The working prototype that demonstrated this new mobile network infrastructure accomplished an accuracy of 10 centimeters. A project entitled SuperGPS was started with the objective of developing an alternative positioning system that makes use of the mobile telecommunication network instead of satellites and that could be more accurate and dependable than GPS. “We recognized that with a few innovative innovations, the telecommunication network could be transformed into a very precise alternative positioning system that is independent of GPS,” says Jeroen Koelemeij of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. “We have prospered and have actually successfully developed a system that can supply connectivity just like existing mobile and Wi-Fi networks do, as well as precise positioning and time circulation like GPS.”
“With these techniques, we can turn the network into a nationwide dispersed atomic clock– with lots of brand-new applications such as very precise positioning through mobile networks.
A new hybrid optical-wireless network has actually been established for navigation that is much more robust and accurate than GPS, specifically in metropolitan settings.
Scientists have established an alternative positioning system that is more robust and precise than GPS, especially in city settings.
An alternative positioning system that is more precise and robust than GPS, particularly in city settings has actually been developed by scientists of Delft University of Technology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and VSL. The working model that showed this brand-new mobile network infrastructure attained an accuracy of 10 centimeters.
Illustration of the hybrid optical-wireless network for robust decimeter-level positioning in urban environments. Credit: TU Delft/Stephan Timmers
These days, much of our vital facilities counts on international navigation satellite systems such as GPS (United States) and Galileo (European Union). These navigation systems that rely on satellites have substantial constraints and vulnerabilities. When gotten in the world, their radio signals are weak, and precise placing is not possible when the radio signals are reflected or obstructed by structures.
” This can make GPS unreliable in metropolitan settings, for example,” says Christiaan Tiberius of Delft University of Technology and coordinator of the job, “which is a problem if we ever desire to use automatic lorries. Also, citizens and our authorities in fact depend on GPS for many location-based applications and navigation devices. So far we had no back-up system.”
A project entitled SuperGPS was started with the goal of establishing an alternative positioning system that utilizes the mobile telecommunication network instead of satellites which might be more precise and reliable than GPS. “We realized that with a couple of innovative innovations, the telecommunication network could be changed into a really precise alternative positioning system that is independent of GPS,” says Jeroen Koelemeij of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. “We have prospered and have successfully developed a system that can provide connectivity much like existing wi-fi and mobile networks do, in addition to precise positioning and time circulation like GPS.”
Looking into a navigation system with 10-centimeter precision. Credit: TU Delft/Frank Auperlé
An atomic clock
Among these developments is to connect the mobile network to an extremely precise atomic clock, so that it can broadcast perfectly timed messages for positioning, simply like GPS satellites make with the aid of the atomic clocks they continue board. These connections are made through the existing fiber-optic network.
” We had currently been examining methods to disperse the nationwide time produced by our atomic clocks to users in other places through the telecommunication network,” says Erik Dierikx of VSL. “With these techniques, we can turn the network into a nationwide distributed atomic clock– with numerous brand-new applications such as really precise positioning through mobile networks. With the hybrid optical-wireless system that we have demonstrated now, in principle anyone can have wireless access to the nationwide time produced at VSL. It basically forms an exceptionally precise radio clock that is excellent to one billionth of a 2nd.”
The system utilizes radio signals with a bandwidth much larger than frequently utilized. “Buildings reflect radio signals, which can confuse navigation devices. The large bandwidth of our system assists sort out these complicated signal reflections, and enables higher positioning precision,” Gerard Janssen of Delft University of Technology describes. “At the same time, bandwidth within the radio spectrum is scarce and therefore costly. We circumvent this by utilizing a number of associated small-bandwidth radio signals topped a large virtual bandwidth. This has the advantage that only a little fraction of the virtual bandwidth is actually utilized and the signals can be extremely similar to those of smart phones.”
Reference: “A hybrid optical-wireless network for decimetre-level terrestrial positioning” 16 November 2022, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/ s41586-022-05315-7.