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TestDrive GNSS for R and D

When designing a GNSS receiver, performance testing is always one of the most critical—and time consuming—stages of the R&D process.

Download this Application Note and get a practical guide to accelerating receiver testing with Spirent’s TestDrive-GNSS software, enabling you to bring higher quality devices to market faster, and at a lower cost.

TestDrive GNSS Product R&DTopics include:

  • The benefits of fast, automated GNSS testing
  • Configuring and executing tests with TestDrive-GNSS
  • Generating reports and archiving results with TestDrive-GNSS

Simply enter a few details opposite to receive the Application Note—and happy reading!

About Spirent

Spirent has been the global leader in GNSS testing for near 30 years. Spirent delivers navigation and positioning test equipment and services to governmental agencies, major manufacturers, integrators, test facilities and space agencies worldwide.

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    APPLICATION NOTE TestDrive GNSS - For Product R&D An automation and reporting tool for repeatable and efficient testing of GNSS technology performance in the R&D phase A Spirent Application Note for Designers, Integrators and Manufacturers of GNSS Devices Spirent nullmmunications nullnull nullaignton, Devon, nullnull nullR, nullngland nullebnull httpnullnullnullnullpirentnullomnullositioning nullelnull nullnullnullnull nullnullnull nullanull nullnullnullnull nullnullnull nullpyright nullnullnull Spirentnull All Rights Reservednull All of the company names andnullr brand names andnullr product names referred to in this document, in particular, the name nullpirentnulland its logo device, are either registered trademarnull or trademarnull of Spirent plc and its subsidiaries, pending registration in accordance nullth relevant national lanullnullAll other registered trademarnull or trademarnull are the property of their respective onullersnull nulle information contained in this document is subnullct to change nullthout notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Spirentnull nulle information in this document is believed to be accurate and reliablenull honullever, Spirent assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in the documentnull Page 2SPIRENT Application Note Contents Scope null Introduction null nullARnull nullnull Introducing nullestDrivenullNSS nullast, Automated nullerformance nullesting for GNSSnullnabled Devices null nullsing RnullSimulation for GNSS nullesting null nulley nullenefitsnullGet to Marnullt nullaster, at nullnuller nullst null nullARnull nullnullnull nullsing nullestDrivenullNSS Generating a nullest Suite null nullditing nullest nullarameters null nullnfiguring nullser nullnullipment null nullnullecuting a nullest null Generating a nullest Report null Archiving nullest Results null Page 3SPIRENT Application Note Sconull nullis Application Note has been nullitten for designers of GNSS receivers for use in all marnullt sectors, from aerospace, defence and maritime to agriculture and consumer applicationsnull It sets out the benefits of using Spirentnulls TestDrive-GNSS receiver characterisation softnullre to test the performance of different receiver designs to a high degree of precision under a nullde range of conditionsnull It also provides a guide to using the nullestDrivenullNSS tool, in order to help receiver designers to get the most relevant, accurate and comprehensive results during the testing processnull nullroughout, nulle have assumed that the reader has a basic understanding of satellite navigation principles and an anullreness of radio frenullency nullnull simulation as a test methodnull Introduction In all marnullt sectors, designers of GNSS receivers are under pressure to deliver highnulluality products faster and at lonuller overall costnull nullne of the most timenull consuming elements of the R&D process is labnullesting the performance of nenulldesigns and prototypes under different conditionsnull nullesting is a critical activity and cutting corners is not an option nullparticularly for instruments that must deliver high performance in a nullde range of conditionsnull Designers need to understand the impact of every potential design change on the receivernulls performance, nullich means simulating conditions, testing the design, recording the results, and then retesting for the same conditions after each changenull All this tanulls time nulland nullen manufacturers are under pressure to bring nenullproducts to marnullt fast, time spent in testing can diminish or even obliterate competitive advantagenull Snullrentnulls TestDrive-GNSS autonullted testing sonullnullre enables designers of GNSS receivers to complete the test phase faster, more accurately and more costnullffectively than ever beforenullnullis Application Note introduces the benefits of the nullestDrivenull GNSS tool and provides a guide to using itnull Page nullSPIRENT Application Note Fast, Automated Performance Testing for GNSS-Enabled Devices Spirent, the global leader in GNSS testing, has introduced a fully automated testing solution for designers of GNSS receivers for use in all industry sectors. TestDrive-GNSS works with the GSS6nullnull and GSSnullnull series of Spirent nullulti- GNSS simulators to create an integrated test solution that enables performance characterisation of GNSS receiver enullipment by means of null simulation. nullt is compatible with Spirentnulls SimGnullnull Simnullnullnullnull and Simnullnullnullnull plus null simulation software. Using RF Simulation for GNSS Testing null null nullnstellation Simulator reproduces the environment that a GNSS receiver will enullerience by modelling vehicle and satellite motion, signal characteristics, atmospheric and other effects. nullen connected to the null simulator, the receiver will navigate according to the parameters of the test scenario. null common misconception is that there is the need to enullctly replicate real world conditions for a GNSS test to be valid. nullowever, application of representative effects via null simulation is proven nullver null years of testingnullto enullercise receivers and adenullately identify their limitations. nullore importantly, null simulation provides many advantages that nullive skynull testing with real GNSS signals cannot deliver. nulln particular, it gives complete repeatability, control and enullct knowledge nulldown to bit level nullof the signal which is stimulating the receiver. nullt can also be used to simulate signals from satellite constellations that are not yet in orbit or fully operational nullsuch as nullmpass and Galileo. nulligure nullshows the concept of GNSS simulation using a Spirent GSS6nullnull simulator. Designers of GNSS receivers can use TestDrive-GNSS tonull null nullntrol both the GNSS null Simulator and the null simultaneously null nullanage and enullecute suites of tests automatically nullnullchive sets of results null Generate summary reports in a number of common formats PART ONEnullnullntroducing TestDrive-GNSS nulligure nullnullnullmple null Simulation nulllow Page nullSPIRENT Application Note nullenullnullenenullsnull Get to nullarnullt Fasternull at Lonuller Cost nullestDrivenullNSS delivers significant financial and commercial advantages to designers of GNSS receiversnull Faster tinull to nullrnulltnull nully removing the need to nullite custom testing softnullre and by automating individual tests and test suites, nullestDrivenullNSS significantly reduces the timeframe of the test cycle, enabling nenullreceivers to be delivered to marnullt faster than competing productsnull Lonuller costsnull nullestDrivenullNSS decimates the number of mannullours that need to be devoted to testing, significantly reducing the cost of resourcing the testing processnull Autonullted renullrtingnull nullestnullrive GNSS provides an automated report on every test and test result, saving days or nulleenull of manual recording and reporting of resultsnull Fine-grained contronull nullestDrivenullNSS provides an additional layer of control over test scenarios, enabling testers to precisely repeat testing nullile subtly iterating the designnull nulletter nullrnullrnullncenull nullestDrivenullNSS enables each design iteration to be thoroughly tested under identical simulated conditions, so designers can be sure that any alteration in performance is due to design changes rather than signal conditionsnull Ranulld return on investnullntnull nullnce acnullired, nullestDrivenullNSS can be used to automate all future testing needs, significantly reducing testing budgets and delivering a rapid return on investmentnull Inullroved vanulle cnullin conullanullrationnull nullests and test senullences specified nullth nullestDrivenullNSS can be shared throughout the value chain, so designers and manufacturers can agree and implement a common set of standards for performance testing of devices incorporating the approved receivernull Faster certinullationnull nulle detailed test reports produced by nullestDrivenullNSS can be submitted to certification authorities as evidence of receiver performance, speeding up time to certificationnull A nullrnull-cnullss testing nullocessnull Spirent has been the global leader in GNSS testing for null years, and is trusted by many organisations across all sectors to deliver accurate and reliable test solutionsnull nullor more about the benefits of using Spirent for automated GNSS testing, visit nullnullnullpirentnullomnullositioning or read the Spirent blog at nullnullnullpirentnullomnulllognull nullositioningnullspnull null Page nullSPIRENT Application Note Generating a Test Suite nulle most simple test suite contains a single test casenullnullch line in a test suite can be one of several different test typesnull Different tests are used to measure different performance criterianullA uninulle set of parameters applies to each test typenull Refer to the user manual for a detailed description of all supported test typesnull nullirstly, create a nenullsuite from the Finull null NenullnullSuite menunull PART TnullOnullnullsing TestDrive-GNSS nulligure nullnullreating a nenullsuite Page null SPIRENT Application Note nullo select a test type nullen adding a nenulltestnull null nullicnullon a blannullcell in the nullest Name column of the suite nullndonullnull null Rightnulllicnullon the cell to display the Insert nullest menunull nullSelect the desired test from the menusnull nulligure nullillustrates an enullmple of adding a nenullnull Acnullisition Sensitivity nullest to a test suitenull nulligure null Adding a test to a test suite Page nullSPIRENT Application Note Editing Test Paranullters nullch test supported by nullestDrivenullNSS includes a number of customisable test parameters that you can modifynull est parameters can be numerical values nullnullnull Number of Measurementsnull tenull values nullnullnull Test Descriptionnull or a list of selectable values nullnullnull Pause Between Measurementsnull nullo change the value of a particular test parameternull null nullicnulla specific line in the nullests pane to select the testnull null Select the parameter subnullroup in the tree vienullon the left side of the nullest nullarameters panenull null nullicnullthe parameter you nullnt to edit and type or select a nenullvaluenull nulligure nullshonull an enullmple of selecting nullause nulletnulleen Measurementsnull from the General nullarameters subnullroup of a test casenull nullefore running a nullest Suite, it should be validated to help avoid test enullecution errorsnullnullestDrive can analyse an entire suite for test setup and parameter value problems before enullecutionnullnullalidation checnull test conditions against the current system configuration and alerts you if the system does not contain sufficient hardnullre to perform certain testsnull Although this does not guarantee nullnulless enullecution, it significantly reduces the risnull of problems during enullecution by detecting them beforehandnull nullo validate the nullest Suite clicnullthe nullalidate Suite icon from the nulloolbar or select Enullecute nullnullanulldatenull nulligure null Selecting ‘Pause between measurements’ from the ‘General Parameters’ Page nullSPIRENT Application Note Connulluring nullser Enullinullent nullefore enullecuting a test suite it is necessary to configure the user enullipmentnull nullpen a nenulluser enullipment file by selecting the Finull nullNenullnullnullser Enullinullent option from the menusnull nulloose settings nullich represent the receiver connection to your computernull An enullmple of such a configuration is displayed in nulligure null nulligure null nullnfiguring the user enullipment Page nullSPIRENT Application Note nullnce a connection has been made, the nullesponsenull nullndonullnullll be populated nullth the latest responses from the user enullipmentnullnulle cursor can be positioned on the latest response by doublenulllicnullng in the response nullndonullnullNote that it may be necessary to run the simulator at this point in order to generate responses from the user enullipmentnull nullestDrive can control user enullipment using the ubinullitous NMnull ASnullI command set or alternatively using the SiRnullbinary protocolnull More information on each of these protocols can be found in the referencesnull It should be noted that nullen manullng a connection in the user enullipment configuration editor, it is possible to connect to a device nullich has been configured to use the SiRnullbinary protocolnull In this case the response from the instrument nullll be displayed as binary datanullnullo convert the binary data to human readable form it is renullired that the user sends a command to snulltch into NMnull mode and then a command to snulltch bacnull into binary modenull nullor enullmple, to snulltch betnulleen SiRnullbinary mode and NMnull GGA messages nullsing the nullM port settings in nulligure null send the follonullng message to the nullnull Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull nullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull nullere Anullnullis the SiRnullmessage transport layer start senullence, nullnull represents the message payload length, null represents the message number, null represents the SiRnull mode nullMnullnull nullnull snulltches on NMnull GGA messages nullth a checnullum, nullnull nullepeated nulltimesnullrepresents snulltching other NMnull messages off nullth checnullums, nullnull is the henulldecimal representation of nullnullnullbaud, nullnull is the message checnullum and nullnull is the SiRnullmessage transport layer end senullencenull nullen send the follonullng command to renull enter SiRnullbinary mode nullith the same nullM port settingsnull nullSRnullnull,nullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull nulle follonullng list of commands is an enullmple of honullto populate the user enullipment nullommand Settingsnull editor to control a GSDnull SiRnullcapable Gnull receivernull Snulltch to SiRnullbinary protocol nullSRnullnull,nullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull Navigation Initialisation Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull nullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull Set nullnull to null Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull Snulltch off DGnull mode AnullnullnullnullAnullnullnullnullnullnull Set elevation masnullto nulldegrees Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull Static Navigation nulllag nullff Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull Set binary serial port nullnullnullbpsnull Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull Page nullSPIRENT Application Note Enullecuting a Test nullnce the null settings have been configured and saved you may run the nullest Suite by selecting Enullecute nullRunnull nulle nullnullecute Automatic nullest dialog bonullis displayed, allonullng you to set several run specific optionsnullnulligure nullgives an enullmple of the nullnullecute Automatic nullest dialog bonull nullen the test has completed the results nullll be stored in a file called nullablenullienullnullsv nullich is located in the folder specified in nulligure null nullis file can be used for further analysisnull NotenullIf the user is employing user enullipment nullich responds nullth NMnull statements then the monitoring algorithm nullll determine that a measurement is successful by enullmining the NMnull GGA nulllobal nullositioning System nullinullDatanull position finullnullg in addition to the plan and spherical position error metrics specified in the testnullIf the user is employing user enullipment nullich responds nullth the SiRnull binary protocol then message null nulleodetic Navigation Datanullnullll be enullmined to establish nullether a finullhas occurred in addition to the plan and spherical position error metrics specified in the testnull Generating a Test Renullrt nullest Reports can be generated from the current set of test results loaded in application memory by selecting nullnullecute null Generate Report from the menunull nullou can print or save reports in a variety of standard file formats including Adobe Acrobat nullnullnull, Microsoft nullnullcel nullnullnullnull and Microsoft nullord nullDnullnull nullo revienull reports after saving them, load the report documents nullth the appropriate associated applicationnull Arcnullving Test Resunulls nullo archive a set of test results select Finull nullnullinullActive Resunullsnull nulligure null nullnullecute Automatic test dialog bonull Page nullSPIRENT Application Note CONTACT null Snullrent Conullunications nullnullnullnull nullnullnull globalsalesnullpirentnullom nullnullnullpirentnullomnullositioning Snullrent FederanullSnulltenull null nullnullnullnullnullnull infonullpirentfederalnullom nullnullnullpirentfederalnullom nullnullnot snullre tnulls docunullntnull Got a snullrtnullonenull If you have a smartphone download a Qnullnullde reader and then point your phone camera at the Qnullnullde to read the nullaphicnull RevnullnullnullMar nullnull nullaceboonull nullnnulldIn nullnulltter nullechnorati Google nullunull Digg Delicious Reddit Stumbleupon nulle are adding nenullcontent to our nullenullite on a regunullr nullsisnull nullonullarnulltnulls nullnnull nullnullnullpirentnullomnullositioning nullisit tnull Snullrent GNSS nullognulltnullre are currentnull over null nullsts nulltnull2 to 3 nenullnullsts added eacnullnulleenull Catcnullunullon nullatnulls nenullnull nullnullnullpirentnullomnulllognullositioningnullspnull Need nullre innullrnulltionnull gnssnullolutionsnullpirentnullom DANnullnullISSnull nullnull