| This work identifies a series of shortcomings in conventional aircraft navigation systems. These shortcomings can be overcome by using satellite-based navigation systems; however, even state-of-the-art satellite-based systems are not well suited for operations like precision approach, landing, and taxiing. The proposed solutions require no new ground-based hardware; rather the proposed solutions require primarily software (and communication) upgrades be made to aircraft.;The three major contributions of the thesis are: - A monitor to autonomously identify satellite clock faults on moving satellite receivers; - A collaborative method to detect ionospheric activity that is potentially hazardous to aviation users of satellite navigation systems; - A novel approach to estimating bounds on position error distributions in real time. All three contributions have the potential to tighten the confidence intervals in satellite navigation position estimates, which could potentially enhance the efficiency of use of the airspace by operating aircraft closer together and allow them to fly routes that are closer to the optimal path than currently possible. |
