Project Description
Stable sources of time have made navigation systems like GPS possible. Navigation, global transportation, the power grid, etc, all depend on precise sources of time to keep the modern world synchronized. In fact, GPS itself is often used to provide this synchronization. In recent years, research into alternative sources of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) has been growing to find ways to provide similar capabilities in the absence of GPS.
Our lab has been developing a satellite timing testbed for research in support of small satellite-based PNT. The testbed uses software defined radios (SDRs), chip scale atomic clocks (CSACs), and custom signal processing to characterize clocks, ensemble clocks, and produce a steered signal output. [1].
We are looking for an undergraduate student to conduct research that will contribute to one or both of the following objectives:
- Expansion of the satellite timing testbed from one to two processing hubs through use of low-cost hardware and software, that would be extensible to multi-satellite or UAV cluster.
- Implementation of a compact power control subsystem to adjust the frequency of an OCXO, which is the final system output
A Testbed for Low-SWaP Atomic Clock Ensemble Development
Special Requirements
- Experience working with embedded systems and/or software defined radios is required.
- Students who are rising seniors in Aerospace, Electrical Engineering, or Engineering Physics are preferred.
- Students must be available to work in person in the lab during the summer SPUR session.
Contact
- Penina Axelrad (faculty)
- Christopher Flood (graduate student)