Integrating 5G and GNSS to enable seamless indoor/outdoor navigation

Last Updated: 21/11/2022 15:05     Created at: 21/11/2022 14:58

Final Presentation of NAVISP Project EL2 110 now available:

On Friday, November 18, 2022, IGASPIN GmbH presented the results of the NAVISP project “Integrating 5G and GNSS (IGASPIN).” Over 70 people from industry and research followed the interesting presentation and the subsequent interactive Q&A session.

IGASPIN GmbH is an Austrian SME focusing on satellite navigation, in particular on GNSS interference, jamming, spoofing and GNSS software receiver (signal processing, navigation algorithms and software, multipath and interference mitigation) and artificial intelligence algorithms.

With the emergence of mobile computing, including IoT and wearable devices, indoor positioning has become much more important than before. However, providing indoor positioning, navigation and timing information is particularly challenging due to the diverse and dynamic scenarios with complex geometries. GNSS remains the most widely used and well-known technology for outdoor position, velocity, and time determination, but severe signal attenuation, signal blocking, the presence of strong signal multipath effects, and other sources of interference make GNSS invalid as an indoor positioning solution. With the introduction of dedicated fifth generation (5G) positioning reference signals, measurements and methods by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in Release 16, 5G has attracted more attention as a reliable technology for navigation and timing.

In this context, the project’s main objective was to develop a novel system consisting of an indoors GNSS signal manipulator and repeater that can be used in conjunction with 5G signals to provide indoors/outdoors PNT solution. For this purpose, a hybrid 5G/GNSS receiver was used to navigate between the two different environments. The solution aims to provide positioning, navigation, and timing in indoors environments in such a way that a smooth transition from indoors to outdoors can be accomplished using the repeated GNSS signals combined with 5G positioning signals.

First, thanks to NAVISP's support, the company was able to develop a GNSS/5G/IMU receiver. It also developed a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) system called Tuti, which consists of a reference antenna, a software defined radio (SDR), a processing unit and transmitting directional antennas. The system has been successfully tested in various scenarios such as normal and deep indoor spaces, as well as in the transition between indoor and outdoor areas. In addition, Tuti is compatible with all GNSS receivers and currently a corresponding patent is pending to secure the technological innovation. Thus, within the infrastructure created by Tuti, users can seamlessly navigate inside and outside a building with their smartphone.

Next steps now are to extend, verify and consolidate the Tuti and the receiver prototype to support several positioning points indoors and multiple positioning engines respectively. From that the definition of the product proposition considering user needs and regulation aspects will follow.

The project was part of NAVISP Element 2, which aims to maintain and improve the capabilities and competitiveness of the participating States' industry in the global market for satellite navigation and, more broadly, PNT technologies and services.

More detailed information can be found in the slides of the Final Presentation.