Current Research Projects

GNSS and Inertial Navigation

  • Accurate prediction of GNSS antenna performance in automotive scenarios - Accurauto
    The German federal state authorities operate GNSS correction data services for precise localisation using satellite navigation systems (GNSS). However, this data is seldom used for vehicle localisation. However, the reason for this is that large errors are caused by the vehicle's receiving antennas. Low-cost vehicle antennas have been measured to have errors of up to several metres, and strong correlations with vehicle type and installation location have been demonstrated. This leads to unresolved challenges in the calibration of GNSS receiving antennas for vehicles.
    Led by: Prof. Dr. Schön
    Team: Johannes Kröger, M.Sc.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: BMDV - Neue Technologien für Verkehrsmittel, Niedersachsen (FKZ: 19F1189B)
  • Deformation Analysis Based on Terrestrial Laser Scanner Measurements (TLS-Defo, FOR 5455, Project 5)
    Our research aims to enhance the Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) uncertainty budget by developing strategies for deterministic observation intervals and transforming error bands into point uncertainties. We are also introducing distribution-free surface uncertainty measures to improve the precision and reliability of TLS data.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Reza Naeimaei, M. Sc.
    Year: 2024
    Funding: DFG, FOR 5455
  • Grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Lower Saxony
    In this project, a DAB-to-GNSS receiving module is developed that can receive and process GNSS corrections via DAB technology. It will be tested in comparison to mobile communications. The evaluation includes quantitative and qualitative investigation of the data stream and practical tests of the module in GNSS applications. The project is a cooperation with RFmondial GmbH.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Thomas Krawinkel
    Year: 2023
    Funding: Grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the state of Lower Saxony in the funding scheme "Innovationsförderprogramm für Forschung und Entwicklung"
  • Gewinn eines grundlegenden Verständnisses der Mehrwege - Antennen - Empfänger - Interaktionen zur Standardisierung der Kalibrierung von Codephasenvariationen von GNSS-Empfangsantennen
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön, Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Team: Yannick Breva
    Year: 2022
    Funding: DFG, Project number: 470510446
  • 5GAPS: 5G Access to Public Spaces
    In this research project, the positioning capabilities of the latest mobile communication standard 5G NR are investigated. Due to the increasing demand for communication and the widespread installation of 5G NR networks, terrestrial signal sources can provide an alternative or complement to GNSS signals when GNSS signals are unavailable or a limited by the environment.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing Steffen Schön
    Team: Kai-Niklas Baasch, M.Sc.
    Year: 2022
    Funding: Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr (BMDV) - 45FG121_F
  • Interferometric Fibre Links (CRC 1464, A05)
    The overarching goal, to establish chronometric levelling as a routine tool for geodesy, requires research and developments for high precision frequency transfer in the areas of Interferometric Fibre Links (IFLs) and Global Naviation Satellite System - Frequency Transfer (GNSS-FT). The development of fieldable IFLs equipment, ultraprecise GNSS-FT and their use for chronometric levelling, are new areas of research and development, which will open up many applications of geodetic interest. We aim to realise an island-mainland chronometric levelling campaign using IFL and GNSS-FT, and the transportable optical clocks developed in A04.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön, Dr. Jochen Kronjäger
    Team: Ahmed Elmaghraby, Dr. Thomas Krawinkel, Dr. Alexander Kuhl, Shambo Mukherjee
    Year: 2021
    Funding: DFG
  • Correction of GNSS multipath effects for reliable autonomous localisation of highly automated vehicles in metropolitan areas (KOMET)
    The code range (code measurement) used in automotive applications often cannot provide the required resolution of the location due to the high measurement noise. The complex GNSS signal propagation (signal shading, multipath effects) in urban environments makes the determination of an accurate and robust positioning solution a particularly challenging task - e.g. for positioning in narrow street canyons. The research project aims to develop and implement innovative correction methods to reduce multipath effects in order to improve carrier phase-based GNSS positioning.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön, Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten, M.Sc. Fabian Ruwisch
    Year: 2020
    Funding: BMWi / TÜV Rheinland Consulting GmbH
    © Ch. Skupin (Bosch)
  • FIRST: Fingerprinting, Integrity Monitoring and Receiver Signal Processing Using Miniature Atomic Clock Technology
    In order to improve the performance of the determination of position, velocity and time by means of GNSS measurements, nowadays Chip Scale Atomic Clocks (CSACs) are frequently used, which provide a highly stable frequency signal to the GNSS receiver. However, until now, the improvement of the navigation solution has only been algorithmic. In this project, the influence of the receiver clock on the quality of signal processing in a software receiver will be investigated by adapting the internal processing steps to the high frequency stability of the CSAC signal. In addition, the feasibility of fingerprinting with highly stable atomic clocks under different dynamic conditions will be investigated and additional integrity measures for GNSS-based time transfer will be developed.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Qianwen Lin, M. Sc.
    Year: 2020
    Funding: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi)
  • Collaborative Navigation for Smart Cities (GRK 2159)
    Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) is the only navigation sensor that provides absolute positioning. However, urban areas form the most challenging environment for GNSS to achieve a reliable position. Because of the reduced satellite visibility and disturbed signal propagation like diffraction and multipath, the resulting position has a reduced accuracy and availability. The overall research objective of this project is to reduce these shortcomings through collaboration. Therefore, similarity of multipath at different locations within streets will be studied.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Anat Schaper, Jingyao Su, Dennis Kulemann
    Year: 2019
    Funding: DFG
  • QGyro: Quantum Optics Inertial Sensor Research
    The objective of this research programme is to develop and test high-precision quantum inertial sensors that support conventional inertial navigation sensors in order to expand these sensors to up to 6 degrees of freedom and use them for autonomous navigation in various further development stages.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: M.Sc. Benjamin Tennstedt, Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Year: 2019
    Funding: BMWi | German Aerospace Centre (DLR) - 50RK1957
    Duration: 2019 - 2022
  • Integrity Monitoring for Network RTK Systems
    From the advent of the satellite positioning techniques, civil users have always been trying to find a way to have more accurate and precise coordinates of their position. Differential concepts, from early days of GPS, have been considered. Applying the RTCM format, made the transmission of corrections possible from reference stations to the users. At first stage the corrections were casted to the users from one single station, which is called single RTK (Real Time Kinematic). This method is limited in some ways; degrading by increasing distance from CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Station), needed same signals at reference and rover and remaining the reference station errors. For compensating these shortages, the Network RTK concept appeared. In NRTK the corrections are produced using a network (at least three) of reference stations. The concept of Precise Point Positioning (PPP) is currently associated with global networks. Precise orbit and clock solutions are used to enable absolute positioning of a single receiver. However, it is restricted in ambiguity resolution, in convergence time and in accuracy. Precise point positioning based on RTK networks (PPP-RTK) overcomes these limitations and gives centimeter-accuracy in a few seconds.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Ali Karimidoona, M. Sc.
    Year: 2018
    Funding: DAAD
  • Kinematic GNSS positioning of Low Earth Orbiters (CRC 1128, B03)
    Strengthening the accuracy of kinematic orbits of Low Earth Orbiters through an adopted Precise Point Positioning (PPP) enhanced by GNSS Receiver Clock Modeling and the concept of a Virtual Receiver is the overall objective of this project.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: M.Sc. Christoph Wallat
    Year: 2014
    Funding: DFG
  • Turbulence investigations and improved modelling of atmospheric refraction with VLBI and GNSS
    Improved characterization of refractivity fluctuations, determination of turbulence parameters and enhanced modelling of neutrospheric refraction effects
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Franziska Kube
    Year: 2012
    Funding: DFG (SCHO 1314/3-1)
  • Verbesserte Positionierung und Navigation durch konsistente Multi-GNSS Antennenkorrekturen
    Investigation of effects of code phase delays (GDV) on the GNSS-based positioning and navigation as well as the development of a method for an adequate comparison of different calibration results.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Tobias Kersten
    Year: 2012
    Funding: BMWI | 50NA1216
  • Bürgernahes Flugzeug
    Improvement of quality and decrease of signal loss during GNSS-based curved landing approaches as part of the development of a "Metropolitain Aircraft".
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Franziska Kube
    Year: 2011
    Funding: Government of Lower Saxony
  • Navigation und Positionierung in difficult enviornments
    Analyse of High-Sensitivity GNSS Sensors
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dipl.-Ing. Olaf Bielenberg
    Year: 2011
  • Modelling physical correlation of GNSS phase observations by means of turbulence theory
    Modelling of physikal Correlations on GNSS Phase Observables using the Approach of turbulence theory
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Markus Vennebusch
    Year: 2011
    Funding: DFG (SCHO 1314/1-1).
  • Modeling and correction of GNSS multipath effect through Software receiver and Ray tracing
    Describing Multipath by Software receiver and Ray tracing.
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: M.Sc. Marios Smyrnaios
    Year: 2011
    Funding: BMWI and German Aerospace Center (DLR)
  • Investigations of distance dependent systematic effects
    Correction models for distance dependent effects in small GPS networks
    Led by: Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Team: Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Year: 2006
  • Assessment of remaining systematic effects by interval mathematics
    Assessment of remaining systematic effects by interval mathematics
    Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön
    Year: 2006
    Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)