Assessing repeatable accuracy potential of LoRa: a navigation approach

Two main classes of radio navigation systems are satellite and ground-based systems. Examples of such systems are eLoran deployed as a terrestrial system, and BeiDou, Galileo, GPS and Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) deployed as satellite Navigation Systems. These systems have been investigated in different navigation use-cases using a hybrid receiver capable of receiving any navigation signal. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate LoRa’s capability as a signal of opportunity (SoOP) to be used with other navigation technologies in order to improve repeatable accuracy. While researchers have investigated LoRa’s potential for navigation purposes, there is limited literature regarding the repeatable accuracy estimation using LoRa. Our work proposes using a weighted horizontal dilution of precision (HDOP) while incorporating SNR, spreading factors (SF) and the Ericsson 9999 path loss model. The gateway separation distances: 1500 m, 1000 m and 400 m respectively are employed at a bandwidth of 125kHz to determine repeatable accuracy within a 95% confidence limit. Our simulation results show that for 1500 m, 1000 m, and 400 m, gateway separation distances have a best repeatable accuracy of 1249 m, 284.2 m and 4.314 m, respectively, when the spreading factor (SF) is equal to 12. The initial repeatable accuracy results are promising and comparable to those obtained by other researchers. Our model’s limitation is that the best SNR was not used to determine position. A climatic model and stochastic channel interference observed in the 900MHz frequency band were also assumed to be negligible to provide a working model that can be modified as data becomes available.