What is the EDG²E Project?

The EDG²E project (Equipment for Dual frequency Galileo GPS and EGNOS) is initiated by the EUSPA. EDG²E intends to develop a dual-frequency multi-constellation receiver, enabling enhanced navigation capabilities, support standardization and certification preparation. This project will support the launch of the Galileo satellite constellation within a consortium including Dassault Aviation, ATR, DGAC, Thales Alenia Space and Thales.

By the next decade, aircraft will be equipped with EDG²E – the next generation receiver – making navigation safer and more precise.

Next Generation Receiver

The GNSS receiver is the cornerstone of satellite based navigation. The prototype receiver developed under the auspices of the EDG²E Project will use signals from the European Galileo and US GPS positioning systems, augmented by the SBAS multi-constellation EGNOS. It will provide aircraft navigation systems with more accuracy, better availability and enhanced positioning integrity. These benefits can be extended to all safety-critical sectors to master their operation with more safety and efficiency.

Thanks to a minimal footprint on board and thanks to more powerful computing capabilities, EDG²E levels up the new standards of the GNSS receiver.

Next Generation Receiver

The EDG²E project (Equipment for Dual frequency Galileo GPS and EGNOS) is initiated by the GSA (European Commission’s Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency). EDG²E intends to develop a dual-frequency multi-constellation receiver, enabling enhanced navigation capabilities, support standardization and certification preparation. This four year project will support the launch of the Galileo satellite constellation within a consortium including Dassault Aviation, ATR, DGAC, Thales Alenia Space and Thales. By the next decade, aircrafts will be equipped with EDG²E – the next generation receiver – making navigation safer and more precise.

The EDG²E Receiver

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The EDG²E Receiver

1. RF Front End

The RF Front End transforms the analog signal coming from the L1/L5 antenna into digital samples to be further processed in the Signal Processing block.

2. Signal Processing

The Signal Processing block assigns the receiver channels to each frequency of each satellites that are useful to the receiver (GPS, Galileo, SBAS).

There are several stages : first the acquisition of each satellite’s signal, for each frequency then the continuous tracking the signal.

3. Message Processing

In the message processing block, the information available in the navigation message of each satellite channel is extracted.

4. PVT Integrity Processing Receiver Moding

All of the information computed by the signal and message processing blocks are now used in this block.

Computation of the position, the velocity and time.
Monitoring of the integrity (SBAS and/or RAIM/FDE and/or ARAIM) to verify the adequacy of the positioning performance with the Air Operation being flown (En Route, Terminal, Approach, landing, …).
Management of the primary, alternate and back up modes of the receiver.

5. I/O

The I/O block provides all the necessary information to the aircraft by the mean of standardised interfaces like ARINC 429 This block also receives commands from the aircraft to command specific modes like Navigation or Approach.

6. Power Supply

The Power Supply transforms the aircraft power supply into the voltages and current necessary for the receiver board components and Integrated circuits.

Scopes of Application

Airplanes and helicopters

Within the current PBN scope of operations, the advantages brought by the SBAS DFMC receivers have been listed in the ICAO Concept of Operations for SBAS DFMC receivers (see the list of reference documents). New approach and landing operations with lower decision heights will also be available thanks to SBAS DFMC receivers.

Drones

Drones will use GNSS to navigate safely and also to contain the drone within specific operations limits (drone geocaging). Drones operate at low altitude and in urban areas, one of the most challenging environments. The accuracy/availability/integrity enhancements with SBAS DFMC receivers will bring immediate performance.

Rails

Rail signaling systems are evolving to GNSS based continuous positioning systems (ERTRMS level 3) in replacement of non-continuous positioning system used today with track side sensors. Reception conditions for GNSS signals are very demanding and the performance provided by SBAS DFMC will be required to fulfill the integrity and accuracy requirements.