An ocean current measurement method, includes: acquiring three-dimensional coordinates measured by four GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) positioning modules on the surface drifting buoy and attitude data of the surface drifting buoy measured by an attitude sensor; correcting the three-dimensional coordinates measured by the four GNSS positioning modules based on the attitude data; optimizing the corrected three-dimensional coordinates of the four GNSS positioning modules according to the mounting positions; converting the optimized three-dimensional coordinates of the four GNSS positioning modules into latitude and longitude coordinates; and calculating coordinates of the surface drifting buoy, an instantaneous flow velocity and flow direction of ocean current and sea surface elevation through the latitude and longitude coordinates of the four GNSS positioning modules. The coordinates with higher precision can be obtained, and the flow velocity, flow direction and sea surface elevation of the sea area where the buoy is located can be measured.

Presented herein are systems and methods for generating a consistent set of signals to be processed by a PVT processor. In one or more examples, a GNSS receiver can receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of signal sources. In one or more examples, the systems and methods can generate clusters that have been vetted using cost functions so as to maximize the probability that any cluster that is sent to the PVT processor contains legitimate GNSS signals, and does not include any spoofed or otherwise illegitimate signals, thereby maximizing the probability that a PVT solution produced by the PVT processor is accurate.

Presented herein are systems and methods for generating a consistent set of signals to be processed by a PVT processor. In one or more examples, a GNSS receiver can receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of signal sources. In one or more examples, the systems and methods can generate clusters that have been vetted using cost functions so as to maximize the probability that any cluster that is sent to the PVT processor contains legitimate GNSS signals, and does not include any spoofed or otherwise illegitimate signals, thereby maximizing the probability that a PVT solution produced by the PVT processor is accurate.

A surveying pole is part of a primary surveying system (e.g., a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) or a total station). Cameras are mounted to the surveying pole and used for ground tracking as the survey pole is moved from a place where the primary surveying system is unimpeded to an environment where the primary surveying system is impaired (e.g., to a GNSS-impaired environment or to a position that is blocked from view of the total station). Using ground tracking and/or other sensors, surveying can be continued even though the primary surveying system is impaired.

The disclosure relates to a method for GNSS-based localization of a vehicle, comprising at least the following steps: a) receiving GNSS-satellite signals from GNSS satellites and determining at least one item of distance information about the distance between the vehicle and the GNSS satellite emitting the relevant GNSS-satellite signal, b) determining at least one item of environmental information about the environment around the vehicle using image information determined using at least one environment sensor of the vehicle, which is capable of capturing images of at least part of the environment around the vehicle from different perspectives, c) determining at least one item of correction information using the at least one environmental information item, and d) correcting the at least one distance information item by means of the at least one correction information item.

The disclosure relates to a method for GNSS-based localization of a vehicle, comprising at least the following steps: a) receiving GNSS-satellite signals from GNSS satellites and determining at least one item of distance information about the distance between the vehicle and the GNSS satellite emitting the relevant GNSS-satellite signal, b) determining at least one item of environmental information about the environment around the vehicle using image information determined using at least one environment sensor of the vehicle, which is capable of capturing images of at least part of the environment around the vehicle from different perspectives, c) determining at least one item of correction information using the at least one environmental information item, and d) correcting the at least one distance information item by means of the at least one correction information item.

A tracking problem detection system for a machine may include tracking diagnostic circuitry including one or more tracking diagnostic processors configured to receive a location signal indicative of a location of a machine and a path signal indicative of a path location associated with at least a portion of a path for the machine to follow while maneuvering. The tracking diagnostic processors may also be configured to determine a tracking difference between the path location and the location of the machine, and determine a frequency of a signal associated with the tracking difference and/or a frequency of a signal associated with a yaw rate associated with the maneuvering. The tracking diagnostic processors may also be configured to detect, based at least in part on the frequencies of the signals associated with the tracking difference and/or the yaw rate, a tracking problem associated with maneuvering the machine.

Coordinated smart contract-based satellite management and operation is provided by obtaining terms of smart contracts that govern utilization of a constellation of Earth-orbiting satellites, which form a space-based data center, in transmitting data between the constellation of satellites and ground stations for receiving data transmissions. Different service providers operate different satellites of the constellation and different ground stations of the collection, and the smart contracts further govern servicing of requests made between the different service providers. A service provider operates satellite(s) of the constellation pursuant to the smart contracts and ground station(s) of the collection of ground stations. This includes receiving a request for data stored on a satellite, selecting a device to which the satellite is to send the data, the selecting being made between at least (i) a ground station and (ii) another satellite of the constellation, and initiating sending the data to the selected device.

Coordinated smart contract-based satellite management and operation is provided by obtaining terms of smart contracts that govern utilization of a constellation of Earth-orbiting satellites, which form a space-based data center, in transmitting data between the constellation of satellites and ground stations for receiving data transmissions. Different service providers operate different satellites of the constellation and different ground stations of the collection, and the smart contracts further govern servicing of requests made between the different service providers. A service provider operates satellite(s) of the constellation pursuant to the smart contracts and ground station(s) of the collection of ground stations. This includes receiving a request for data stored on a satellite, selecting a device to which the satellite is to send the data, the selecting being made between at least (i) a ground station and (ii) another satellite of the constellation, and initiating sending the data to the selected device.

A method for GNSS-based localization of a vehicle includes receiving a first set of satellite orbit data, using the first set of satellite orbit data when determining a first localization result, receiving a second set of satellite orbit data, checking a plausibility of the first set of satellite orbit data using the second set of satellite orbit data, and manipulating the first set of satellite orbit data and/or the first localization result and/or a localization filter when the plausibility check was not successful.