The focus of this project will focus on GNSS interference detection and localization. The number of GNSS malicious interference events (jamming and spoofing) are increasing. Loss of GNSS signals due to jamming or altered signals due spoofing are problematic since GNSS is used for navigation and timing on land, at sea and in the air. GNSS-based timing is even used to synchronize the electric grid and is a time source in mobile cellular networks. Therefore, GNSS interference is illegal. Localization of such jammers (and spoofers) on lands is done manually by personnel in a car. Localizing jamming originating from sea and from the air is more challenging today. An interesting potential solution would be to localize GNSS interference sources from LEO using GNSS-R satellites. 

GNSS-R is based on detecting reflected GNSS signals from Earth’s surface below the satellite (see picture below).Therefore, high-power GNSS jamming and spoofing will be detectable in LEO.

Since the GNSS-R satellite in LEO can receive direct signals from the medium Earth orbit (MEO) GNSS satellites above it, the GNSS-R satellite will have access to GNSS position and velocity information even if there is a powerful malicious GNSS interference event below it. Because of this, GNSS can be used to position the GNSS-R satellite and localize interference sources relative to the GNSS-R satellite.

Project Description

We provide several specializations project aims at exploring how passive RF sensing from a small satellite in a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) can enable solutions to several important challenges for maritime mapping, monitoring, and surveillance. Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is one application (see other project proposals) 

The focus of this project will focus on GNSS interference detection localization. The number of GNSS malicious interference events (jamming and spoofing) are increasing. Loss of GNSS signals due to jamming or altered signals due spoofing are problematic since GNSS is used for navigation and timing on land, at sea and in the air. GNSS-based timing is even used to synchronize the electric grid and is a time source in mobile cellular networks. Therefore, GNSS interference is illegal. Localization of such jammers (and spoofers) on lands is done manually by personnel in a car if area is accessible. Localizing jamming originating from sea, from the air and from outside the country is more challenging. An interesting potential solution would be to localize GNSS interference sources from LEO using similar payload to GNSS-R satellites. 

Fig. 1: GNSS-RFI detection from space. By Magnhild Eeg.

Impact
Space technology plays a crucial role in achieving various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN. A GNSS-RFI-payload has the potential to allows us to detect and monitor water vessels at sea and localize GNSS inference sources originating from sea or land. This project target

• SDG9 Industry, innovation, and infrastructure. The outcomes have an innovative and commercial potential for industry and can contribute both to new space-based infrastructure and protection of existing critical infrastructure beyond GNSS.

• SDG16 Peace, justice and strong institutions. Maritime surveillance and GNSS interference monitoring are both relevant for this.

Tasks and Expected Outcomes
The objective of the project is to investigate different potential jamming/spoofing detection and localization techniques/principles. This will be done using data in simulation by generating jamming and spoofing scenarios using our GNSS signal simulator. Examples localization techniques/principles are:

• Angle of arrival (AOA)
• Time difference of arrival (TDOA)
• Frequency difference of arrival (FDOA) / Doppler

Possible tasks could include signal processing, analysing their strength and weaknesses and localization principles, potential localization accuracy, systems requirements such as coverage and revisit time etc. Direct collaboration with other students working on GNSS-R related projects is possible. 

Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking a highly motivated final year student in Cybernetics, Electronics, or a related field with an interest either one or several of the topics

• positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems 
• signal processing
• estimation and localization

Experience from subjects such as TTK4150 Sensor Fusion and TTT4275 Estimation, detection and classification, in addition to TTT4150 Navigation systems, will be beneficial for the student in this project. Experience with signal processing techniques is not mandatory. The project will be adapted to the student's background and goals. 

How we work
The student will be part of the NTNU SmallSat lab, a lab which typically hosts 10-20 master's student per semester. At the NTNU SmallSat Lab we encourage collaboration and try to get our group to help each other. To facilitate this, we as well as arrange common lunches and workshops where the students and supervisors can learn from each other. I some project we also implement a development process.

Supervisor(s)
For further questions please contact:

• Torleiv H. Bryne (main supervisor, NTNU/ITK), Roger Birkeland (co-supervisor, NTNU/IES),
• Egil Eide (main supervisor, NTNU/IES), Roger Birkeland (co-supervisor, NTNU/IES).