GNSS simulation to disrupt unmanned vehicle operation
Several examples of a navigation disruption device and methods of using the same are described herein that use real-time, low-cost computation to generate conflicting/competing signals to actual Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals. For example, the novel, hand-held navigation disruption devices described herein (1) generate signals from a simulated satellite constellation, wherein the signals from the simulated satellite constellation conflict/compete with signals from one or more actual satellite constellations, and (2) transmit the signals from the simulated satellite constellation(s) towards an unmanned vehicle. The signals from the simulated satellite constellation(s) cause the unmanned vehicle to compute an incorrect position, which in turn disrupts its ability to navigate and operate effectively.
1. A hand-held navigation disruption device comprising:
a controller configured to:
select one or more satellites of an actual satellite constellation to simulate, based at least partially on an estimated position of an unmanned vehicle, and
generate a first set of simulated signals that correspond with the selected one or more satellites, wherein the first set of simulated signals comprise Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning or timing information that is different than GNSS positioning or timing information contained in a first set of signals transmitted from the actual satellite constellation;
a transmitter configured to transmit the first set of simulated signals towards the unmanned vehicle; and
a housing configured to house the controller and the transmitter, the housing having a weight and dimensions suitable for a single user to hold and operate the hand-held navigation disruption device.
2. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a position of the hand-held navigation disruption device; and
estimate a position of the unmanned vehicle based on at least one of the following: the position of the hand-held navigation disruption device, a direction of the unmanned vehicle from the hand-held navigation disruption device, and an estimated range of the unmanned vehicle from the hand-held navigation disruption device.
3. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface configured to receive, from a user, at least one of the following signal generation parameters: signal transmission power, signal transmission duration, a selection of the actual satellite constellation to be simulated, a desired positional offset of the unmanned vehicle relative to an actual position of the unmanned vehicle, and a restricted area identified by the user.
4. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate the first set of simulated signals, based at least partially on the received signal generation parameters and constellation data associated with the actual satellite constellation.
5. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a receiver configured to receive, from the actual satellite constellation, the constellation data.
6. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 4 , further comprising:
a storage device containing the constellation data.
7. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate simulated signals that prevent the unmanned vehicle from being able to approach a restricted area identified by the user.
8. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a battery configured to provide power to the hand-held navigation disruption device.
9. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate a second set of simulated signals, wherein the second set of simulated signals correspond with one or more selected satellites of a second actual satellite constellation and comprise GNSS positioning or timing information that is different than GNSS positioning or timing information contained in a second set of signals transmitted from the second actual satellite constellation.
10. A hand-held navigation disruption device comprising:
a controller configured to:
select one or more satellites of an actual satellite constellation to simulate, based at least partially on an estimated position of an unmanned vehicle, and
generate a first set of simulated signals that correspond with the selected one or more satellites, wherein the first set of simulated signals comprise Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning or timing information that is different than GNSS positioning or timing information contained in a first set of signals transmitted from the actual satellite constellation;
a user interface configured to receive, from a user, at least one of the following signal generation parameters: signal transmission power, signal transmission duration, a selection of the actual satellite constellation to be simulated, a desired positional offset of the unmanned vehicle relative to an actual position of the unmanned vehicle, and a restricted area identified by the user;
a receiver configured to receive, from the actual satellite constellation, constellation data associated with the actual satellite constellation, the controller further configured to generate the first set of simulated signals, based at least partially on the received signal generation parameters and the constellation data;
a transmitter configured to transmit the first set of simulated signals towards the unmanned vehicle;
a battery configured to provide power to the hand-held navigation disruption device; and
a housing configured to house the controller, the receiver, the transmitter, and the battery, the housing having a weight and dimensions suitable for a single user to hold and operate the hand-held navigation disruption device.
11. The hand-held navigation disruption device of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate simulated signals that prevent the unmanned vehicle from being able to approach a restricted area identified by the user.
12. A method comprising:
selecting, at a hand-held navigation disruption device, one or more satellites of an actual satellite constellation to simulate, based at least partially on an estimated position of an unmanned vehicle;
generating, at the hand-held navigation disruption device, a first set of simulated signals that correspond with the selected one or more satellites, wherein the first set of simulated signals comprise Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning or timing information that is different than GNSS positioning or timing information contained in a first set of signals transmitted from the actual satellite constellation; and
transmitting, from the hand-held navigation disruption device, the first set of simulated signals towards the unmanned vehicle.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining a position of the hand-held navigation disruption device;
estimating a position of the unmanned vehicle based on at least one of the following: the position of the hand-held navigation disruption device, a direction of the unmanned vehicle from the hand-held navigation disruption device, and an estimated range of the unmanned vehicle from the hand-held navigation disruption device.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving, from a user, at least one of the following signal generation parameters: signal transmission power, signal transmission duration, a selection of the actual satellite constellation to be simulated, a desired positional offset of the unmanned vehicle relative to an actual position of the unmanned vehicle, and a restricted area identified by the user.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
generating the first set of simulated signals, based at least partially on the received signal generation parameters and constellation data associated with the actual satellite constellation.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving, from the actual satellite constellation, the constellation data.
17. The method of claim 12 , further comprises:
generating simulated signals that prevent the unmanned vehicle from being able to approach a restricted area identified by the user.
18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
generating a second set of simulated signals, wherein the second set of simulated signals correspond with one or more selected satellites of a second actual satellite constellation and comprise GNSS positioning or timing information that is different than GNSS positioning or timing information contained in a second set of signals transmitted from the second actual satellite constellation.