Position estimation using the Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) signal

Palmer, Duncan. (2011) Position estimation using the Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) signal. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

Over the past decades, there have been a number of trends that have driven the desire to improve the ability to navigate in all environments. While the Global Positioning System has been the driving factor behind most of these trends, there are limitations to this system that have become more evident over time as the world has increasingly come to rely on navigation. These limitations are mostly due to the low transmission power of the satellites, where navigation signals broadcast from space are comparatively weak, especially by the time they have travelled to receivers on the ground. This makes the signals particularly vulnerable to fading in difficult environments such as "urban jungles" and other built up areas. The low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) also means, that the signals are susceptible to jamming, both hostile and accidental.

This motivates the need for alternatives technologies to satellite navigation and consider terrestrial based alternatives such as LORAN-C and eLORAN, but there is also significant interest in the exploitation of other non-navigation signals for positioning and navigation purposes. These so-called 'Signals of Opportunity' do not generally require any alterations to existing communications transmission infrastructure and utilise alternative multi-carrier modulation techniques to those used by navigation systems.

This project examines the use of such a signal, the Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) signal, as a positioning source. This thesis contains complete research from initial coverage simulations in the UK, through to extensive static testing, and the use of the signal in a dynamic environment and it has been shown that the Digital Audio Broadcast signal has potential as a terrestrial based positioning signal.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors: Hill, C.J.
Moore, T.
Keywords: Radio, receivers and reception, digital audio broadcasting, signal processing, digital techniques, navigation, equipment and supplies
Subjects: T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Engineering > Department of Civil Engineering
Item ID: 12456
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 20 Feb 2012 11:37
Last Modified: 13 Oct 2017 20:40
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/12456

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