Current Research Projects – Institute of Geodesy

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.-Ing. Steffen Schön

Team: Johannes Kröger, M.Sc.

Year: 2024

Funding: Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), grant number: 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: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Forschergruppe (FOR) 5455

Modelling Quantum Sensors in a Realistic Navigation System Context – SimulaQrUm

Positioning, navigation and timing are crucial for modern systems in transportation, agriculture and aerospace, but conventional GNSS signals often reach their limits, for example in cities or underwater. This project, together with partners such as the Institute of Quantum Optics (IQO) and Airbus Defense and Space, is developing a new simulation tool to make navigation solutions more reliable and stable by combining quantum sensors and inertial sensors.

Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön

Team: Dr. Benjamin Tennstedt, Nicolai B. Weddig, M.Sc.

Year: 2024

Funding: European Space Agency (ESA), Förderkennzeichen: NAVISP-EL1-089

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"

Navigation with Quantum Sensors in Space (SpaceQNav)

The project is focused on research on innovative quantum inertial sensor technology to improve space navigation. The objective is to significantly increase navigation performance by revolutionizing precision and long-term stability for missions from Earth orbit to the lunar surface. By analysing design requirements and evaluation strategies, the full potential of this technology will be exploited.

Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön

Team: Dr. Alireza HosseiniArani, Arpetha C. Sreekantaiah, M. Sc.

Year: 2023

Funding: Federal Ministry of Economy and Climate Affairs (BMWK/DLR), grant number: 50NA2310A

Development of a compact experimental platform of a gyro-stabilized quantum navigation sensor (QGyroPlus)

The aim of the project is to develop a unique six-axis quantum inertial navigation sensor that enables drift-free and high-precision navigation for the first time. This pioneering technology will be tested as a compact experimental platform during the course of the project and could open the door to completely new areas of application in autonomous navigation.

Led by: Prof. Dr. Steffen Schön

Team: Dr. Benjamin Tennstedt, Nicolai B. Weddig, M.Sc., Dr.-Ing. Tobias Kersten

Year: 2023

Funding: Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Affairs (BMWK / DLR), grant number: 50NA2106

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

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

Bounding and propagating observation uncertainty with interval mathematic (GRK 2159)

Intervals (Jaulin et al 2001) can be seen as a natural way to bound observation uncertainty in navigation systems such as GPS, IMU or optical sensors like LIDAR, since they are in principle free of any assumption about probability distributions and can thus describe adequately remaining systematic effects (Schön 2016, Schön and Kutterer 2006). In this project, we intent to experimentally investigate in more details the actual size of observation intervals.

Led by: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Schön

Team: Jingyao Su, M.Sc.

Year: 2020

Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Graduiertenkolleg GRK 2159

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 of Economy and Energy (BMWi), grant number: 50NA2101

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: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Graduiertenkolleg GRK 2159