Doppler Positioning of Dynamic Targets with Unknown LEO Satellite Signals

Abstract

A new concept of global navigation based on Doppler measurements from a large low Earth orbit (LEO) constellation is investigated that has potential to serve as a complement or backup to global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) to provide navigation and positioning services in GNSS denial environments. In this work, we investigate the potential of LEO communication satellite opportunity signals in dynamic navigation, establish LEO satellite Doppler positioning equations, derive the main error sources affecting the Doppler positioning results of a dynamic target, and analyze the impact of each error source on positioning accuracy through a simulation. The results show that the orbit error and clock drift had a large impact on positioning accuracy. This navigation scheme would be more competitive if it could provide high-precision satellite orbits and accurate Doppler measurements. The obtained results show that the LEO satellite signals used as navigation opportunity signals are an attractive alternative in GNSS rejection environments for high dynamic targets.