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GNSS Software-Defined Radio Receivers: Status and Perspectives

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A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Remote Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 15236

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Micaela Troglia Gamba

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Guest Editor

Leonardo S.p.A., Strada Privata Aeroporto Caselle, San Maurizio Canavese 10077, TO, Italy
Interests: real-time GNSS; GNSS software receivers; signal processing; prototyping
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Mario Nicola

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Guest Editor

Civitanavi Systems SpA, 63827 Pedaso, Italy
Interests: GNSS; GNSS software receivers; signal processing

Prof. Dr. Thomas Pany

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Guest Editor

Institute of Space Technology and Space Applications, Universität der Bundeswehr München, Werner-Heisenberg-Weg 39, 85577 Neubiberg, Germany
Interests: navigation; GNSS; signal processing; inertial navigation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In modern communications, the software-defined radio (SDR) provides a well-known approach that allows the implementation of receivers with a high flexibility level. Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers make no exception to this fact, and, in recent years, several examples of software (SW) GNSS receivers have been published in the literature. The advantage is two-fold: not only can the GNSS SDR receiver be easily updated during its operational life, but it is an outstanding tool for prototyping innovative algorithms. In the last decade, considerable effort has been devoted by the GNSS scientific community to SDR developments and standardization, which has resulted in numerous open-source projects.

This Special Issue aims to collect the most recent GNSS SDR developments, including the implementation and prototyping of new digital architectures for GNSS receivers on different platforms, e.g., standard-PC (general-purpose processors), single board computers (SBCs), embedded boards, graphics processing units (GPUs), smartphones; GNSS receivers, including those with real-time capabilities, research tools, and snapshot receivers; and data collection systems, e.g., SDR GNSS front-ends (FEs). Special attention should be given to implementation choices and details, optimizations for real-time processing, computational burden analysis, and performance evaluation. All applications will be of interest.

Dr. Micaela Troglia Gamba
Dr. Mario Nicola
Prof. Dr. Thomas Pany
Guest Editors

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Keywords

GNSS SDR developments
real-time GNSS SW receivers
research and teaching tools
snapshot receivers
data collection systems, e.g., SDR Fes
prototyping of new digital architectures for GNSS elaboration
implementation details and optimizations

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 1120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Enhanced FGI-GSRx Software-Defined Receiver for the Execution of Long Datasets

by Muwahida Liaquat, Mohammad Zahidul H. Bhuiyan, Saiful Islam, Into Pääkkönen and Sanna Kaasalainen

Sensors 2024, 24(12), 4015; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24124015 - 20 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1563

Abstract

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) software-defined receivers offer greater flexibility, cost-effectiveness, customization, and integration capabilities compared to traditional hardware-based receivers, making them essential for a wide range of applications. The continuous evolution of GNSS research and the availability of new features require these software-defined receivers to upgrade continuously to facilitate the latest requirements. The Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI) has been supporting the GNSS research community with its open-source implementations, such as a MATLAB-based GNSS software-defined receiver `FGI-GSRx’ and a Python-based implementation `FGI-OSNMA’ for utilizing Galileo’s Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA). In this context, longer datasets are crucial for GNSS software-defined receivers to support adaptation, optimization, and facilitate testing to investigate and develop future-proof receiver capabilities. In this paper, we present an updated version of FGI-GSRx, namely, FGI-GSRx-v2.0.0, which is also available as an open-source resource for the research community. FGI-GSRx-v2.0.0 offers improved performance as compared to its previous version, especially for the execution of long datasets. This is carried out by optimizing the receiver’s functionality and offering a newly added parallel processing feature to ensure faster capabilities to process the raw GNSS data. This paper also presents an analysis of some key design aspects of previous and current versions of FGI-GSRx for a better insight into the receiver’s functionalities. The results show that FGI-GSRx-v2.0.0 offers about a 40% run time execution improvement over FGI-GSRx-v1.0.0 in the case of the sequential processing mode and about a 59% improvement in the case of the parallel processing mode, with 17 GNSS satellites from GPS and Galileo. In addition, an attempt is made to execute v2.0.0 with MATLAB’s own parallel computing toolbox. A detailed performance comparison reveals an improvement of about 43% in execution time over the v2.0.0 parallel processing mode for the same GNSS scenario. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GNSS Software-Defined Radio Receivers: Status and Perspectives)

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16 pages, 13892 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ZPD Retrieval Performances of the First Operational Ship-Based Network of GNSS Receivers over the North-West Mediterranean Sea

by Andrea Antonini, Luca Fibbi, Massimo Viti, Aldo Sonnini, Simone Montagnani and Alberto Ortolani

Sensors 2024, 24(10), 3177; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24103177 - 16 May 2024

Viewed by 1332

Abstract

This work presents the design and implementation of an operational infrastructure for the monitoring of atmospheric parameters at sea through GNSS meteorology sensors installed on liners operating in the north-west Mediterranean Sea. A measurement system, capable of operationally and continuously providing the values of surface parameters, is implemented together with software procedures based on a float-PPP approach for estimating zenith path delay (ZPD) values. The values continuously registered over a three year period (2020–2022) from this infrastructure are compared with the data from a numerical meteorological reanalysis model (MERRA-2). The results clearly prove the ability of the system to estimate the ZPD from ship-based GNSS-meteo equipment, with the accuracy evaluated in terms of correlation and root mean square error reaching values between 0.94 and 0.65 and between 18.4 and 42.9 mm, these extreme values being from the best and worst performing installations, respectively. This offers a new perspective on the operational exploitation of GNSS signals over sea areas in climate and operational meteorological applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GNSS Software-Defined Radio Receivers: Status and Perspectives)

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41 pages, 1927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implementation of a High-Sensitivity Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver on a System-on-Chip Field-Programmable Gate Array Platform

by Marc Majoral, Javier Arribas and Carles Fernández-Prades

Sensors 2024, 24(5), 1416; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24051416 - 22 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2745

Abstract

This paper presents the design, proof-of-concept implementation, and preliminary performance assessment of an affordable real-time High-Sensitivity (HS) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. Specifically tailored to capture and track weak Galileo E1b/c signals, this receiver aims to support research endeavors focused on advancing GNSS signal processing algorithms, particularly in scenarios characterized by pronounced signal attenuation. Leveraging System-on-Chip Field-Programmable Gate Array (SoC-FPGA) technology, this design merges the adaptability of Software Defined Radio (SDR) concepts with the the robust hardware processing capabilities of FPGAs. This innovative approach enhances power efficiency compared to conventional designs relying on general-purpose processors, thereby facilitating the development of embedded software-defined receivers. Within this architecture, we implemented a modular GNSS baseband processing engine, offering a versatile platform for the integration of novel algorithms. The proposed receiver undergoes testing with live signals, showcasing its capability to process GNSS signals even in challenging scenarios with a carrier-to-noise density ratio (

C / N_{0}

) as low as 20 dB-Hz, while delivering navigation solutions. This work contributes to the advancement of low-cost, high-sensitivity GNSS receivers, providing a valuable tool for researchers engaged in the development, testing, and validation of experimental GNSS signal processing techniques. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GNSS Software-Defined Radio Receivers: Status and Perspectives)

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18 pages, 6649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Software Defined Radio for GNSS Radio Frequency Interference Localization

by Fred Taylor, Evan Gattis, Lucca Trapani, Dennis Akos, Sherman Lo, Todd Walter and Yu-Hsuan Chen

Sensors 2024, 24(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24010072 - 22 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3745

Abstract

The use of radio direction finding techniques in order to identify and reject harmful interference has been a topic of discussion both past and present for signals in the GNSS bands. Advances in commercial off-the-shelf radio hardware have led to the development of new low-cost, compact, phase coherent receiver platforms such as the KrakenSDR from KrakenRF whose testing and characterization will be the primary focus of this paper. Although not specifically designed for GNSSs, the capabilities of this platform are well aligned with the needs of GNSSs. Testing results from both benchtop and in the field will be displayed which verify the KrakenSDR’s phase coherence and angle of arrival estimates to array dependent resolution bounds. Additionally, other outputs from the KrakenSDR such as received signal strength indicators and the angle of arrival confidence values show strong connections to angle of arrival estimate quality. Within this work the testing that will be primarily presented is at 900 MHz, with results presented from a government-sponsored event where the Kraken was tested at 1575.42 MHz. Finally, a discussion of calibration of active antenna arrays for angle of arrival is included as the introduction of active antenna elements used in GNSS signal collection can influence angle of arrival estimation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GNSS Software-Defined Radio Receivers: Status and Perspectives)

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39 pages, 1286 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Flexible System-on-Chip Field-Programmable Gate Array Architecture for Prototyping Experimental Global Navigation Satellite System Receivers

by Marc Majoral, Carles Fernández-Prades and Javier Arribas

Sensors 2023, 23(23), 9483; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23239483 - 28 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2834

Abstract

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology is evolving at a rapid pace. The rapid advancement demands rapid prototyping tools to conduct research on new and innovative signals and systems. However, researchers need to deal with the increasing complexity and integration level of GNSS integrated circuits (IC), resulting in limited access to modify or inspect any internal aspect of the receiver. To address these limitations, the authors designed a low-cost System-on-Chip Field-Programmable Gate Array (SoC-FPGA) architecture for prototyping experimental GNSS receivers. The proposed architecture combines the flexibility of software-defined radio (SDR) techniques and the energy efficiency of FPGAs, enabling the development of compact, portable, multi-channel, multi-constellation GNSS receivers for testing novel and non-standard GNSS features with live signals. This paper presents the proposed architecture and design methodology, reviewing the practical application of a spaceborne GNSS receiver and a GNSS rebroadcaster, and introducing the design and initial performance evaluation of a general purpose GNSS receiver serving as a testbed for future research. The receiver is tested, demonstrating the ability of the receiver to acquire and track GNSS signals using static and low Earth orbit (LEO)-scenarios, assessing the observables’ quality and the accuracy of the navigation solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GNSS Software-Defined Radio Receivers: Status and Perspectives)

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14 pages, 3663 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ocean-Surface Wave Measurements Using Scintillation Theories on Seaborne Software-Defined GPS and SBAS Reflectometry Observations

by Lung-Chih Tsai, Hwa Chien, Shin-Yi Su, Chao-Han Liu, Harald Schuh, Mohamad Mahdi Alizadeh and Jens Wickert

Sensors 2023, 23(13), 6185; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23136185 - 6 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1504

Abstract

In this study, a low-cost, software-defined Global Positioning System (GPS) and Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) Reflectometry (GPS&SBAS-R) system has been built and proposed to measure ocean-surface wave parameters on board the research vessel New Ocean Researcher 1 (R/V NOR-1) of Taiwan. A power-law, ocean-wave spectrum model has been used and applied with the Small Perturbation Method approach to solve the electromagnetic wave scattering problem from rough ocean surface, and compared with experimental seaborne GPS&SBAS-R observations. Meanwhile, the intensity scintillations of high-sampling GPS&SBAS-R signal acquisition data are thought to be caused by the moving of rough surfaces of the targeted ocean. We found that each derived scintillation power spectrum is a Fresnel-filtering result on ocean-surface elevation fluctuations and depends on the First Fresnel Zone (FFZ) distance and the ocean-surface wave velocity. The determined ocean-surface wave speeds have been compared and validated against nearby buoy measurements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue GNSS Software-Defined Radio Receivers: Status and Perspectives)

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