Even with new developments in receiver technology and assisted-GPS, achieving strong positioning performance indoors remains a major challenge. Complimentary technologies such as inertial sensors and WiFi are being explored to increase performance. At the same time, many developments are being carried out in order to tackle the indoor reality of low power levels and high signal disruption.

Many observers believe that the ‘indoor problem’ will be progressed, maybe even fixed, over the next few years. The candidate technologies are already in place and significant progress is already being made. This revolution has already started with assisted-GPS, where the almanac and ephemeris (precise satellite location) data is uploaded to reduce the search window, resulting in quicker Time To First Fix (TTFF) and the ability to acquire lower power signals, including limited ability to navigate indoors. At the user level, we are seeing new applications, falling prices and better performance. GNSS is appearing everywhere.

Spirent systems are available with a wide range of features designed to enable development, integration, verification and certification testing. Test systems are available that simulate GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and SBAS signals in a controlled and repeatable way including actual historical GPS system problems. An Interactive remote control interface enables hardware in the loop testing. For indoor positioning, Spirent’s systems enable testing in low power, high multipath environments.