SCP-ONS PoD

Highly Flexible SDR Waveform for Space Navigation and Remote Sensing

To address the growing demand for highly configurable / flexible space qualified GNSS receivers supporting a wide variety of navigation and science missions, Loctronix is has developed the SCP-ONS software defined radio (SDR) waveform product. Based on Loctronix' SCP technology, SCP-ONS delivers state-of-the-art performance supporting GNSS and other signals of opportunity.

The component-based waveform can be readily adapted to fit a variety of SDR platforms to meet multiple mission requirements. Whether requiring sub-meter accuracy at geo-synchronous orbit (GEO), high-rate ionospheric and Earth radio occultation data in low earth orbit (LEO), SCP-ONS provides the core signal processing functions. All in a form-factor that can meet challenging size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements ranging from CubeSat to secondary hosted payload missions.

Key Benefits

  • SDR based, making it easy to change mission purpose even in flight
  • Readily adaptable to currently available SDR hardware some having previous space flight heritage
  • State-of-the-art performance: rapid acquisition, weak-signal operation, multiple GNSS, and open loop tracking capabilities.
  • SCP-ONS does not require carrier tracking loops to acquire and process intercepted signals.
  • Flexible component configuration options to fit special purpose missions
  • Designed to support current and future GNSS and capable of supporting terrestrial signals of opportunity such as cellular and digital television transmissions.
  • SCP-ONS can meet the most challenging SWaP requirements (e.g. CubeSat) without sacrificing performance.

MEP Logical

SCP-ONS Waveform Functions

Comprised of seven primary components, the SCP-ONS waveform software implements the core sensing functions supporting a variety of navigation and science applications. SCP-ONS waveform can be tailored to meet the SDR platform requirements.

  • Hybrid SCP GNSS – advanced GNSS digital signal processing combines SCP techniques with traditional code correlation, producing a significantly simpler receiver architecture with rapid acquisition, excellent weak signal, and "all in view" capabilities. Supports multiple GNSS including GPS (L1/L2/L5 C/A, C, P(Y)), GLONASS, Galileo, Compass (Beidou).
  • SCP SigOps – This is the core RF signal processing engine implementing SCP technology, which tracks signals of opportunity providing Doppler / ranging observables for use in the sensor fusion process.
  • DAIN – inertial and magnetometer sensor suite for enabling DAIN sensor fusion processing. See DAIN Sensor Fusion below.
  • Signal Tracking and Control – signal tracking and control functions assigns channel processing to intercepted signals, balancing performance with power consumption.
  • DAIN Sensor Fusion – multi-sensor federated fusion engine combines all available sensor input and determines current position, speed, and direction using our proprietary DAIN technology. The fusion engine utilizes multiple maximum likelihood estimators and fuzzy logic to align sensor observables with multiple motion profiles delivering superior performance even when handheld by the user.
  • DCI Protocol – Loctronix proprietary Device Communications Interface (DCI) application protocol for packed binary communications with SCP-ONS functions. Lightweight protocol minimizes communication bandwidth requirements while supporting a large variety of communication transport protocols (serial, TCP/IP, etc). All
  • Power Management – optimizes power consumption based on the device’s operating state. Sensors and processing functions are shut down and activated only as needed. Rapid warm-start capability, reduces the need to remain 100% active.

The Chameleon Receiver, an SCP-ONS Solution

The first end-to-end solution based on SCP-ONS is the Chameleon Receiver platform being jointly developed with Emergent Space Technologies, Inc. and a world class spacecraft avionics provider. The companies are collaborating to develop the first space-qualified SDR based GNSS and signal of opportunity receiver that can be dynamically reprogrammed and configurable even while on orbit.

Emergent has over a decade of experience designing mission operations automation software, orbit determination, and has worked on many NASA, NOAA, DARPA, and USAF programs. Loctronix’s spacecraft avionics partner has over 50 years of experience building space-qualified hardware systems for space flight and 53 missions without an on-orbit failure.