The GNSS signal phase measurement to determine the trajectory disturbances for a small air vehicle

The GNSS signal and its phase measurement will determine the small trajectory disturbances of a moving vehicle (small air vehicle, possibly UAV). The disturbances are compared to the `ideal' trajectory which is a straight line or a smooth curve. The turbulence and other influences then cause the trajectory disturbances with different statistical and frequency characteristics. These differences can distinguish the disturbances which are then processed, evaluated and measured. The GNSS signal and its phase is considered to be used for a trajectory disturbances measurement. The proposed method processes the phase changes of a received signal at the output of a tracking loop of a GNSS receiver to provide the indication and measurement of the trajectory disturbances with amplitude span of centimeters.