End-to-End GPS Multi-Platform Integrated System Testing for MGUE

A. Trunzo, P. Benshoof, R. DiEsposti, M. Markota, J. Hewlett, NAVAIR; S. Mahmood

Abstract:	GPS is widely used as an integrated component within platform electronic system suites. Examples are: a receiver within an integrated GPS/inertial navigation system (INS), a timing component within a radio, or a navigation element within an aircraft avionics system. The Modernized User Equipment (MUE) set of receivers in development by the GPS Wing (GPSW) will utilize the modernized M-code signals broadcast from GPS Block IIR-M, IIF and III satellites. The MUE will incorporate significant upgrades associated with the processing and use of these new signals. Some configurations using multiple receivers require GPS navigation message data, as received from the GPS signal-in-space (SIS), to flow across interfaces to stores or recipient platforms in addition to the typical receiver output information of Position-Velocity-Time (PVT). This is done, for example, when one receiver is used to hot start another receiver. As the modernized GPS Space Segment and Control Segment are deployed, platforms will gradually transition from legacy receiver operation to Modernized GPS User Equipment (MGUE). The transition will be especially complex for integrated systems involving multiple platforms, since the host platform receiver may be upgraded to MGUE before or after the recipient platform receiver. Thus, MGUE must be backwards-compatible and interoperable with already deployed legacy and SAASM-based Y-code receivers. To reduce risk associated with transition, End-to-End (E2E) system testing is proposed for MGUE. For example, host platform and recipient receiver testing should include the integrated components of the GPS constellation Space Segment (SS) SIS, the Control Segment (CS) functionality, host platform, the recipient platform, and the interfaces connecting these components. The 746th Test Squadron (TS) at Holloman AFB, NM, the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake, CA, and the Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility (GWEF) at Eglin AFB, FL propose partnering to provide this comprehensive and multi-functional MGUE E2E testing service to the GPS Wing (GPSW) and other GPS developers or users. This paper will describe some proposed E2E test equipment architectures, instrumentation for lab and field testing, proposed testing methodologies, and approaches using generic legacy user equipment, MGUE configurations, and fully-integrated systems. Testing is proposed using simulated and program of record components. Methods are proposed for flow down of functional and performance spec requirements into a representative set of test scenarios. The objectives of this paper are to identify technical issues and present cost-effective approaches to test MGUE in E2E fashion, reducing platform integration risk and helping to progress the MGUE program through higher levels of confidence prior to MGUE operational deployment.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2010) September 21 - 24, 2010 Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon Portland, OR
Pages:	826 - 834
Cite this article:	Trunzo, A., Benshoof, P., DiEsposti, R., Markota, M., Hewlett, J., Mahmood, NAVAIR; S., "End-to-End GPS Multi-Platform Integrated System Testing for MGUE," Proceedings of the 23rd International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2010), Portland, OR, September 2010, pp. 826-834.
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