Developing location awareness algorithms to determine asset position at sea in GNSS denied environments

JET Engineering System Solutions (JET-ESS) is delivering "5G connectivity at sea" through the deployment of high bandwidth 5G floating buoys, offering increased connectivity and communication capabilities throughout the marine sector. To date JET-ESS has successfully deployed the world's-first floating 5G data collection buoy platform. This has gained significant publicity, including a visit by Minister Lee Rowley at the National Physical Laboratory, and end-user traction within key industries of interest, including offshore wind.

JET-ESS has successfully demonstrated with NPL that the communication range at sea could be significantly extended using a high-gain directional-antenna solution. However, our current buoy platforms rely on using Global Navigation Satellite System for determining their position. JET-ESS envisages that our buoy platforms will be primarily utilised and deployed in/around offshore wind farms for surf condition monitoring, defence and security applications, where connectivity to GNSS is highly disrupted and often denied or unattainable due to the harsh operating environments. As a result, JET-ESS are unable to determine the location of each buoy in relation to one another, or those operating within the 5G network, when deployed at sea. This problem is currently limiting the expansion of JET-ESS's customer base, specifically within the offshore wind sector, on which our current business model is reliant.

To tackle this problem, this project aims to establish a novel GNSS-free location awareness solution at sea using dedicated JET-ESS 5G positioning signals and direction-of-arrival algorithm(s). The focuses will be given to formulating and validating the algorithm software and 5G communication hardware requirements needed to develop a directional-antenna-based location awareness system, which triangulates absolute positioning based on the collective angle of data transmitted within the floating meshed buoy network. NPL will provide consultancy regarding the consideration and development of relevant hardware and software. Following this NPL will assist in the development of practical validation method(s), which will de-risk further work in the final development of a clear solution to JET-ESS current long running technical problem in the form of a location awareness at sea.

Developing this solution has the potential to significantly benefit the maritime sector, addressing UK government priorities in 5G extension and diversification, contributing to and addressing the urgent need for maritime security and net-zero ambitions. Developing a GNSS-free location awareness solution diversifies and increases asset resilience in determining Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities, especially within GNSS denied environment at sea and licenced to on-land applications.