Search Results (31)

This paper presents an end-to-end solution towards authenticated positioning using only Galileo E1B signal by utilizing the Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA). One of the primary objectives of this work is to offer a complete OSNMA-based authenticated position solution by releasing FGI-GSRx-v2.1.0 (an open-source software-defined multi-constellation GNSS receiver) update. The idea is to bridge the gap between two open-source implementations by the Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI): FGI-GSRx and FGI-OSNMA (an open-source Python software package). FGI-GSRx-v2.1.0 utilizes FGI-OSNMA as an OSNMA computation engine to generate the authentication events with the information of whether a tag is valid or not. FGI-GSRx computes the position authentication at the navigation layer with the Galileo E1B satellites that are OSNMA verified and have $C/N_0$ greater than 30 dB-Hz. OSNMA-based position authentication is shown through the findings from two real-world open sky use cases: (i) a clean nominal scenario and (ii) a spoofing scenario recorded during the Jammertest 2023 in Andøya, Norway. In the case of the spoofing scenario, the software receiver stops offering an authenticated position solution. A detailed comparison between the authenticated and non-authenticated position solutions also highlights the damage spoofing could cause to the end user in deviating the user’s position on a target spoofed location. Full article

Galileo Signal Authentication Service (SAS) is an assisted signal authentication capability under development by Galileo, designed to enhance the robustness of the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) against malicious attacks like spoofing. It operates by providing information about some fragments of the unknown spreading codes in the E6-C signal. Unlike other approaches, Galileo SAS uniquely employs Timed Efficient Stream Loss-tolerant Authentication (TESLA) keys provided by Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) in the E1-B signal for decryption, avoiding the need for key storage in potentially compromised receivers. The encrypted fragments are made available to the receivers before the broadcast of the E6-C signal, along with their broadcast time. However, if the receiver lacks an accurate time reference, searching for these fragments—which typically last for milliseconds and have periodicities extending to several seconds—can become impractical. In such cases, the probability of detection is severely diminished due to the excessively large search space that results. To mitigate this, initial estimates for the code phase delay and Doppler frequency can be obtained from the E1-B signal. Nevertheless, the alignment between E1-B and E6-C is not perfect, largely due to the intrinsic inter-frequency biases they exhibit. To mitigate this issue, we can leverage auxiliary signals like E6-B, processed by High Accuracy Service (HAS)-compatible receivers. This is a logical choice as E6-B shares the same carrier frequency as E6-C. This could help in obtaining more precise estimates of the location of the encrypted fragments and improving the probability of detection, resulting in enhanced robustness for the SAS authentication process. This paper presents a comparison of uncertainties associated with the use of the E1-B and E6-B signals, based on real data samples obtained with a custom-built Galileo SAS evaluation platform based on Software Defined Radio (SDR) boards. The results show the benefits of including E6-B in SAS processing, with minimal implementation cost. Full article

Spoofing attacks pose a threat to drones, which can lead to their crash or takeover. As a countermeasure, the European Space Agency has implemented the Timed Efficient Loss-tolerant Authentication (TESLA) broadcast protocol in the Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) to detect such events. This study explores the application of TESLA in detecting spoofing attacks targeted at drone swarms that rely on positioning systems utilizing ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. The results of our experiments reaffirm that UWB-based positioning systems are not automatically invulnerable from spoofing attacks and that cryptographic methods such as TESLA are required to provide a layer of protection against spoofing attacks to detect them effectively. Full article

The Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) service has been transmitting stably in recent years and is expected to be declared operational in the next months. While the protocol is very flexible, most of the parameters, such as key and tag sizes and cryptographic functions, have been already fixed in view of the operational declaration. However, some degree of flexibility remains in the tag and cross-authentication sequence. The cross-authentication sequence defines the satellites “cross-authenticated” by an authenticating Galileo satellite and is one of the main properties of the OSNMA protocol. It facilitates the authentication of nearby Galileo satellites for higher redundancy against losses, authenticating data from satellites not connected to the ground and therefore not transmitting OSNMA, and authenticating GPS or other data in the future. It has a significant impact on OSNMA performance: if the sequence is too long, many cross-authenticated satellites will not be seen by the users, limiting the optimal use of the OSNMA bandwidth, and with a major impact on TBA (Time Between Authentications) and Time To First Authenticated Fix (TTFAF). If the sequence is too short, several non-connected but visible satellites may remain unauthenticated, also degrading performance. This paper presents an analysis with real SIS data from different cross-authentication sequences transmitted by Galileo in recent months, involving different tag distribution and a number of cross-authenticated satellites including open-sky static, dynamic, and urban environments. This work shows the degradation with sub-optimal cross-authentication sequences and identifies current bottlenecks, proposing some recommendations for future sequences. Full article

This article investigates the performance of the Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) system in real-life environments prone to RF interference (RFI), jamming, and/or spoofing attacks. Considering the existing data that indicate a relatively high number of RFI- and spoofing-related incidents reported in Eastern Europe, this study details a data-collection campaign along various roads through urban, suburban, and rural settings, mostly in three border counties in East and South-East of Romania, and presents the results based on the data analysis. The key performance indicators are determined from the perspective of an end user relying only on Galileo OSNMA authenticated signals. The Galileo OSNMA signals were captured using one of the few commercially available GNSS receivers that can perform this OSNMA authentication algorithm incorporating the satellite signals. This work includes a presentation of the receiver’s operation and of the authentication results obtained during test runs that experienced an unusually high number of RFI-related incidents, followed by a detailed analysis of instances when such RFI impaired or fully prevented obtaining an authenticated position, velocity, and time (PVT) solution. The results indicate that Galileo OSNMA demonstrates significant robustness against interference in real-life RF-degraded environments, dealing with both accidental and intentional interference. Full article

The Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) is a free of charge Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) augmentation service provided by the European Union. It is designed to enable real-time Precise Point Positioning (PPP) with a target accuracy (at the 95% confidence level) of 20 cm and 40 cm in the horizontal and vertical components, respectively, to be achieved within 300 s. The performance of the service has been confirmed with geodetic-grade receivers. However, mass market applications require low-cost GNSS receivers connected to low-cost antennae. This paper focuses on the performance of the real-time static and kinematic positioning achieved with Galileo HAS and low-cost GNSS receivers. The study is limited to GPS + Galileo dual-frequency positioning, thus exploiting the full potential of Galileo HAS SL1. We demonstrate that the target accuracy of Galileo HAS SL1 is reached with both geodetic-grade and low-cost receivers in dual-frequency static and kinematic applications in open-sky conditions. Precision of a few centimeters is reached for static positioning, while kinematic positioning results in subdecimeter precision. Vertical accuracy is limited by missing phase center offset models for low-cost antennas. In general, the performance of low-cost hardware using Galileo HAS for real-time PPP is comparable to that of geodetic-grade hardware. Therefore, combining low-cost GNSS receivers with Galileo HAS is feasible and justified. Full article

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

There is an increasing demand for navigation capability for space vehicles. The exploitation of the so-called Space Service Volume (SSV), and hence the extension of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) from terrestrial to space users, is currently considered a fundamental step. Knowledge of the constellation antenna pattern, including the side lobe signals, is the main input for assessing the expected GNSS signal availability and navigation performance, especially for high orbits. The best way to define and share this information with the final GNSS user is still an open question. This paper proposes a novel methodology for the definition of a high-fidelity and easy-to-use statistical model to represent GNSS constellation antenna patterns. The reconstruction procedure, based on antenna characterization techniques and statistical learning, is presented here through its successful implementation for the “Galileo Reference Antenna Pattern (GRAP)” model, which has been proposed as the reference model for the Galileo programme. The GRAP represents the expected Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) variation for the Galileo FOC satellites, and it is obtained by processing the measurements retrieved during the characterization campaign performed on the Galileo FOC antennas. The mathematical background of the model is analyzed in depth in order to better assess the GRAP with respect to different objectives such as improved resolution, smoothness and proper representation of the antenna pattern statistical distribution. The analysis confirms the enhanced GRAP properties and envisages the possibility of extending the approach to other GNSSs. The discussion is complemented by a preliminary use case characterization of the Galileo performance in SSV. The accessibility, a novel indicator, is defined in order to represent in a quick and compact manner, the expected Galileo SSV quality for different altitudes and target mission requirements. The SSV characterization is performed to demonstrate how simply and effectively the GRAP model can be inserted into user analysis. The work creates the basis for an improved capability for assessing Galileo-based navigation in SSV according to the current knowledge of the antenna pattern. Full article

We compare the performance of dual-band (GPS L1/L2 and Galileo E1/E5a) real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning in an open sky and urban scenarios in southern Finland using two different authentication schemes: one using only satellites authenticated by Galileo’s open service navigation message authentication (OSNMA) service (which at the moment of our tests led to using only authenticated Galileo satellites) and the other with no authentication. The results show the actual trade-off between accuracy and availability vs. authenticity associated with using only OSNMA-authenticated satellites, while the authentication of only Galileo satellites is possible (e.g., a drop of RTK positioning availability from 96.67 to 86.01% in our open sky and from 73.55 to 18.65% in our urban scenarios, respectively), and an upper bound of the potential performance that could be reached in similar experimental conditions had the authentication of GPS satellites been supported (e.g., an overall 14 cm and $10.20$ $\mathrm{m}$ 95% horizontal accuracy in our open sky and urban scenarios, with below 30, 20 and 10 $\mathrm{c}$$\mathrm{m}$ during 97.39, 96.03 and 92.43% of the time in the open sky and 49.12, 45.96 and 39.63% in the urban scenarios, respectively). Full article

The L- and S-bands are becoming increasingly congested with the modernization of radio navigation satellite service (RNSS) systems and the development of a new satellite navigation system. In order to solve the problem of frequency band congestion, compatibility performance assessment is essential when designing a new RNSS signal. This paper proposes a three-step compatibility assessment methodology for the design of new RNSS signals and evaluates the compatibility performance of L6-band signals based on the proposed methodology. The open signals of Galileo, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), and the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), as well as the three candidate signals of the new RNSS, are considered for the compatibility assessment. Based on the assessment results, this paper shows that the interference caused by the introduction of a new RNSS signal in the L6-band is tolerable. Full article

We present Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) observed operational information and key performance indicators (KPIs) from the analysis of a ten-day-long dataset collected in static open-sky conditions in southern Finland and using our in-house-developed OSNMA implementation. In particular, we present a timeline with authentication-related events, such as authentication status and type, dropped navigation pages, and failed cyclic redundancy checks. We also report other KPIs, such as the number of simultaneously authenticated satellites over time, time to first authenticated fix, and percentage of authenticated fixes, and we evaluate the accuracy of the authenticated position solution. We also study how satellite visibility affects these figures. Finally, we analyze situations where it was not possible to reach an authenticated fix, and offer our findings on the observed patterns. Full article

To realize the societal need for greener, safer, and smarter mobility, ambitious technical challenges need to be addressed. With this aim, the H2020-EUSPA project ESRIUM investigates various aspects of highly accurate, reliable, and assured EGNSS localization information for road vehicles with a particular focus on automated vehicles. To analyze the achievable accuracy, reliability, and availability of multi-frequency and multi-GNSS mass-market receivers, we have conducted test drives under different GNSS reception conditions. In the tests, special focus was placed on using the Galileo Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA) service, offering an additional feature for assured PVT (position, velocity, and time) information with respect to spoofing. We analyzed the performance of three Septentrio Mosaic-X5 receivers operated with different OSNMA settings. It could be shown that strict use of OSNMA provides very good positioning accuracy as long as sufficient suitable satellites are available. However, the overall performance suffers from a reduced satellite number and is therefore limited. The performance of a receiver using authenticated Galileo with GPS signals (final status of Galileo OSNMA) is very good for a mass-market receiver: 92.55% of the solutions had a 2D position error below 20 cm during 8.5 h of driving through different environments. Full article

In just one year, Spaceopal and its partners developed the Galileo HAS Performance Characterization User Algorithm for the EU Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA). The Galileo HAS User Terminal (HAUT) hosts the Galileo HAS Performance Characterization User Algorithm. The Galileo HAS User Terminal is a portable, configurable and autonomous device powered by a triple-frequency Galileo and GPS receiver and calculates a single- (Galileo) or multi-constellation (Galileo + GPS) Galileo HAS and Open Service (OS) positioning, velocity and time (PVT) solution. The User Terminal can be configured to retrieve Galileo HAS corrections either from Galileo Signal-in-Space (SIS) over E6-B or Internet Data Distribution (IDD) over NTRIP in an RTCM3 format and works in different frequency combinations that can be configured by the user. The User Terminal is a robust device (IP64) with multiple communication and logging capabilities. The Galileo HAS Initial Service was declared on 24 January by the European Commission, and provides free-of-charge, high-accuracy Precise Point Positioning (PPP) corrections (orbits, clocks) and code biases for Galileo and GPS to achieve real-time improved user positioning performance. The Galileo HAS Service Definition Document (SDD) and the HAS SIS Interface Control Document (HAS SIS ICD) are freely available to users on the web portal of the European GNSS Service Centre and HAS Internet Data Distribution Interface Control Documents (HAS IDD ICD) are available after registration. Using the Galileo HAS User Terminal, this article presents the results of Galileo HAS User Terminal’s performance, configuring the User Algorithm to assume static dynamics. It is to be noted that this configuration provides a significant performance benefit with respect to a configuration compatible with kinematic operation. Preliminary results indicate the Galileo HAS User Terminal achieves excellent accuracy. Full article

High-accuracy (HA) positioning services allow users to achieve sub-decimeter-level positioning accuracy. Although these kinds of services are not new, the market is showing great interest in exploiting them for new applications within the mass-market domain. This growing interest is causing a change in the paradigm of HA services, moving from niche sectors to applications targeting billions of users. Considering this framework, the Galileo High Accuracy Service (HAS) provides an open-access service based on the provision of high-accuracy corrections transmitted through the Galileo E6-B signal (E6, data component). The data retrieved by the end-user, which includes orbit, clock, and bias corrections, is reconstructed to allow the computation of Precise Point Positioning (PPP) solutions. This paper is focused on the description and results of GMV’s HAS Positioning Engine (HAS-PE) software library which, implements a PPP solution using the HAS corrections transmitted through Galileo Signal-in-Space. A high-level overview of the integration of the HAS in the Positioning Engine software is presented together with user performance assessments based on static and kinematic tests executed to process real data from GNSS receivers in real time. The static tests are performed using the GMV Global station network, which consists of geodetic grade receivers tracking the signal in open-sky locations around the globe. The kinematic tests are performed with a setup consisting of a mass-market receiver and a high-end receiver for obtaining the E6 pages. The PPP solutions are configured to process both Galileo and GPS corrections transmitted through the Galileo satellites. The assessment performed includes the computation of a set of performance indicators aimed at the analysis of high-accuracy positioning performances. The results of this assessment show that a PPP user taking advantage of this Galileo HAS initial service may easily achieve decimeter-level accuracy on the horizontal and vertical components. Full article

To enhance the robustness of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) against malicious attacks (e.g., spoofing), the European Galileo is working on new services, like Open Service Navigation Message Authentication (OSNMA), which provides authentication on the navigation bits, or Commercial Authentication Service (CAS), which aims to encrypt the spreading code chips. An assisted mode of the latter, named Assisted Commercial Authentication Service (ACAS), is currently under definition by the Galileo program. It uses the Timed Efficient Stream Loss-tolerant Authentication (TESLA) keys provided by OSNMA on the E1-B signal to re-encrypt some fragments of the encrypted E6-C signal, known as Re-Encrypted Code Sequences (RECSs), that are made available in the GNSS Service Centre (GSC). Once downloaded by a compatible receiver, they can be decrypted using the corresponding key and used to perform the correlation with the broadcasted E6-C signal. If that results in a correlation peak, the signal can be authenticated under certain circumstances. However, the probability of detecting this peak depends on the length of these fragments and their periodicity, since they are only provided for certain predefined instants. Indeed, if the receiver relies solely on E6-C signal and has no accurate time reference, this probability is severely degraded. This is why the nominal operating mode proposed for ACAS is to use the estimates provided by E1-B to reduce the uncertainty on the E6-C signal, so that the receiver can know precisely where these fragments are located. In the context of the PAULA project, we have developed a low-cost hardware platform based on bladeRF that allows acquiring both E1-B and E6-C samples synchronously. In this paper, we describe how to set up this platform and we characterise the alignment between the E1-B and E6-C estimates (code phase and Doppler frequency) using the real datasets obtained with such a platform, which is of key importance for the ACAS nominal mode. The results confirm the convenience of using the estimates from the E1-B signal for ACAS. Full article