Antenna Array Application to Support Operation of GNSS Receivers under Interfering Signals

Abstract

Against the background of the intensive development and implementation of satellite technologies for position determination, navigation, and time synchronization, one of the central threats to critical industries is the creation of intentional interference to the signals of global navigation satellite systems. It is shown that the use of small-sized antenna arrays in navigation systems consisting of satellite constellations of GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU, QZSS, or their combinations makes it possible to detect and suppress interfering signals by forming zeros of the antenna array directional pattern in the directions of their arrival. The interfering signal suppression is supplemented with detection procedures while maintaining the ability of navigation by using from one to four satellite systems according to criteria of the required number of satellites in the line of sight and the permissible geometric factor. The process of suppressing the interfering signal from four directions is illustrated by three scenarios, the initial data for which are signals from 35 satellites in the line of sight collected in real-time from five systems. It has been shown that the use of five systems and 35 satellites ensures the suppression of the interfering signal. At the same time, 22 satellites are involved in solving the navigation problem, 13 satellites are below the detection threshold, and the geometric factor is 1.18. When using GPS, GLONASS, and 19 satellites, the interfering signal is suppressed. In this case, 10 satellites are involved in solving the navigation problem, 9 are below the detection threshold, and the geometric factor is 2.1. When using only GPS, the interfering signal suppression is also ensured. This time 7 satellites are involved in solving the navigation problem, 4 are below the detection threshold, and the geometric factor is 1.76.