A method of mapping and localization is disclosed that includes, reconstructing a point cloud and a camera pose based on VSLAM, synchronizing the camera pose and a GPS timestamp at a first set of GPS coordinate points and transforming the first set of GPS coordinate points corresponding to the GPS timestamp into a first set of ECEF coordinate points. The method also includes determining a translation and a rotation between the camera pose and the first set of ECEF coordinate points, transforming the point cloud and the camera pose into a second set of ECEF coordinates based on the translation and the rotation and transforming the point cloud and the camera pose into a second set of GPS coordinate points. The method further includes constructing and storing a key-frame image, a key-frame timestamp and a key-frame GPS based on the second set of GPS coordinate points.

A positioning method in a satellite network, a communication apparatus, a computer-readable storage medium, a program, and a program product are provided. The method includes: a terminal device receives a first broadcast signal block of a first satellite; obtains a measurement value of the first broadcast signal block; obtains positioning assistance information, from the first satellite, indicating a frequency and a polarization direction of the second satellite, where a frequency and/or a polarization direction of the first satellite are/is different from the frequency and the polarization direction of the second satellite; receives a second broadcast signal block of the second satellite based on the positioning assistance information; obtains a measurement value of the second broadcast signal block; and obtains location information of the terminal device based on the measurement value of the first broadcast signal block and the measurement value of the second broadcast signal block.

According to one or more embodiments herein, interferometry-based satellite location accuracy is provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: determining, generally at a substantially given time, a reference satellite having a known accurate location within angular proximity of a communication satellite having a known general location; determining an accurate angular position of the communication satellite with relation to the reference satellite from the perspective of at least one ground station antenna of a known accurate location; determining an additional location reference measurement of the communication satellite; determining an accurate location of the communication satellite at the substantially given time based at least in part on the accurate angular position of the communication satellite with relation to the reference satellite from the perspective of the at least one ground station antenna and the additional location reference measurement of the communication satellite; and utilizing the accurate location of the communication satellite.

A user equipment (UE) configured to collect UE positioning information configured to indicate a location of the UE, wherein the UE is deployed onboard an airplane and report the UE positioning information to a cell of a non-terrestrial network (NTN). Also, a user equipment (UE) configured to receive a request for uplink positioning reference signals, wherein the uplink positioning reference signals are to indicate a location of the UE and wherein the UE is deployed on an airplane and transmit the uplink positioning reference signals to a cell of a non-terrestrial network (NTN).

An example calibration system may include a tractor and a calibration unit. The tractor may include a first sensor and a second sensor. The calibration unit may include a processing unit and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions to direct the processing unit to: (1) determine a first estimate for a tractor parameter based upon signals received from the first sensor; (2) determine a second estimate for the tractor parameter based upon signals received from the second sensor; (3) determine a third estimate for the tractor parameter based upon a combination of the first estimate and the second estimate; (4) determine a tractor parameter correction based upon the second estimate and the third estimate; and (4) apply the tractor parameter correction to the second sensor to control positioning of the tractor.

Aspects presented herein may improve the precision and performance of a TDOA-based UE positioning scheme that is associated with an NTN. In one aspect, a UE receives, from a first satellite, a first PRS at a first reception time. The UE receives, from a second satellite, a second PRS at a second reception time and an indication of a transmission-reception time difference, the transmission-reception time difference being a difference between a time the second satellite transmits the second PRS to the UE and a time the second satellite receives an RS from the first satellite. The UE calculates an RSTD for the first PRS and the second PRS based at least in part on the first reception time of the first PRS, the second reception time of the second PRS, and the transmission-reception time difference.

Apparatus and method for communication in non-terrestrial networks are disclosed. A set of Doppler shift curves for different distances to one or more satellite orbits is obtained. Measurements of satellite transmission are performed to obtain estimate of instantaneous Doppler shift of the transmission, the measurements including a timestamp. A Doppler shift curve corresponding to the measurements is calculated. A time offset on the selected curve is determined utilising the timestamps of the measurements, the time offset indicating the position of the Doppler shift of the apparatus on the curve. The Doppler shift of the satellite transmission is determined utilising the selected curve and the time offset.

A lunar orbiting satellite system executes orbit planning of assigning a function (positioning, communication, and flashing) to an artificial satellite (AS) depending on a relative position of the AS to the moon at a time when the moon and the AS are observed from an input point on the earth, and correcting the relative position, which changes in accordance with the moon revolution period. The system includes: a satellite orbit planner which assigns a function to each ASs forming an AS group flying around the moon depending on a relative position of each ASs to the moon at a time when the moon and ASs are observed from an input point on the earth, and set a target orbit according to the function; and a satellite controller which causes the each ASs to execute control based on the function to implement switching of the function.

The invention provides a method and an architecture for deploying non-terrestrial cellular network base stations, so as to enable cellular network coverage in remote areas, where no fixed infrastructure is available. The proposed methods allow for efficient power management at the terminal devices that need to synchronize to the airborne or spaceborne cellular base stations. This is particularly important for IoT devices, which have inherently limited power are computing resources.

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for determining the misalignment between a device and a platform (such as for example a vessel or vehicle) using acceleration and/or deceleration of the platform, wherein the device can be strapped or non-strapped to the platform, wherein in case of non-strapped the mobility of the device may be constrained or unconstrained within the platform. In case of non-strapped, the device may be moved or tilted to any orientation within the platform and still provide a seamless navigation solution without degrading the performance of this navigation solution. When the device is in a holder in the platform, it is still considered non-strapped, as it may move with respect to the platform. The present method can utilize measurements (readings) from sensors (such as for example, accelerometers, odometer/wheel encoders, gyroscopes, etc.) whether in the presence or in the absence of navigational information updates (such as, for example, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or WiFi positioning).