GNSSpiking

GNSSpiking refers to the phenomenon where Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers experience sudden, temporary, and often erroneous jumps in their position, velocity, or time measurements. These anomalies are typically characterized by a sharp deviation from the expected trajectory or data stream, followed by a rapid return to a more plausible state.

The causes of GNSSpiking can be varied. One common source is multipath interference, where satellite signals reflect off nearby objects like buildings or terrain before reaching the receiver. This can create ghost signals that confuse the receiver's tracking algorithms. Ionospheric disturbances, such as scintillation, can also disrupt signal propagation and lead to inaccurate readings. Hardware malfunctions within the GNSS receiver itself, or issues with the antenna, can also contribute to spiking. External radio frequency interference from other electronic devices operating on similar frequencies can also cause temporary signal corruption.

The impact of GNSSpiking depends heavily on the application. For critical navigation systems, such as those used in aviation, autonomous vehicles, or precision agriculture, even brief spikes can have serious consequences, potentially leading to navigation errors, unsafe maneuvers, or impaired operational accuracy. In less critical applications, such as casual navigation or recreational tracking, the impact may be minimal and often corrected by subsequent measurements. Mitigation strategies often involve advanced signal processing techniques, receiver design improvements, and data filtering to identify and reject erroneous measurements.