Enhancing maritime navigation: a novel approach to validate GNSS solutions with a single R-Mode station

Abstract

The reliance on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) for modern vessel poses a critical point of failure. GNSS is vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, and other threats that can increase the risk of accidents. In response, alternative sources of navigational information are being sought. R-Mode offers a promising solution by leveraging terrestrial infrastructure to provide PNT data independently of GNSS. A minimum of three stations in view is needed to obtain a position and timing information. While a single R-Mode station in view cannot provide independent positioning, the received data can still be used to validate a GNSS solutions and detect threats like spoofing or outages. In this study, we introduce a novel approach to validate GNSS positions using R-Mode ranging information from a single station by combining the expected accuracy of the measurements with the geometrical relationship between the GNSS solution and the known R-Mode transmitter location. Our method was tested with real measurements in post-processing, where simulated spoofing events were introduced to mimic real-world scenarios. During these events, the GNSS solution deviated by approximately 100 m from original position. Our technique successfully detected the spoofing instances and raised warnings to increase the awareness of GNSS-based navigation threats.