Weather Radar Augmented Positioning (WRAP) Technology for Aerial Vehicles

Problem Statement: As the modern transportation navigation systems increasingly rely on Global Positioning System/Global Navigation Satellite System (GPS/GNSS) signals, the potential transportation safety risks also increase significantly should there be intruptions in transmitting or receiving GPS/GNSS signals in the events such as strong solar wind activities, unintentional interferences, or intentional jamming. To mitigate these transportation safety risks, several alternative positioning technologies are being actively developed. These technologies include using ground-base GPS/GNSS pseudolites and using signal of opportunities (SOP) transmitted from cellular towers and LEO communication satellites. However, the deployment of ground-based GPS/GNSS pseudolites are still very limited and facing several regulation hurdles over potentially causing interferences and human RF exposure risks. The coverage of cellular signals are still lacking in rural or remote areas, and not available at higher altitude above the ground level (AGL), and using LEO satellite signals for navigation are more complex and expensive. This project will explore the utilization of the radar signals transmitted from the existing NEXRAD WSR-88D Weather Radar Network for navigating aerial vehicles. These signals are within the designated 2700-3000 MHz frequency band with 25 MHz bandwidth. The two key advantage of these SOP signals are strong signal strength and wide coverage of almost entire US. Objectives: The main research objectives of this project include demonstrating the feasibility of using the strong ubiquatus weather radar signals for aerial vehicle navigation needs, defining the key system hardware and software requirements, and identifying performance limitations. Scope: This 12-month research effort will include (1) characterizing the NEXRAD signal strengths and waveforms, (2) investigating distributed receiving antenna strategy, (3) developing positioning algorithms, and (4) analyzing the positions accuracy and limitations.

• Record URL:
  • https://utc.engineering.osu.edu/weather-radar-augmented-positioning-wrap-technology-aerial-vehicles

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $94,844.00
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3552348327

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Center for Automated Vehicle Research with Multimodal Assured Navigation

  Ohio State University
  Columbus, OH  United States  43210
• Project Managers:

  Ghasemi, Hamid

• Performing Organizations:

  Ohio State University

  Columbus, OH  United States 
• Principal Investigators:

  Chen, Chi-Chih

• Start Date: 20260101
• Expected Completion Date: 20260831
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aerial application; Drones; Feasibility analysis; Global Positioning System; Navigation systems; Positioning; Weather radar
• Identifier Terms: Global Navigation Satellite System; NEXRAD
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01981593
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Center for Automated Vehicle Research with Multimodal Assured Navigation
• Contract Numbers: 69A3552348327
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 2 2026 3:37PM