High Integrity System Test Bed (HISTB) The Laboratory for EGNOS Evolutions

In parallel with on-going EGNOS operations, GNSS constellations and signals are evolving (GLONASS, GPS, GALILEO, COMPASS, …). This evolving context has led ESA to launch the so-called “European GNSS Evolution Program” (EGEP) in order to explore more in depth the various evolution perspectives and evaluate possible opportunities. The first phase of this program over 2007-2009 has explored in particular the concept of Multi-Constellation Regional System (MRS) and has built a powerful experimentation platform (Support Platform for EGNOS Evolutions & Demonstrations: SPEED). The second phase of EGEP over 2010-2012 on Satellite Based Augmentation System is now focused on the consolidation of the definition of EGNOS system evolutions and on field testing. Among other experimentations, this EGEP phase notably includes the following activities: ? EGNOS V3 Definition Phase, aiming at consolidating the definition and deployment strategy of the new EGNOS versions. ? Experimentations with Test Beds: - HISTB : High Integrity System Test Bed, to assess future EGNOS services dedicated to aeronautical users, - MLUTB : Multi constellation Land Users Test Bed, focused on future EGNOS services to land users. HISTB : A laboratory for EGNOS The main objective of HISTB experimentations is therefore to provide technical elements allowing to determine if the EGNOS V3 foreseen new features targeted for aeronautical users are feasible and of interest. Experiments are thus performed on the following areas, which are currently considered in EGNOS V3 definition: ? Multi Frequency evolution, to offer not only legacy aeronautical service (to mono-frequency SBAS L1 user) but also a dual-frequency L1/L5 augmentation service. ? Multi Constellation evolution, to provide augmentation data not only with respect to GPS constellation but also to Galileo. ? Extension of the service area, in particular to cover Africa. ? Areas of improvement on top of EGNOS V2 system, (functional allocation between ground monitoring stations and central processing facility, MT28 versus MT27, …). After an introduction providing an overview of HISTB architecture and experiments, the mission and architecture of the main component of this test bed, i.e. SPEED, will be detailed. Then, the experiments themselves will be presented. A first part will describe the results already obtained as part of the first experimentation cycles (2011/2012) and a second part will provide the plans and status for next experimentation cycles (2012/2013).