, September 2006, pp. 2494-2502.
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