Wireless Precision Time Synchronization Alternatives and Performance
Precision Time Synchronization techniques and approaches have assumed increasing importance in multi-body dynamic systems in Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denied and degraded environments. In multi-body military systems based upon Alternative Position, Navigation and Timing (alt-PNT) and Assured Position, Navigation and Timing (APNT) scenarios many different approaches to time synchronization between bodies have been proposed and developed. Some of these have been extensions of CERN’s White Rabbit (WR) system while others have been developed on the basis of the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol and the Network Time Protocol. There have also been demonstrations of Satellite based two-way time transfer and Optical or Laser based time transfer.
In alt-PNT and APNT based military operations a mission might include a combination of Dismounted Soldiers, Land based vehicles, Drones, Fixed Wing and Rotary Wing aircraft, and Naval assets, all of which have different velocity and acceleration vectors associated with them at any instant. In such situations the requirements of a system that meets mission-based time precision between the various elements presents a higher order of complexity than two or multiple element static systems, two-way directional Over the Air (OTA) systems, and other GPS dependent systems. Often the time precision can be achieved by simple time transfer while at other times or in other parts of a mission phase coherence between many clocks in the system may be required. Since future military systems will be expected to adhere to the Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and Sensor Open Systems Architecture (SOSA), the time synchronization considerations become significantly more complex because of added highly non-deterministic communication and signal transit times.
One of the important considerations in the type of missions envisaged, apart from MOSA / SOSA compatibility, is Size, Weight, Power Consumption and Cost (SWaP-C). We compare the different techniques for achieving the performance necessary, effects on SWaP-C reduction, and show the kind of performance that is possible in the type of missions under consideration.
- Year: 2023
- Category: System Engineering
- Tag: Precision Timing, PNT
- Author: Phillip Van Hooser, Joshua White, Ganesh Basawapatna
- Released: Proceedings of the 54th Annual Precise Time and Time Interval Systems and Applications Meeting
Featured Riverside Research Author(s)
Phillip Van Hooser
Phillip Van Hooser is a research engineer. He received the BSEE and MSEE degrees from The Ohio State University in 2020 and 2022. He has done Research work in very high-speed systems components at the Air Force Research Labs.
Joshua White
Joshua White is a Systems Engineer. He received the BSE in Computer Engineering, BS in Applied Mathematics, and MS in Computational & Applied Mathematics from Western Michigan University in 2018 and 2020 and is completing his MSE in Electrical Engineering degree at WMU. He has made contributions to the applications of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques in circuits analysis and trust & assurance at Riverside Research.
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The above listed authors are current or former employees of Riverside Research. Authors affiliated with other institutions are listed on the full paper. It is the responsibility of the author to list material disclosures in each paper, where applicable – they are not listed here. This academic papers directory is published in accordance with federal guidance to make public and available academic research funded by the federal government.