Laboratories and large-scale Facilities

Research Infrastructure

Following its fundamental orientation, the Institute consciously combines theoretical work with measurements and experiments as well as with the practical implementation of developed procedures in all its missions and fields of work. Theory and practice cross-fertilise each other in the process. The Institute has various large-scale facilities and laboratories that make this practical work possible in a unique way.

The currently most important laboratories and facilities are described in detail below.

Optical Groundstation OGSOP

The Optical Ground Station Oberpfaffenhofen is located on the roof of the institute building and has a telescope to which various electro-optical systems can be directly attached.

Transportable Optical Ground Station TOGS

Transportable Optical Ground Station TOGS The transportable optical ground station is a versatile and modular instrument that can be used for a variety of experimental optical uplink and downlink scenarios, as well as for measuring the atmospheric optical channel.

SatCom-Simulator

The SatCom simulator allows performance simulations for the development, optimisation and validation of new satellite communication protocols, algorithms and procedures.

Antenna measurement chamber Starlab

StarLab is a near-field multi-probe system with spherical geometry and an important tool for accompanying antenna developments at the Institute.

Antenna Measuring System AMA

The free-field antenna measuring system AMA can be used to determine the radiation or reception characteristics of antennas in the far field.

Clock Laboratories

In the three different laboratories, research is carried out on time synchronisation, the generation of a system time from several clocks (ensemble time), the verification of system time algorithms (composite clock) with real measurement data or time transfer, among other things.

TASC - Threat Analysis and Simulation Center

GNSS data are collected and analysed with the sensor technology of the facilities. The aim is to describe unusual effects whose influence can lead to interference with satellite navigation systems, especially Galileo, to incorrect position solutions and thus also to endanger users.

GNSS verification and analysis facility

With this verification facility for satellite signals, the signals from navigation satellites (e.g. Galileo, GPS, GLONASS, COMPASS) can be received and analysed with the highest accuracy.

EVNet - Experimentation and Verification Network

This system of 13 sensor stations can acquire, process and distribute GNSS and GNSS-related measurement data in near-real time.

MASTER - Multi-output Advanced Signal Test Environment for Receivers

MASTER is a unique and powerful hardware simulator for testing and evaluating the quality of GNSS receivers, allowing the simulation of a complete GNSS constellation.

Research port Rostock

Here, new systems and procedures for safe and efficient ship navigation are tested under conditions that are as real as possible, and services and assistance systems based on them from the areas of ship navigation and traffic management are developed and validated.

Jamming Testbed

The first civilian maritime test area to investigate the impact of jamming and spoofing attacks in the L-band is located off the coast of Darß.

Holodeck

Holodeck The holodeck is used for pedestrian navigation and swarm exploration.

Vehicles, aircraft and ships

Vehicles, aircraft and ships The Institute regularly uses its own vehicles, the DLR aircraft fleet as well as ships and trains for measurement and demonstration campaigns in the real environment.