Project Overview

Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) is key to essential sectors such as transport, defence, mining, space, automation, agriculture, and national security. PNT currently heavily relies on using Global Navigation Satellite systems (GNSS). However, GNSS has known shortcomings resulting in signal blockage by structures and being vulnerable to radio frequency (RF) interference and spoofing. Recently, the novel use of signals from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mega-constellations, such as Starlink, OneWeb, and Iridium has been introduced to address this capability gap. Although LEO satellite signals were originally designed to provide Internet and communications, their Doppler measurements can be used for PNT, and therefore are known as Signals of Opportunity (SOP). LEO can offer several benefits from providing stronger signal power that makes them trackable in deep attenuation environments to being resistant to RF interference. LEO satellites also move much faster than GNSS, with a rapid change in their geometry, which enables higher PNT accuracy at a sub-metre level. To benefit from the huge potential market, OneWeb, Xona Pulsar, and the European Space Agency (ESA) are currently developing their LEO-dedicated PNT systems. 
The LEO satellites providing SOP signals, however, were not designed to have overlap, and thus there is no guarantee that enough number of satellites would be available for PNT at any one location in urban areas, where GNSS is suffering, and PNT is critically needed. On the other hand, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are characterized by their high short-term extrapolation accuracy, and availability in all environments, thus exhibit strong complementarity with GNSS, where their integration synergizes the strengths of both to achieve superior navigational quality than using either system alone. Additionally, cameras nowadays prove their effectiveness in urban areas and hence are widely used for positioning of modern cars and can accordingly aid other sensors. 
Therefore, in practice, a hybrid LEO+GNSS+ low-cost IMU+cameras will provide a cost-efficient integrated ensemble of sensors benefiting from their distinct complementary characteristics that can enable positioning in GNSS-denied or low-visibility environments.  
However, such hybrid system, in particular in the presence of the new LEO-enabled PNT systems, still needs to be developed.

Aims

The overarching aim of this project is to develop integrated LEO/GNSS/IMU/camera navigation and positioning system for PNT. This will enable and enhance positioning performance in environments where GNSS signals are obstructed or unreliable, and improve resistance to interference and spoofing in similar and other environments. The research will need to address challenges in this integration of sensors, such as how to extract useful navigational observables (pseudorange, Doppler, and/or carrier phase) from LEO SOP signals, the optimal algorithm of estimation and integration of these sensors, setting the parameters that regulate using the best set of observations when more observations are available, how to address their combined errors, and how errors from one system affect other sensors, in particular if tightly coupled algorithms are used.

Objectives

1. Development of an efficient estimation algorithm for a new holistic integrated next-generation navigation system comprising LEO + GNSS + low-cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)+Cameras, addressing the limitations and capabilities of each sensor under different work environments. 
2. Study the impact of the errors of different sensors, including the reciprocal effect of errors from one sensor affecting another, and methods for treatment of these errors. 
3. Study improving the continuity, reliability, and availability of navigation and positioning services using the integrated sensors.

Significance 

The project addresses a significant limitation in GNSS-based PNT systems and ensures continuous PNT services for essential sectors such as transport, defence, and resources, amongst Australia's prime stakeholders. GNSS-PNT capability denial would lead to substantial safety risks and a significant loss of income. By integrating LEO+IMU+Cameras with GNSS this project will help in solving this problem. The project's outcomes are aligned with the objectives of the Australian Space Agency and contribute to advancing Australia's space capabilities, which has been identified as a priority in the 2021-2030 Decadal Plan set by the Australian Academy of Science.

The project is well-aligned with the strategic plan of the School and is in one of its core research areas. This project has all the required resources. The hardware is already available. Funding to carry out testing is provided through an ongoing ARC DP grant. Research collaboration with ESA and companies such as SkycKraft (Australia), Thales (Australia and France), and Hong Kong Poly Tech, and building our own LEO receiver, ensure all required data will be available. The School will provide space and computing facilities. The project is led by Prof Ahmed El-Mowafy within the GNSS Satellite Positioning and Navigation Group (SPAN) http://www.gnss.curtin.edu.au, which is very active group, who includes Research Associates (post-Doc) and PhD students, which provides an exemplar dynamic environment for research development and PhD collaboration and collegiality.  In the past 6 years, the group has won and leads 3 ARC discovery projects, and 4 CRC and industry projects. The group has on-going collaboration with domestic universities (UNSW, RMIT, QUT, and Uni Melbourne), Geosciences Australia and Australia Space Agency, and international collaboration with TU Delft (Netherlands), DLR and TUM (Germany), the University of Tokyo MST (Japan), The University of Calgary (Canada), Stanford (USA), Gebze Uni (Turkey), Hong Kong Poly Tech, Tongji and the Chinese Academy of Science (China).

An internship may be available for this project. Thales Australia (Melbourne) or Geoscience Australia (Canberra).

• Future Students

• Faculty of Science & Engineering
  • Science courses
  • Engineering courses

• Higher Degree by Research

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa
• International Student

• Merit Based

The annual scholarship package, covering both stipend and tuition fees, amounts to approximately $70,000 per year.

In 2024, the RTP stipend scholarship offers $35,000 per annum for a duration of up to three years. Exceptional progress and adherence to timelines may qualify students for a six-month completion scholarship.

Selection for these scholarships involves a competitive process, with shortlisted applicants notified of outcomes by November 2024.

1

All applicable HDR courses.

We are looking for a self-motivated PhD candidate with very good knowledge of satellite-based positioning methods, with excellent organistation, problem-solving, teamwork, and project management skills. Candidates with strong quantitative skills, including familiarity with GNSS and some knowledge of Inertial Systems, and photogrammetry, with demonstrated programming skills using any of Matlab, C++, or Python languages are desired for this project. Must be eligible to enroll in PhD programs at Curtin.
 

Please send your CV, academic transcripts and brief rationale why you want to join this research project via the HDR Expression of Interest form to the project lead researcher, listed below. 

You must be enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2025.

Project Lead: Professor Ahmed El-Mowafy