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Virginia Tech

Navigation using Radio-Frequency Observables from LEO Constellations with Possible Aiding from an Inertial Navigation System

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Analyses are performed on the potential of using radio-frequency signals from massive LEO satellite constellations. This work aids in the creation of a navigation system independent of current GNSS. A tightly-coupled carrier Doppler shift/INS filter is developed to determine the feasibility of using signals of opportunity from LEO satellites for navigation purposes. This portion of the work makes two major contributions to the field of satellite-based radio-navigation systems. The first contribution is an analysis that shows GNSS-like position accuracy is possible using only INS measurements and carrier Doppler shift from LEO communication constellations. The second contribution is that INS quality, signal availability, and constellation design can significantly impact the navigation accuracy of a carrier Doppler shift/INS Kalman filter. An analysis of the costs and benefits of using model replacement over a Markov model in the dynamic propagation step of a tightly-coupled carrier Doppler shift/INS Kalman filter is performed in the next part of this work. This portion of the work makes contributions to the field of satellite-based radio-navigation systems. The main contribution is an analysis that shows Gauss-Markov models can be used instead of model replacement without increasing navigation error. Next, a DOP analysis is developed for systems using pseudorange and carrier Doppler shift measurements in point-solution batch filters that do not rely on INS data or dynamic propagation. This section's contributions to the field of satellite-based radio-navigation systems include a combined pseudorange and carrier Doppler shift DOP analysis using a novel DOP metric and an example of how to use the DOP analysis to identify the constellation characteristics, such as alternating ascending and descending nodes, that the OneWeb constellation could change to increase navigation accuracy.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Aerospace Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2023

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • McLemore, Brian Kenneth
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Psiaki, Mark L.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Scales, Wayne A.
  • Joerger, Mathieu
  • Woolsey, Craig A.

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:36374
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/113159

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

McLemore, Brian Kenneth. Navigation using Radio-Frequency Observables from LEO Constellations with Possible Aiding from an Inertial Navigation System. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2023. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/113159