QinetiQhas announced a major breakthrough in developing a robust navigation receiver which will utilize the new global navigation satellite system (GNSS) Galileo, and particularly the secured Public Regulated Service (PRS).
The receiver is a significant step towards developing an end-user product for navigation, tracking and timing. It will offer highly secure, accurate and reliable position, velocity and timing intended for users with a mission critical need such as governments, the military and emergency services across Europe.
The prototype receiver is a multi-constellation, multi-frequency, all in view receiver which can receive and process the Galileo PRS as well as Galileo Open Service and GPS Standard Positioning Service. It is also designed to utilize other GNSS signals including the Russian GLONASS and Chinese Beidou systems as well as space-based augmentation services (SBAS) such as WAAS and EGNOS. The receiver, which is based on the military standard SEM-E form factor, is also designed for integration into multi-sensor navigation systems and is designed to provide high levels of protection against jamming and spoofing. It has a fast acquisition capability and is designed for Government security accreditation.
Dr Nigel Davies, head of QinetiQ’s Secured Navigation Group, said: “We are delighted that, after years of QinetiQ R&D and collaboration with the EU, European Space Agency (ESA) and UK government, we have achieved this major step towards our goal of offering robust navigation products using Galileo. It is a significant breakthrough for us to have built a fully operational receiver on a platform which proves our product architecture, functionality, and algorithms.
“Our next step will be working to refine the product family and preparing it to be brought to market, which includes developing additional features and reducing its size to that of a postage stamp, in a form factor similar to our existing, highly successful, Q20 receiver. We have full confidence in this product and are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting new phase in European navigation.”
It is expected that a suite of robust products will be ready by 2020 to coincide with the completion of the Galileo project, which will be the world’s third GNSS to be completed after the USA and Russian systems.