Browsing by Author "Peng, YuXiang"

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    Characterization of multi-scale ionospheric irregularities using ground-based and space-based GNSS observations
    Peng, YuXiang; Scales, Wayne A.; Hartinger, Michael D.; Xu, Zhonghua; Coyle, Shane (2021-07-12)
    Ionospheric irregularities can adversely affect the performance of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). However, this opens the possibility of using GNSS as an effective ionospheric remote sensing tool. Despite ionospheric monitoring has been undertaken for decades, these irregularities in multiple spatial and temporal scales are still not fully understood. This paper reviews Virginia Tech’s recent studies on multi-scale ionospheric irregularities using ground-based and space-based GNSS observations. First, the relevant background of ionospheric irregularities and their impact on GNSS signals is reviewed. Next, three topics of ground-based observations of ionospheric irregularities for which GNSS and other ground-based techniques are used simultaneously are reviewed. Both passive and active measurements in high-latitude regions are covered. Modelling and observations in mid-latitude regions are considered as well. Emphasis is placed on the increased capability of assessing the multi-scale nature of ionospheric irregularities using other traditional techniques (e.g., radar, magnetometer, high frequency receivers) as well as GNSS observations (e.g., Total-Electron-Content or TEC, scintillation). Besides ground-based observations, recent advances in GNSS space-based ionospheric measurements are briefly reviewed. Finally, a new space-based ionospheric observation technique using GNSS-based spacecraft formation flying and a differential TEC method is demonstrated using the newly developed Virginia Tech Formation Flying Testbed (VTFFTB). Based on multi-constellation multi-band GNSS, the VTFFTB has been developed into a hardware-in-the-loop simulation testbed with external high-fidelity global ionospheric model(s) for 3-satellite formation flying, which can potentially be used for new multi-scale ionospheric measurement mission design.
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    Ionospheric Remote Sensing with GNSS
    Peng, YuXiang; Scales, Wayne A. (MDPI, 2021-11-22)
    The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) plays a pivotal role in our modern positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies. GNSS satellites fly at altitudes of approximately 20,000 km or higher. This altitude is above an ionized layer of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, the so called “ionosphere”. Before reaching a typical GNSS receiver on the ground, GNSS satellite signals penetrate through the Earth’s ionosphere. The ionosphere is a plasma medium consisting of free charged particles that can slow down, attenuate, refract, or scatter the GNSS signals. Ionospheric density structures (also known as irregularities) can cause GNSS signal scintillations (phase and intensity fluctuations). These ionospheric impacts on GNSS signals can be utilized to observe and study physical processes in the ionosphere and is referred to ionospheric remote sensing. This entry introduces some fundamentals of ionospheric remote sensing using GNSS.
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    Satellite Formation Flight Simulation Using Multi-Constellation GNSS and Applications to Ionospheric Remote Sensing
    Peng, YuXiang; Scales, Wayne A. (MDPI, 2019-11-30)
    The Virginia Tech Formation Flying Testbed (VTFFTB) is a global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation testbed for spacecraft formation flying with ionospheric remote sensing applications. Past applications considered only the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation. The rapid GNSS modernization offers more signals from other constellations, including the growing European system—Galileo. This study presents an upgrade of VTFFTB with the incorporation of Galileo and the associated enhanced capabilities. By simulating an ionospheric plasma bubble scenario with a pair of LEO satellites flying in formation, the GPS-based simulations are compared to multi-constellation GNSS simulations including the Galileo constellation. A comparison between multi-constellation (GPS and Galileo) and single-constellation (GPS) shows the absolute mean and standard deviation of vertical electron density measurement errors for a specific Equatorial Spread F (ESF) scenario are decreased by 32.83% and 46.12% with the additional Galileo constellation using the 13 July 2018 almanac. Another comparison based on a simulation using the 8 March 2019 almanac shows the mean and standard deviation of vertical electron density measurement errors were decreased further to 43.34% and 49.92% by combining both GPS and Galileo data. A sensitivity study shows that the Galileo electron density measurements are correlated with the vertical separation of the formation configuration. Lower C/N 0 level increases the measurement errors and scattering level of vertical electron density retrieval. Relative state estimation errors are decreased, as well by utilizing GPS L1 plus Galileo E1 carrier phase instead of GPS L1 only. Overall, superior performance on both remote sensing and relative navigation applications is observed by adding Galileo to the VTFFTB.