Analysis of Multipath Code-Range Errors in Future LEO-PNT Systems

Abstract

In recent years, low-Earth-orbit (LEO) constellations have been proposed for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) applications. Moreover, a couple of test satellites have already been launched and many more are scheduled in the near future. LEO constellations are characterised by their rapid change in geometry in comparison to the current medium-Earth-orbit (MEO) Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs). In this study, we analyse the impact of this high geometry change rate on the code-range error induced by multipaths. We develop a simulation environment with a static receiver and a nearby large building. We track the multipath signal using classical delay- and phase-locked loops (DLL and PLL). Multiple scenarios are simulated and analysed, comparing different orbit heights, MEO and LEO, and carrier frequencies (L-, S- and C-band). The LEO scenarios show up to 96% less code-range error for fast-changing multipath components. We show that this phenomenon is linked to the large phase delay rate between the direct signal and the multipath components, which is up to 75 times higher for LEO satellites when compared to MEO satellites. The phase delay rate reaches values higher than the DLL bandwidth. As a result, the DLL filters out the errors induced by fast-changing reflected signals, partially eliminating the multipath-induced code-range errors. The presented effect is coupled to the wavelength of the used carrier frequency. Our simulations show a reduction in multipath-induced code-range error for S- and C-band LEO-PNT signals in comparison to L-band signals.

Keywords

• GNSS
• multipath
• LEO
• PNT