The intent of this research opportunity is to incorporate resilient and flexible forward error correction (FEC) techniques into next generation Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) for ultra-reliable low-latency GNSS-enabled PNT information, which enhances real-time situational awareness for command and control, synchronizes communications, and enables the accuracy and efficiency of DoD capabilities at every point in a time-critical kill chain, all of which work together to field a lethal, resilient, and highly adaptable Joint Force. GNSS-enabled PNT service will be determined to be ultra-reliable and low latency compliant if it continues to provide reliable PNT information over the time period required by a specific mission at certain levels of timeliness and accuracy required by the time-critical mission in the contested physical, electromagnetic, and cyber environment.

 While Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC), convolutional codes and the likes will remain the cornerstone FEC capability for GNSS-enabled PNT services, theoretical performance limits of such finite-length coded schemes have not been explored at all. Therefore, it is not clear how effective and efficient the existing FEC designs are in terms of near-capacity performance, time to first fix, bit-level error correction, packet-level erasure protection, and urban multi-path fading environments. Of the various components within this tech need, the development is needed in: i) Diverse navigation data structures, including evolving short and very short block lengths; ii) Low latency FEC codes having flexible code rates and lengths, pre/post bit error rates, operations per bit; iii) Information-theoretical limits for overlaying short and very-short FEC codes onto existing families of satellite spreading codes and navigation modulations; and iv) Fast and scalable signal processing techniques subject to size, weight, and power requirements.

References

1. T.-K. Le, U. Salim, and F. Kaltenberger, “An Overview of Physical Layer Design for Ultra- Reliable Low-Latency Communications in 3GPP Releases 15, 16, and 17,” IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 433–444, 2021.

2. Congress, “Spectrum Interference Issues: Ligado, the L-Band, and GPS,” Congressional Research Service. Available online at https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11558, 2020.

 

key words

Forward error correction; ultra-reliable low-latency GNSS; flexible code rates; scalable signal processing; information-theoretic limits

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants

Additional Benefits

Relocation

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

Health insurance

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.