THE NAVSYS CORPORATION — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: AF141-253

Description

A robust back-up navigation alternative is needed to continue to provide accurate PVT data when GPS is denied.  Navigation solutions can be enhanced by utilizing existing networked communications to enable collaborative operation in the absence of GPS using Signals of Opportunity (SoOP).  These observations can be used to provide aiding to inertial and clock devices through the use of an integrated Software defined Radio (SDR). The Mobile Unmanned Air Vehicle Distributed Lethality Airborne Network (MUDLAN) is a Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) of a resilient communications relay capability to support high data rate over the horizon (OTH) ISR/targeting for multi-platform sharing with distributed force operations in LPD/LPI environments.  In order to support the networking operation in a GPS-denied environment, alternative PNT sources are needed.  MUDLAN has purchased Dragonfly A-PNT units to provide the precision PNT and attitude information needed to support MUDLAN networking operations.  Under this SBIR effort we shall integrate a System-of-systems Open Architecture PNT (SOAP) Software Defined Radio (SDR) with the Dragonfly unit to provide aiding in a GPS denied environment using signals of opportunity. The technical objectives of this demonstration effort are to: provide three (3) flight ready prototype SOAP SDR demonstration units, integrate and test the SOAP solution and data services with the MUDLAN network and Ground Entry Point, and support flight testing to demonstrate the PNT performance capable in a GPS-denied environment.  The SOAP SDR units will leverage Global Military Positioning Service (GMPS) Data Distribution Services, developed under contract to the USAF, to provide data on available Signals of Opportunity (SoOP).  The final demonstration will be performed during a MUDLAN flight test at a Naval FLEX demonstration event.  We shall perform post-test analysis of the data collected to produce a performance assessment of the SOAP technology, operating in an emulated GPS denied environment, and shall deliver a final report including the system design and performance assessment results of the SOAP PNT solution in the absence of GPS.