Global Navigation Satellite System Interference Source Localization Algorithm via Single-antenna Synthetic Aperture on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform

WANG Lu; WANG Xuan; WU Renbiao

doi:10.11999/JEIT250169

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WANG Lu, WANG Xuan, WU Renbiao. Global Navigation Satellite System Interference Source Localization Algorithm via Single-antenna Synthetic Aperture on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology. doi: 10.11999/JEIT250169

Citation:

WANG Lu, WANG Xuan, WU Renbiao. Global Navigation Satellite System Interference Source Localization Algorithm via Single-antenna Synthetic Aperture on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology. doi: 10.11999/JEIT250169

Citation:

WANG Lu, WANG Xuan, WU Renbiao. Global Navigation Satellite System Interference Source Localization Algorithm via Single-antenna Synthetic Aperture on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform[J]. Journal of Electronics & Information Technology. doi: 10.11999/JEIT250169

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Global Navigation Satellite System Interference Source Localization Algorithm via Single-antenna Synthetic Aperture on the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform

doi: 10.11999/JEIT250169 cstr: 32379.14.JEIT250169

Tianjin Key Laboratory for Advanced Signal Processing, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, China

Funds: The National Natural Science Foundation of China (U213320021)

Received Date: 2025-03-18
Rev Recd Date: 2025-08-07

Available Online: 2025-08-11

Abstract

Abstract

Objective As Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum congestion intensifies and electromagnetic interference incidents occur more frequently, the reliable operation of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) is increasingly threatened. To ensure GNSS functionality, interference sources must be accurately monitored and localized. Conventional localization methods are constrained by the limited aperture of physical antenna arrays and often incur high deployment costs. With the gradual opening of low-altitude airspace, small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly used as platforms for remote sensing, electronic reconnaissance, and communication tasks, offering a practical alternative for GNSS interference localization. Passive Synthetic Aperture (PSA) techniques have emerged as a solution to overcome the aperture limitations of physical arrays and are well suited for integration with UAV platforms. In this study, PSA technology is combined with a UAV-based system to locate GNSS interference sources. A unified signal model is established to describe various interference types. Based on this model, a slant-range-accurate Range-Doppler (RD) algorithm is derived and further integrated with the Back Projection (BP) algorithm to perform joint localization. This combined RD–BP approach enhances positioning accuracy while reducing computational complexity, demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed UAV-based PSA localization framework. Methods This approach integrates a RD positioning algorithm based on a precise slant range expression with a BP algorithm. First, an accurate slant range expression is derived using the interference source direction and Doppler frequency. Applying this expression and the principle of stationary phase, the signal is transformed into the RD domain. Multiple matched filters are then constructed in the Doppler domain using the range gate. The outputs of these filters are converted into the range-azimuth domain for peak detection, yielding a coarse estimate of the interference source location. However, this initial estimate is susceptible to errors due to factors such as platform sampling rate and azimuth sampling interval. To refine the estimate, the BP algorithm is employed for fine positioning. A grid is defined around the coarse estimate, and each grid point is used to compute the projected signal. These projected signals are coherently accumulated with the received signals and integrated along the azimuth direction. Peak searching is then performed on the accumulated results to obtain the final, high-precision localization result. Results and Discussions Simulation results validate the effectiveness and excellent performance of the proposed RD-BP algorithm. As shown in (Fig. 7), (Fig. 10), and (Fig. 13), the algorithm successfully localizes interference sources after preprocessing for narrowband interference, Linear Frequency Modulated (LFM) interference, and spoofing interference. These results indicate the algorithm’s broad applicability across various interference types. (Fig. 14) illustrates the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) under two scenarios in which the interference source is either close or distant. In both cases, RMSE decreases as the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) increases. When the source is nearby, RMSE changes slowly, indicating stable performance. When the source is distant, the algorithm maintains strong performance at higher SNRs. (Fig. 15) shows that under SNR conditions of –10 dB and 15 dB, RMSE increases with target distance. However, the RD-BP algorithm consistently outperforms other methods in accuracy, demonstrating its robustness and adaptability across varying distances. (Fig. 16) further confirms that RMSE stabilizes as the synthetic aperture length increases under both –10 dB and 15 dB SNR conditions. When the aperture length exceeds 100 m, the RD-BP algorithm achieves superior performance relative to other methods and approaches the Cramér–Rao Lower Bound (CRLB), indicating near-optimal estimation accuracy. (Table 1) compares the computational and localization performance of the proposed algorithm with that of the RD algorithm alone. While the RD algorithm is sensitive to platform sampling frequency, flight velocity, and other operational parameters, the RD-BP algorithm mitigates these limitations. It improves localization accuracy while maintaining manageable computational complexity, offering an effective trade-off between precision and efficiency. Conclusions This study addresses the problem of locating GNSS interference sources using low-altitude, low-speed UAV platforms. A localization method based on single-antenna synthetic aperture technology is proposed. The study begins by categorizing different types of GNSS interference and their respective preprocessing strategies. An RD algorithm is then derived based on the precise slant range representation, leveraging the relative direction of the interference source with respect to the UAV to achieve coarse localization. To address the accuracy limitations inherent in the RD algorithm due to initial condition constraints, an improved approach is proposed by incorporating the BP algorithm. This enhancement enables refined localization within a narrowed search region. Simulation results confirm that the proposed algorithm can reliably localize common GNSS interference sources under various interference conditions. Compared to conventional methods such as array antenna direction finding, the proposed technique requires only a single antenna mounted on the UAV platform, thereby increasing system flexibility and reducing both cost and design complexity. This demonstrates the feasibility of the method for rapid and efficient localization of GNSS interference sources.
- Interference source location,
- Passive Synthetic Aperture (PSA),
- Range-Doppler(RD) algorithm,
- Back Project(BP) algorithm

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References(24)

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