Robustness Testing of a Compact Distributed Automotive GNSS Array in Virtual Environment

To develop a compact distributed array for safe and robust automotive satellite navigation, considerable work on testing prototypes is in progress. Before scheduling resource-hungry outdoor tests, functionality and robustness of a Galileo-compatible compact distributed 4-element L-shaped array receiver has been tested against interference in a virtual environment at E5a frequency band. Such an array consisting of compact quarter wavelength sub-arrays distributed over many wavelengths, fed with a decoupling network, mounted in side mirrors of a mock-up car was measured and evaluated with and without a jammer. The effects of automotive mounting location and robustness of the receiver against the jammer have been analyzed in terms of measured radiation patterns and achieved carrier-to-noise-density ratio of the received satellite signals.