Navigation

The department of Navigation in the Institute of Communications and Navigation aims for a significant role in the realization of the European Global Navigation Satellite System (Galileo) with a focus on ground systems and user terminals. Due to the integration of Communication and Navigation, new fields of research with economic importance shall be developed. In this context, augmentation systems for safety of life applications of satellite navigation as well as multifunctional, cost-efficient, and compact user terminals should be mentioned. The corresponding activities mainly concentrate on integrity, reliability, availability and accuracy. The research and development work aims to support industry in the fields of pre-competition and basic applications. Special considerations are given here to simulations and tests of system components.

Algorithms and User Terminals Group The working group Algorithms and User Terminals is engaged in the development of algorithms for navigation receivers and their implementation in SW and FPGA. Applications are primarily in professional and safety-of-life areas, e.g. in aviation. Special emphasis is placed on the detection and reduction of propagation errors and interferers as well by advanced signal processing as by adaptive control of array antennas with digital beam forming. Further key topics are the development of algorithms for acquisition and tracking of the new signals for the future European satellite navigation system Galileo and the determination of the signal integrity. For design and testing of algorithms different software environments and an advanced GPS/Galileo hardware simulator are available. Read more

Antenna Group The antenna working group works on research and development tasks in the context of national and international projects and co-operations and operates an antenna far-field range. Their main goal is the advancement of new technologies and the translation into practical designs and demonstrators. The topics include smart antennas with digital beamforming, their integration and miniaturization as well as the inclusion of new materials and conformal structures into the simulation procedures. However, special developments in conventional technology are also realized. The group was a member of the Antenna Centre of Excellence (ACE), a Network of Excellence (NoE) funded within the 6th Framework Program of the EU. Read more

GNSS Systems Group The working group is engaged in various activities to investigate the generation and dissemination of precise time scales for satellite navigation applications and the verification of signals from navigation satellite systems. Another aspect is the development and operations of methods and facilities to validate performance parameters of satellite navigation systems but also of individual applications. For all timing aspects, a laboratory with precise atomic clocks and dedicated measurement equipment has been provided, for the signal verification a 30 meter dish at Weilheim can be used. In-house simulators based on software and on hardware as well, are being used for time and signal related investigations. Read more

Integrity Group The key performance parameter in Safety of Life (SoL) applications is the navigation integrity, i.e. the degree of trust one can place in the system functionality. Researchers on the DLR Navigation Integrity group investigate the robustness of the navigation solution, develop techniques to monitor threats and new methods to detect, mitigate or exclude a faulty element of the system, which could lead to an unacceptable error in the navigation solution. Read more

Prof. Dr.-Ing.habil. Michael Meurer German Aerospace Center Institute of Communications and Navigation, Navigation Tel.: +49 8153 28-3065 Fax: +49 8153 28-2328