GPS jamming? No problem, low Earth orbit satellites hold the key to resilient, interference-free navigation

Written By: University of Vaasa

Increasingly occurring GPS jamming in Finland disrupts daily civilian activities, posing major navigational challenges. A new patented method using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and massive multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antennas addresses these location vulnerability issues, presenting means for precise navigation even where traditional global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) fail. This breakthrough was verified in a recent doctoral dissertation by Mahmoud Elsanhoury, from the University of Vaasa.

Mahmoud Elsanhoury’s doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa explores advanced positioning technologies to enhance navigation accuracy and reliability. The research covers multiple areas, including the development of a precise ultra-wideband (UWB) system for dense, indoor environments, which is also known as “the indoor GPS,” improvements in outdoor vehicular positioning using GNSS, and a novel LEO satellite-based positioning method that addresses many of the limitations of current GNSS systems. Elsanhoury’s work involved extensive testing and simulations, demonstrating significant advancements in both indoor and outdoor positioning accuracy.

“While advanced positioning technologies are crucial for overcoming challenges in navigation, including overcoming GPS jamming and interference, many current systems still fail in providing reliable solutions,” says Mahmoud Elsanhoury, who will be defending his dissertation on October 3, 2024 at the University of Vaasa.