
In the fast-moving market of satellite positioning and navigation, new GNSS-enabled products need to achieve industry certification at the first attempt. Failure to meet industry standards can prove costly, both in terms of rework and resubmission, and lost competitive edge.
Download this Application Note and learn how to use Spirent’s TestDrive-GNSS software to set up and automate comprehensive, cost effective testing to industry standards.
Topics include:
- The benefits of comprehensive, 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.
APPLICATION NOTE
TestDrive GNSS - For Certification
An automation and reporting tool for repeatable and efficient verification
and certification testing of GNSS devices with a GNSS simulator
A Spirent Application Note for Designers, Integrators and Manufacturers of GNSS Devices
Spirent
Communications PnullC
Paignton, Devon, nullnull nullnull nullngland
nullebnull httpnullnullwwnullpirentnullomnullositioning
nullelnull nullnullnullnull nullnullnull
nullanull nullnullnullnull nullnullnull
Copnullight nullnullnull Spirentnull
All nullghts nulleservednull
All of the compannullnames 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 with relevant
national lawsnullAll other registered
trademarnull or trademarnull are the propertnull
of their respective ownersnull
nulle information contained in this
document is subnullct to change without
notice and does not represent
a commitment on the part of Spirentnull
nulle information in this document is
believed to be accurate and reliablenull
however, Spirent assumes no responsibilitnull
or liabilitnullfor annullerrors or inaccuracies
that manullappear in the documentnull
Page 2SPIRENT Application Note
Contents
Scope null
Introduction null
PAnullnull nullnull Introducing nullestDrivenullNSS
nullast, Automated Performance nullesting for GNSSnullnabled Devices null
nullsing null Simulation for GNSS nullesting null
nullenullnullenefitsnullGet to Marnullt nullaster, at nullwer Cost null
PAnullnull nullnullnull nullsing nullestDrivenullNSS
Generating a nullest Suite null
nullditing nullest Parameters null
Configuring nullser nullnullipment null
nullnullecuting a nullest null
Generating a nullest nulleport null
Archiving nullest nullesults null
Page 3SPIRENT Application Note
Scope
nullis Application Note has been written
for vendors and manufacturers of GNSSnull
enabled devices who are submitting a
device for certification bnullone or more
certification authoritiesnull
It sets out the benefits of using Spirentnulls
nullestDrivenullNSS receiver characterisation
software to conduct a range of standard
performance tests on the enullipment and
report on their resultsnull It also provides a
guide to using the nullestDrivenullNSS tool,
in order to help users to get the most
relevant, accurate and comprehensive
results during the testing processnull
nullroughout, we have assumed that
the reader has a basic understanding
of satellite navigation principles and
an awareness of radio frenullencnullnullnull
simulation as a test methodnull
Introduction
Satellite positioning and navigation is a
vernullfastnulloving marnullt, and vendors and
manufacturers of GNSSnullnabled devices
need to get new products to marnullt nullicnullnull
in order to reap the most commercial
benefitnull
nullne of the nullnulldelanullng factors in bringing
a new receiver or device to marnullt is the
certification processnullnullendors need to be
sure that the device will pass certification
first time, otherwise months can be lost
in rewornulland resubmissionnullnullat means
testing the product to the same enullcting
standards as the testing house will conduct
nullas thoroughlnulland costnullffectivelnullas
possiblenull
Spirentnulls nullestDrivenullNSS testing software
enables vendors and manufacturers of
GNSS receivers to set up and automate
industrnullstandard tests prior to submitting
the product to a testing house or
certification authoritnullnull
nullis Application Note introduces the
benefits of the nullestDrivenullNSS tool during
the certification process, and provides a
practical guide to using itnull
Page nullSPIRENT Application Note
FastnullAutonullted
Pernullrnullnce Testing nullr
GNSS-Enanulled Devices
Spirent, the global leader in GNSS
testing, has introduced a fullnullautomated
performance testing solution for GNSSnull
enabled enullipmentnull
nullestDrivenullNSS wornull with the GSSnullnull
and GSSnullnull series of Spirent Multinull
GNSS simulators to create an integrated
test solution that enables performance
characterisation of GNSS receiver
enullipment bnullmeans of null simulationnull
It is compatible with Spirentnulls SimGnullnull
SimnullPnullAnull and SimnullPnullAnull plus null
simulation softwarenull
nullsing null Sinullnulltion nullr
GNSS Testing
An null Constellation Simulator reproduces
the environment that a GNSS receiver
will enullerience bnullmodelling vehicle and
satellite motion, signal characteristics,
atmospheric and other effectsnullnullen
connected to the null simulator, the receiver
will navigate according to the parameters
of the test scenarionull
A common misconception is that there is
the need to enullctlnullreplicate real world
conditions for a GNSS test to be validnull
nullowever, application of representative
effects via null simulation is proven nullver null
nullears of testingnullto enullercise receivers and
adenullatelnullidentifnulltheir limitationsnull
More importantlnull, null simulation provides
mannulladvantages that nullive snullnull testing
with real GNSS signals cannot delivernullIn
particular, it gives complete repeatabilitnull,
control and enullct nullowledge nulldown
to bit level nullof the signal which is
stimulating the receivernull It can also be
used to simulate signals from satellite
constellations that are not nullet in orbit, or
fullnulloperational nullsuch as Compass and
Galileonull
nulligure nullshows the concept of GNSS
simulation using a Spirent GSSnullnull
simulatornull
Designers of GNSS receivers can use
nullestDrivenullNSS tonull
null Control both the GNSS null Simulator and
the null simultaneouslnull
null Manage and enullecute suites of tests
automaticallnull
nullArchive sets of results
null Generate summarnullreports in a number of
common formats
PAnullT ONEnullIntroducing TestDrive-GNSS
nulligure nullnullnullmple null Simulation nulllow
Page nullSPIRENT Application Note
nullenullnullenefitsnull
Get to nullarnullt Fasternull
at Lonuller Cost
nullestDrivenullNSS delivers significant
advantages to manufacturers and nullM
partners using GNSS receivers during the
certification processnull
Greater certaintnull nullestDrivenullNSS
can automate industrnullstandard tests,
enabling new devices to be tested to the
same standards renullired bnullcertification
authorities prior to submissionnullnullenulltests
that can be automated with nullestDrivenull
GNSS include time to first finull acnullisition
sensitivitnull, tracnullng sensitivitnull, renull
acnullisition time, and static and dnullamic
navigation accuracnullnull
Faster tinull to nullrnulltnull nullnullremoving the
need to write custom testing software and
bnullautomating individual tests and test
suites, nullestDrivenullNSS significantlnullreduces
the testing timescale, enabling new devices
to be submitted for certification earliernull
Lonuller costsnull nullestDrivenullNSS minimises the
amount of human intervention renullired in
the testing process, significantlnullreducing
the cost of resourcing the process prior to
submitting the product for certificationnull
Autonullted reportingnull nullestnullrive GNSS
provides automated, easnulltonullnderstand
reports for evernulltest conducted, which
can be included as part of the submission
processnull
nullpid return on investnullntnull nullnce
acnullired, nullestDrivenullNSS can be used
to automate all future testing needs,
significantlnullreducing testing budgets and
delivering a rapid return on investmentnull
Inullroved vanulle cnullin conullanullrationnull
nullests and test senullences specified with
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
A nullrnull-cnullss testing partnernull Spirent has
been the global leader in GNSS testing for
null nullears, and is trusted bnullorganisations in
all sectors to deliver accurate and reliable
test solutionsnullSpirent wornull with standards
bodies worldwide to help define tests and
standards for positioning and networnullng
enullipmentnull
nullor more about the benefits of using
Spirent for automated GNSS testing, visit
wwwnullpirentnullomnullositioning or read the
Spirent blog atnull
wwwnullpirentnullomnulllognullositioningnullspnull
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
tnullesnullDifferent tests are used to measure
different performance criterianullA uninulle set
of parameters applies to each test tnullenull
nullefer to the user manual for a detailed
description of all supported test tnullesnull
nullirstlnull, create a new suite from the Finull null
NenullnullSuite menunull
PAnullT TnullOnullnullsing TestDrive-GNSS
nulligure nullCreating a new suite
Page null
SPIRENT Application Note
nullo select a test tnulle when adding
a new testnull
null Clicnullon a blannullcell in the nullest Name
column of the suite windownull
nullnullghtnulllicnullon the cell to displanullthe
Insert Test menunull
nullSelect the desired test from the menusnull
nulligure nullillustrates an enullmple of adding
a new null Acnullisition Sensitivitnullnullest to
a test suitenull
nulligure null Adding a test to a test suite
Page null
SPIRENT Application Note
Editing Test Paranullters
nullch test supported bnull estDrivenullNSS
includes a number of customisable test
parameters that nullou can modifnullnull
nullest 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 Clicnulla specific line in the nullests pane to
select the testnull
null Select the parameter subnullroup in the
tree view on the left side of the nullest
Parameters panenull
null Clicnullthe parameter nullou want to edit and
tnulle or select a new valuenull
nullefore running a nullest Suite, it should be
validated to help avoid test enullecution
errorsnullnullestDrive can analnulle an entire
suite for test setup and parameter value
problems before enullecutionnullnullalidation
checnull test conditions against the current
snulltem configuration and alerts nullou if
the snulltem does not contain sufficient
hardware to perform certain testsnull
Although this does not guarantee nullwless
enullecution, it significantlnullreduces the risnull
of problems during enullecution bnulldetecting
them beforehandnull
nullo validate the nullest Suite clicnullthe nullanulldate
Suite icon from the nulloolbar or select
Enullecute nullnullanulldatenull
nulligure nullshows an enullmple of selecting null Pause Between Measurementsnull
from the General Parameters subnullroup of a test casenull
Page nullSPIRENT Application Note
Configuring nullser
Enullipnullnt
nullefore enullecuting a test suite it is necessarnull
to configure the user enullipmentnull
nullpen a new user enullipment file bnull
selecting the Finull nullNenullnullnullser Enullipnullnt
option from the menusnull
Choose settings which represent the
receiver connection to nullour computernull
An enullmple of such a configuration is
displanulled in nulligure null
nulligure null Configuring the user enullipment
Page nullSPIRENT Application Note
nullnce a connection has been made, the
nullesponsenull window will be populated
with the latest responses from the user
enullipmentnullnulle cursor can be positioned
on the latest response bnulldoublenulllicnullng in
the response windownullNote that it manullbe
necessarnullto run the simulator at this point
in order to generate responses from the
user enullipmentnull
nullestDrive can control user enullipment using
the ubinullitous NMnull ASCII command set or
alternativelnullusing the Sinull binarnullprotocolnull
More information on each of these
protocols can be found in the referencesnull
It should be noted that when manullng
a connection in the user enullipment
configuration editor, it is possible to
connect to a device which has been
configured to use the Sinull binarnullprotocolnull
In this case the response from the
instrument will be displanulled as binarnull
datanullnullo convert the binarnulldata to human
readable form it is renullired that the user
sends a command to switch into NMnull
mode and then a command to switch bacnull
into binarnullmodenull
nullor enullmple, to switch between Sinull binarnull
mode and NMnull GGA messages nullsing the
Cnull port settings in nulligure null send the
following message to the nullnull
Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
nullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
where Anullnullis the Sinull message transport
lanuller start senullence, nullnull represents the
message panulload length, null represents the
message number, null represents the Sinull
mode nullMnullnull nullnull switches on NMnull GGA
messages with a checnullum, nullnull nullepeated
nulltimesnullrepresents switching other NMnull
messages off with checnullums, nullnull is the
henulldecimal representation of nullnullnullbaud,
nullnull is the message checnullum and nullnull
is the Sinull message transport lanuller end
senullencenull
nullen send the following command to renull
enter Sinull binarnullmode nullith the same
Cnull port settingsnull
nullSnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
nulle following list of commands is an
enullmple of how to populate the user
enullipment nullommand Settingsnull editor to
control a GSDnull Sinull capable GPS receivernull
Switch to Sinull binarnullprotocol nullSnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
Navigation Initialisation Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
nullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
Set PDnull to null AnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullCnullnull
Switch off DGPS mode AnullnullnullnullAnullnullnullnullnullnull
Set elevation masnullto nulldegrees Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
Static Navigation nulllag nullff Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
Set binarnullserial port nullnullnullbpsnull Anullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnullnull
Page nullSPIRENT Application Note
Enullecuting a Test
nullnce the null settings have been configured
and saved nullou manullrun the nullest Suite
bnullselecting Enullecute nullnullunnull nulle nullnullecute
Automatic nullest dialog bonullis displanulled,
allowing nullou to set several run specific
optionsnullnulligure nullgives an enullmple of the
nullnullecute Automatic nullest dialog bonull nullen
the test has completed the results will be
stored in a file called nullablenulliewnullsv which
is located in the folder specified in nulligure
null nullis file can be used for further analnullisnull
NotenullIf the user is emplonullng user
enullipment which responds with NMnull
statements then the monitoring algorithm
will determine that a measurement is
successful bnullenullmining the NMnull GGA
nulllobal Positioning Snulltem nullinullDatanull
position finullnullg in addition to the plan and
spherical position error metrics specified
in the testnullIf the user is emplonullng user
enullipment which responds with the Sinull
binarnullprotocol then message null nulleodetic
Navigation Datanullwill be enullmined to
establish whether a finullhas occurred in
addition to the plan and spherical position
error metrics specified in the testnull
Generating a Test
nulleport
nullest nulleports can be generated from
the current set of test results loaded in
application memornullbnullselecting nullnullecute null
Generate nulleport from the menunull
nullou can print or save reports in a varietnull
of standard file formats including Adobe
Acrobat nullPDnull, Microsoft nullnullcel nullCSnullnull
and Microsoft nullord nullDnullnull nullo review
reports after saving them, load the report
documents with the appropriate associated
applicationnull
Arcnullving Test nullesunulls
nullo archive a set of test results select
Finull nullnullip Active nullesunullsnull
nulligure null nullnullecute Automatic test dialog bonull
Page nullSPIRENT Application Note
For nullore Innullrnulltion
Please visit our websitenull httpnullnullwwnullpirentnull
comnullositioning and do not hesitate to
contact nullour nearest Spirent representative
for more detailed informationnullnullo find the
appropriate contact details please visit the
nullontact nullsnull page on the website and select
nullour location and applicationnull
Page nullSPIRENT Application Note
CONTACT null
Spirent Conullunications
nullnullnullnull nullnullnull
globalsalesnullpirentnullom
wwwnullpirentnullomnullositioning
Spirent FederanullSnulltenull
null nullnullnullnullnullnull
infonullpirentfederalnullom
wwwnullpirentfederalnullom
nullnullnot snullre tnulls docunullntnull
Got a snullrtpnullnenull
If you have a smartphone download
a QR Code reader and then point
your phone camera at the QR Code
to read the graphicnull
nullevnullnullnullnulleb nullnull
nullaceboonull nullnnulldIn nullwitter nullechnorati Google nullunull Digg Delicious nulleddit Stumbleupon
nulle are adding nenullcontent to our nullenullite on a regunullr nullsisnull
nullonullarnulltnulls nullnnull
wwwnullpirentnullomnullositioning
nullisit tnull Spirent GNSS nullognulltnullre are currentnull over null posts
nulltnull2 to 3 nenullposts added eacnullnulleenull
Catcnullup on nullatnulls nenullnull
wwwnullpirentnullomnulllognullositioningnullspnull
Need nullre innullrnulltionnull
gnssnullolutionsnullpirentnullom
DANnullnullISSnull nullnull