A Research Department is offering this grant for Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing (APNT) Vegetation Analysis and Support for Autonomous Vehicle Testing.

Background:

Understanding how Global Positioning System (GPS) signals are influenced by vegetation structure allows for the determination of how specific technologies might be affected in certain forested environments. The work we are seeking shall involve creating detailed vegetation structure models and assessment of GPS coverage to support assured position, navigation, timing (APNT) activities and tests in forested and mixed topographic relief areas. 

Brief Description of Anticipated Work:

Provide detailed vegetation data analysis for assessment of loss and degraded GPS signals which could include canopy structure, speciation, and dimensionality. Applicant would create and supply these data prior to APNT field tests and would provide technical assistance in analyzing vegetation during tests.

2)   Provide field base of operations for position, navigation, and timing experiments including outdoor space, laboratory space (computer, wet, dry), wooded and non-wooded terrain drives, and collaboration space. Facilities must have high speed internet and availability for web conferencing. Local geodetic control monuments to aid in measurements and terrain input for maneuvers are required.

3)   Provide access to spatial data including current and detailed aerial imagery and other field systems (web based), to assist in identifying and “pre-delineate” areas that would not be suitable for navigation experiments.

4)   Acquire and provide access to on-site real-time data for experiments including, continually operated reference sites/real-time kinematic (CORS/RTK) GPS and real-time meteorological data with known geodetic control. 

5)   Provide access to dormitory facilities for use in multiday experiments. 

6)  Provide vessel support and crew for testing sensors for aquatic navigation