Multi-GNSS Simulation & Test Environment
GSTP: Make Project: Multi-GNSS Simulation & Test Environment
Company |
Country |
Website |
|
| TeleOrbit GmbH (Prime Contractor) | Germany | www.teleorbit.eu |  |
| Fraunhofer IIS | Germany | www.iis.fraunhofer.de |
|
| TeleConsult Austria GmbH | Austria | www.tca.at |  |
MGSE© creates a GNSS simulation environment that provides the possibility and flexibility to use: synthetically generated data and recorded real-world samples – both exactly reproducible.
MGSE© considerably improves the development, qualification, and certification process of GNSS receivers within the development phases and during validation/certification in end-to-end tests.
Objectives
MGSE© creates a GNSS simulation environment that consists of:
1) MGSE© GIPSIE®: Synthetically generated data
The multi-frequency, multi-system software-based GNSS simulation environment GIPSIE® consists of two modules – the satellite constellation simulator (SCS) and the intermediate frequency simulator (IFS).
The MGSE GIPSIE® simulation environment includes GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS, and IRNSS constellations and generated IF signals.
2) MGSE© Recording Unit: Received real-world GNSS data
Beside the multi-band GNSS antenna, the main objective of the multi-band RF front-end MGSE©-REC is to receive the RF signal, to filter and amplify the incoming signal in different frequency bands simultaneously and then to down-convert and quantize the signals, in order to obtain digital intermediate-frequency forms, which can be used by the actual receiver.
3) MGSE© Replay Unit: Digital GNSS IF or analog RF data
Both, synthetically generated and/or recorded real-world GNSS data can be replayed either as digital IF GNSS signals or as analog RF multi-band data in real-time to receivers / components under test.
The MGSE©-REP includes a flexible multi-band, USB3.0 digital and analog RF replay device, that can stream the GIPSIE®-IFS generated and MGSE©-REC recorded raw IF data to a digital baseband output or to an analog RF signal.
Features
The MGSE© integrated system is composed of:
- MGSE© GIPSIE® Simulator software hosted on dedicated computer
- MGSE© Recording and Replay Unit both connected to a.m. computer.
However, each element is also be functional as stand-alone unit.
Possible MGSE© configurations:
- MGSE© full system consisting of Simulator, Recording and Replay Unit
- MGSE© Recording Unit
- MGSE© Replay Unit
- MGSE© Simulator and Signal Generator
The key design characteristics of MGSE© are listed below:
Project Plan
The MGSE© project was structured into 6 main work packages (WPs) as shown in the top level work breakdown structure below:
- WP 1000 Project- & Quality Management
- WP 2000 Requirements Analysis
- WP 3000 GIPSIE®-Software Development
- WP 4000 MGSE©-REC S-Band Development
- WP 5000 MGSE© REP Unit Development
- WP 6000 MGSE© System Integration & Test
The MGSE© development (WPs 3000, 4000, and 5000) was performed in accordance with the requirements and specifications provided by WP 2000 requirements analysis. This development was carried out in two phases, a preliminary design phase concluding with PDR, and a consolidated design phase concluding with CDR. The MGSE© development was concluded with the test readiness review (TRR). After TRR WP 6000 MGSE system integration and test was performed which was concluded by the factory acceptance test (FAT).
Key issues
For data streaming especially the Cypress USB3.0 to be used in both the recording and in the replay device is to be mentioned. It allows the reliable data streaming in each direction of at least 1.296 Gbit/s. Moreover, low-level software drivers for this USB3.0 chip are available for both Windows and Linux operation systems to cover both platforms making the MGSE universally applicable.
From the record / replay hardware point of view, the key technology is a flexible low-power FPGA from Xilinx. It enables the possibility to reconfigure the signal condition “on-the-fly”, which is a key element and a major unique selling point.
The major amount of data generated by GIPSIE® is dedicated to the digital IF files. These files are stored in the same format as the recorded IF files are.
Expected Main Benefits
One common approach for saving costs during global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver or algorithm development, qualification, and certification phases is to use a simulation environment with the capability to record/replay real-world samples rather than performing resource- and time-intensive field testing and validation. Moreover, as there are some GNSS (e.g. Galileo, BeiDou, IRNSS) signals not fully available in space yet and due to repeatability of testing, manufacturers use commercial hardware GNSS signal generators to simulate GNSS constellations, signals, and interfering sources. Nevertheless, even the best synthetically generated simulation environment cannot reproduce reality better than recorded live samples. Live samples from the sky are the ideal counterpart to the synthetic simulated samples.
Flexible and cost effective recording and replaying solutions of the nowadays mostly multi-frequency band GNSS signals are required.
Thus, record/replay provides the ability to conduct an accurate and comparative evaluation, since the same test conditions can be used for any device.
In turn, record/replay scenarios introduce some impairments as well. The recorded signal can only be replayed exactly as received; the operator can only control the amplitude. A simulation scenario does not have this limitation. The satellite signals can be individually manipulated and artificial errors can be introduced.
Thus, MGSE© offers the ideal combination of signal simulation, recording of real signals, and replaying simulated and recorded signals for GNSS system analysis and receiver testing.
Current Status
The project has been successfully concluded in May 2017.
Contact
| Project Manager: | Jürgen Seybold | jseybold@teleorbit.eu |
|
Jagdstraße 20 90419 Nürnberg |
TeleOrbit GmbH | |
| +49 911 300 339 815 | +49 911 300 339 819 | |
| Additional Contact: | Daniel Seybold | dseybold@teleorbit.eu |
|
Jagdstraße 20 90419 Nürnberg |
TeleOrbit GmbH | |
| +49 911 300 339 816 | +49 911 300 339 819 | |
| ESA Technical Officer: | Olivier Smeyers | olivier.smeyers@esa.int |