Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-tn8tq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-28T23:26:36.694Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Eurofix: Test Results of a Cost-Effective DGNSS Augmentation System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2009

G. W. A. Offermans ,
A. W. S. Helwig  and
D. van Willigen
G. W. A. Offermans
Affiliation:
(Delft University of Technology)
A. W. S. Helwig
Affiliation:
(Delft University of Technology)
D. van Willigen
Affiliation:
(Delft University of Technology)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Eurofix is an integrated navigation system, which combines Differential GNSS and Loran-C. The Loran-C system is used to provide differential corrections for the GNSS pseudo-range measurements and integrity information by additionally modulating the transmitted signals. This modulation, however, is not allowed to degrade normal Loran-C operations. As data transmission is hindered by the aggressive Loran-C signal environment, special modulation patterns and Forward Error Correcting codes are designed to fulfil the requirements. Compared to other DGNSS services, Eurofix has a number of advantages: It covers a large area, its implementation in an already existing infrastructure is basically low-cost, it offers enhanced datalink availability in urban and mountainous environment, it has wide-area capabilities and, finally, it provides a free backup navigation system in case either Loran-C or GPS fails.

The paper describes the Eurofix system, focusing on the Loran-C data channel. A modified RTCM type-9 message format is used with special Forward Error Correction. At Delft University a real-life test set-up has been built to evaluate the Eurofix performance for different scenarios. The results on datalink and DGNSS performance are presented. It is shown that metre-level DGNSS performance is achievable with low bit rate data channels, using Loran-C stations at up to 1000 km distance.

Keywords

1. Satellite navigation.2. Differential systems.3. Hyperbolic systems.
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 50 , Issue 2 , May 1997 , pp. 209 - 223
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1‘European Radionavigation Plan (ERNP)’, Final Draft (July 9, 1996). Booz-Allen and Hamilton.Google Scholar
2van Willigen, D. (1988). This Journal, 42, 375.Google Scholar
3Last, D. and Poppe, D. (1996). ‘Radiobeacon DSNS — The Sky's the Limit?’. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Differential Satellite Navigation Systems, St. Petersburg, Russia.Google Scholar
4Offermans, G. W. A., van Willigen, D. and Breeuwer, E. J. (1994). ‘Eurofix: Have we reached the Limit?’. Proceedings of the 23rd Annual Technical Symposium of the Wild Goose Association, Newport, RI.Google Scholar
5Andersen, J. H. and Sweet, C. M. (1995). ‘ A Prototype Loran Augmented GPS’. Proceedings of the 1995 National Technical Meeting of the Institute of Navigation, Anaheim, CA.Google Scholar
6Helwig, A. W. S., Offermans, G. W. A. and van Willigen, D. (1996). ‘Implementation and Testing of Eurofix in Standard Loran-C Receiver Technology’. Proceedings of the 2gth Annual Technical Symposium of the International Loran Association, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
7Offermans, G. W. A., Helwig, A. W. S. and van Willigen, D. (1996). ‘The Eurofix Datalink Concept: Reliable Data Transmission Using Loran-C’. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Technical Symposium of the International Loran Association, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar
8McEliece, R.J. and Swanson, L. (1986). ‘On the Decoder Error Probability for Reed-Solomon Codes’. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 701–703.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9van Willigen, D., Offermans, G. W. A., Helwig, A. W. S. and Breeuwer, E. J. (1996). ‘New Views on the System Aspects of Eurofix’. Proceedings of the 25th Annual Technical Symposium of the International Loran Association, San Diego, CA.Google Scholar