GPS jamming- a thing of the past?
(Mar 8 2013)
Technology to automatically counter the threat of GPS jamming has been
successfully demonstrated for the first time, it has been claimed.
On several trips on board the UK Trinity House tender `THV Galatea' out of
Harwich, ACCSEAS (Accessibility for Shipping, Efficiency Advantages and
Sustainability) has demonstrated a prototype resilient PNT (positioning,
navigation and timing) system.
This system used eLoran technology to automatically step in to transmit
mission-critical data in the event of GPS loss or failure. The trials were
successfully completed between 28th February and 1st March this year.
Today, many devices and applications rely on GPS-based information and it plays
a fundamental role in delivering the PNT data that ships rely on to ensure safe
navigation.
GPS signals are vulnerable to interference from space weather. In addition,
accidental jamming and deliberate threats have recently been highlighted as
very serious concerns because of the wide availability of GPS jammers online
for as little as £30.
Even the cheapest jammers are capable of causing complete outages across all
receivers currently on the market.
Building on two previous trials conducted by the General Lighthouse Authorities
(GLA) in 2008 and 2010, which investigated the impact of GPS service denial,
this latest demonstration is the first time that an automatic and seamless
solution has been demonstrated in a real-world scenario, it was claimed.
The prototype system was integrated into the bridge of the vessel and monitored
the performance of independent PNT sources in order to provide the `best'
available. When the GPS was deliberately jammed, the system switched
automatically to eLoran and provided eLoran derived PNT information to the
connected bridge systems, allowing them to maintain operation and enabling the
seafarers on board to continue to navigate safely and efficiently.
Martin Bransby, GLA's research & radionavigation manager, which carried out the
trial on behalf of ACCSEAS, said, "The more dependent we become on electronic
systems, the more resilient they must be. Otherwise, we face a scenario where
technology is actually reducing safety rather than enhancing it. Demands on
marine navigation are only getting tighter, yet electronic systems at sea are
primitive compared to those used in air travel. This needs to change.
"The results announced today (Friday) are a significant step towards mitigating
a very real threat in GPS vulnerability. Whereas our previous GPS jamming
trials have focused on determining the extent of the problem, today's results
mark a new phase whereby we are proposing legitimate solutions," he said.
"GPS and other satellite navigation systems are deeply embedded in several
critical sectors such as telecommunications, power distribution and high
frequency financial trading, in addition to transport," said Martyn Thomas,
vice president of the Royal Academy of Engineering, "The dangerous over
reliance on GPS makes it a potential common point of failure for very many
systems, so any technology that can provide resilience to these systems should
be welcomed across the board."
ELoran technology is based on longwave radio signals and is independent and
complementary to GPS. ACCSEAS is using the prototype eLoran transmitter at
Anthorn and eight other Loran stations around the North Sea Region, but few
vessels currently have receivers.
Most recently, in January 2013, a differential Loran station was installed at
Dover, UK, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, enabling navigators
to obtain port approach level accuracies using eLoran within this area.
By 2014, eLoran initial operational capability is expected in seven major ports
along the East Coast of the UK, with full operational capability covering all
major ports expected by 2019.
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