eloran as a timing backup and available hardware - … as a timing backup and available hardware ....

Charles Schue – UrsaNav, Inc.

KTN – Trinity House – October 8, 2012

“U.S.” Perspectives on

eLoran as a Timing Backup

And

Available Hardware

EMEA Operations Bertem, Belgium

Corporate Headquarters Chesapeake, VA

Washington DC Metro Area Leesburg, VA

Southeast Region North Charleston, SC ISO 9001

FM 540606

Corporate Overview

Founded in 2004

Four main business units:

C5ISR, IT, IM, LF

World Leader in LF Technology

Chesapeake, Virginia, USA

Leesburg, Virginia, USA

Principal locations in Virginia

Regional offices in Massachusetts & South

Carolina

Bertem, Belgium office handles EMEA

opportunities

Commercial and government clients in 32

countries.

About us





FM 540606

Low-Frequency Business Unit

Alternative/Backup

Solutions to

GNSS/RNSS

Positioning, Navigation,

Timing/Frequency &

Data (PNTF&D) Systems

State-of-the-Art

Transmitting & Receiver

Technologies

Differential GPS/GNSS

Solutions

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• Nautel NL Series LF Transmitters

• UrsaNav LF Multi-Mode Receivers

• CrossRate, Locus, & Plutargus IP

• Receivers for UK GAARDIAN/Sentinel IDM

• Nautel Vector Series DGPS Transmitters

• Trimble RS/IM Equipment

• Trimble Control Station Software

• Antennas, Nautel ATU, spares, shelters

• Installation, training

• Symmetricom Time Scale Solutions

• TWLFTT, TWLLTT, TWSTT

• Transmit and Receive Antennae

• Data Channel (9th/10th Pulse, Eurofix, Other)

• Loran-C, Chayka, eLoran, LFPhoenix™, and Beyond

• Temporary, Transportable, & Tactical Solutions

• 21st Century Technology





FM 540606

• e-Navigation

– DGPS, ECDIS, DSC, AIS

– Radar, Synchronized Lights

• Homeland Security

• Defense

• Telecommunications Networks

– Landline / Mobile / Paging Systems

– Computer Networks / Internet

• Electrical Power Systems

– Phase Synchronization & Flow Control

• Banking & Finance

– High-Speed Trading

– ATM transactions

• Agriculture

GPS Dependent Systems

Of the (18) CIKR sectors, (15) use GPS timing.

GPS timing is deemed essential for (11) of the sectors.

[Source: Department of Homeland Security]




Southeast Region North Charleston, SC 5

Sources: Results from a GPS Timing Criticality Assessment, Carroll (DOT/VNTSC); Lombardi (NIST)

U.S. Timing & Frequency Requirements




Southeast Region North Charleston, SC

GNSS/RNSS Vulnerabilities Performance degradation

• Ionosphere & solar activities

(natural)

• Unintentional & intentional

(human factors)

Signal blockage

Spectrum competition (e.g., LSQ)

Common signal use across GNSS

Radio frequency interference

System anomalies & failures

Jamming

Spoofing & Counterfeit Signals

Why is an Alternative to GPS Timing Necessary?

Low-cost “personal privacy

devices”

150W L1 – L5 “Full Band” Jammer

(Range up to ¼ mile*)

100W “Super” Jammer (Range over ½ mile – Plugs

into cigarette lighter*)

* Range as advertised on the supplier’s website. Independent tests have shown significantly further ranges for lower output power.









FM 540606

* Source: Dr. Todd Humphreys, University of Texas at Austin ** Source: 8/14/2003 NE Interconnection Outage

Potential GPS Timing Loss: Sector Impact

Industry Timing

Requirement Impact of Loss

Monetary Impact of Loss

Banking / Financial 3 s absolute

to ≤1ms

Market vacuum (loss of liquidity); market

"skimming"; leaked pricing information*

Tens to Hundreds of Millions per

Trade

Telecommunications ≤1us Loss of communications,

E911 Millions+

DoEnergy: Electrical Power

“SmartGrid” 10 ms to ≤1us

Grid stability, efficiency, outages, equipment damage

Billions**

DOD/DHS ≤1ms Loss of communications Safety / Security

DOT: FAA <1us

To ≤50ns

Loss of ability to trilaterate position; loss of communications

Safety, Security, Efficiency





Example: SmartGrid Timing Using GPS

• SmartGrid Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) sensors use timing or frequency for accurate measurement of the power grid phase

• Sensors don’t provide data without time synchronization

• 1/2 to 2/3 of PMUs currently unusable at any given time because of lost GPS timing

• Vulnerabilities include:

• Limited, to no, indoor GPS reception

• Low E windows are a problem for GPS





FM 540606

Why is eLoran the Best Alternative?

• Time. Frequency. Data. Position.

• Terrestrial-based – Significantly higher power than satellites

– Dissimilar failure modes to GPS

• Considerable usable range of > 1,000 miles – Requires fewer transmitters than other terrestrial solutions

– Time, frequency, & data require only a single transmission site

• Independent of GPS, but interoperable with GPS

• Spectrum protected worldwide • Lessons learned from LSQ (“GPS” Band)

• Integrity built into eLoran signal – Also provides complementary integrity for GPS

• Available in many GPS denied environments

• Can meet, when appropriately equipped/designed: – Maritime: HEA 8m-20m; IMO 10m

– Aviation RNP 0.3





FM 540606

Why is eLoran the Best Alternative?

• Meets stringent timing reference requirements – << 1 υs

– Transmissions synchronized to well within 10 ns of UTC

• Sub nanosecond synchronization with Two-Way Time Transfer

• Meets stringent frequency reference requirements

– Provides Stratum-1E standard better than 1 x 10-11 long-term

– Same Stratum standard as GPS

• Meets or exceeds all public infrastructure needs – AM, FM, TV, Electric Power, Telecomm, Mobile, Wireless, Banking,

Finance, etc.

• Data Channel(s) available – All manner of functionality, including time of day and corrections

– DGPS messages available (RTCM SC-104)

– Provides alternative wide-area critical messages/notifications

– Third-Party Data Channel options





Source: The Potential Role of eLoran in the National Time and Frequency Infrastructure

U.S. Timing Providers





Source: The Potential Role of eLoran in the National Time and Frequency Infrastructure

U.S. Frequency Providers





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Why should we care?

Robust, resilient, alternative PNT&F

Truly multi-modal

Seamless, interoperable, yet dissimilar to GNSS

Extremely cost effective

Sovereign control

Traceable to UTC

Can recover UTC from cold start w/o GPS

Continuity of operations

Even during jamming & spoofing events

The “M” in Interference Detection & Mitigation

Location Stamping - “Proof of position”*

Time Stamping - “Proof of time”*

* - Courtesy of Logan Scott Consulting.





FM 540606

• September 2011 DHS report to Congress

– GPS timing important

– Concern for a lack of a backup(s)

• DHS investigating alternatives

– Precise time via wire/fiber

– Asked USCG to investigate wireless time transfer

• CRADA (Effective 02/13/2012)

– Two years after Loran-C Termination

– Promotes R&D efforts; tech transfer

– Not a contract; no exchange of funding; not government “sponsored”

• Objectives

– Research, evaluate, document

– Time. Frequency. Data. (Position.)

LF in the USA: A Way Ahead

Disclaimer: The USCG has no intent to acquire, operate, or provide wireless time technology or associated services.





FM 540606

Loran-C, eLoran, LFPhoenix™, and Beyond!

• Started testing February 29, 2012

• Transmissions currently from “dBF” Wildwood, NJ – Transmission to within <10 ns of UTC

– Able to transmit from any former Loran-C or GWEN site

– Able to transmit using transportable “LF-in-a-Box” solution

• Several test locations with multiple receivers – Leesburg, VA (142 miles)

– Chambersburg, PA (160 miles)

– Chesapeake, VA (170 miles)

– Burlington, MA (310 miles)

– Durham, NH (354 miles)

– Charleston, SC (505 miles)

– Mobile Measurement Unit

• TWSTT solution installed at dBF June, 2012

• TWLFTT solution – truly “sky-free” – testing in 2013





FM 540606

Global land-mass and EEZ+ coverage possible that is truly “sky-free”.

Technology Exists Today

Loran-C, eLoran, LFPhoenix™

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TWSTT

LFDC Generator LFDC

LFDC Integrity MonitorLFDC

UTC

NAV

1 PPS Router

5 MHz Router

GNSS Time Scale 12 153 21 39 18

230 VUPS

21 39 18 Cesium 5071A

230 VUPS

21 39 18 Cesium 5071A

21 39 18 Cesium 5071A

LAN

LF Timing Generator online LFDC

LF Receiver - UN151

LFDC Generator LFDC

LFDC Integrity MonitorLFDC

UTC

NAV

1 PPS Router

5 MHz Router

GNSS Time Scale 12 153 21 39 18

Local Station Controller

LF Timing Generator online LFDC

LF Receiver - UN151

1 PPS Router

5 MHz Router

Local Station Controller

KVM/Display

KVM/Display





FM 540606

10.5’

102” Wide x 39.5” Deep x 72.5” High

19” Rack

Transmitting Site Equipment Suite





FM 540606

Partial Sentinel Probe Interior Standard 19” Rack-Mount, 1u Enclosure

eLoran Receiver Dimensions: 4.75” x 6.75”

OEM Timing Receiver Module

Engineered-to-Order: Higher SWAP-C

Quantity Order: Significantly Lower SWAP-C





First Blush Indoor Performance Test

Prototype H-field antenna

Dimensions: 38 x 38 x 19 mm 1.5” x 1.5” x .75”

• Smallest H-field antenna to date

• Antenna in noisy office environment

• 5 meters away from outside wall





FM 540606

Verified eLoran T, F, & D Coverage

Proper reception, tracking, & decoding of signals from dBF at Kansas City, MO – 1,050 miles





FM 540606

• Timing performance – Time recovery to within 75 ns RMS (UTC)

• Distances to 500 miles (conservative; no differential corrections)

• External E-Field antenna

– Time recovery to within 200 ns RMS (UTC)

• At 1,000 miles (no differential corrections)

• External E-Field antenna

– One-time calibration against Symmetricom ATS-6501 Rb disciplined L1/L2 receiver; free-running afterwards

– Compensated for ASFs, receiver processing delays, cabling delays, etc.

– Calibration can be done using a “hot-clock” method, or with TWTT techniques

• Data Channel performance

– LF Data channel reception and decoding

– Distances exceeding 1,000 miles

Early Results: eLoran





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Single Site eLoran Scenario: 1,000 Mile Radius

Wherever there is color, we expect LFDC demodulation. Acceptable modulation at 1,000 miles.





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Multiple eLoran Site Scenario: 1,000 Mile Radius

T, F, & D Coverage Example for the Contiguous 48 States With Four Sites





FM 540606

“This is another example proving that the GPS system is vulnerable. The U.S. military must take a hard look at

all solutions that would provide a redundant capability. One such possibility is a system known as long-range

navigation (LORAN). This system was developed in 1958 to provide navigation for shipping. It uses powerful

signal pulses at a low frequency and is not line-of-sight dependent. Consequently, LORAN does not have the

same vulnerabilities as the GPS. However, on February 8, 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard stopped the LORAN

transmissions, effectively retiring the system. Even though LORAN was retired, researchers at Stanford University

and the U.S. Coast Guard continue to develop a 21st-century model.”

“The project is known as eLORAN. It provides the added capability of a data channel plus vastly improved

accuracy. For example, LORAN was accurate to approximately 460 meters, while eLORAN is accurate to between

8 and 20 meters. This is comparable to most handheld GPS receivers, which are accurate from 10 to 20 meters.

The U.S. military has receivers that are accurate to less than one meter. eLORAN’s accuracy will need to be

developed further to provide the same military GPS capability.”

The author, Captain Charles A. Barton III, USAF, is the chief of plans and programs at the 689th

Combat Communications Wing, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

“The United States needs to invest additional funding into this system to develop its viability as a backup

to the GPS. However, the greatest argument against any new system is its cost. ... Fiscal hawks will argue that

the military does not require a redundant capability for the GPS. On the other hand, the U.S. National Security

Strategy report states that the U.S. military must preserve its “conventional superiority.””

“Scientific innovation is exactly what is required to develop a redundant capability for the GPS. It is blatantly

obvious that the GPS is highly vulnerable, and the United States must prioritize funding for research and

development of a comparable system. eLORAN is one possible solution to this problem.”

AFCEA SIGNAL Magazine, October 2012

Global Positioning System Is a Single Point of Failure.

GPS vulnerabilities could be addressed with upgraded long-range navigation.





FM 540606

LF. Time. Frequency. Data. Today!

www.ursanav.com www.ursanav.eu

http://www.ursanav.com/

http://www.ursanav.eu/

eloran as a timing backup and available hardware - … as a timing backup and available hardware ....

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