GNSS Antenna-Human Body Interaction

Jared B. Bancroft, Valerie Renaudin, Aiden Morrison, and Gerard Lachapelle

Abstract:	This paper discusses an investigation of the loss of received signal power associated with operation of L1 GPS antennas in close proximity to the human body. Through the use of a human proxy or phantom body with similar electrical characteristics to that of a human body, signal strength data is collected in 24-hour static tests and repeated for multiple distances between the antenna and the phantom. Through these tests it has been determined that in addition to detuning effects, there is a strong relationship between average received signal power and the distance between the GPS antenna and the body. This second effect is dominant and indicates that some types of GPS antenna operated in close proximity to a user should either be immediately adjacent to the body or at a significant distance from it.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 24th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2011) September 20 - 23, 2011 Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon Portland, OR
Pages:	3952 - 3958
Cite this article:	Bancroft, Jared B., Renaudin, Valerie, Morrison, Aiden, Lachapelle, Gerard, "GNSS Antenna-Human Body Interaction," Proceedings of the 24th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2011), Portland, OR, September 2011, pp. 3952-3958.
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