Research, Development & Innovation

The quest for robustness and reliability is our prime target.

Based on a deep expertise in Navigation, Communication and Information Security our R&D team is developing a new generation of robust and resilient GNSS receivers to face growing Jamming and Spoofing threats. FDC’s products are designed to increase GNSS data trustworthiness by providing our clients with a high confidence level in the Position, Time and Velocity information.

FDC R&D outcomes:

  •  Confidence in Positioning and Timing information
  •  Notification of what goes wrong, if any
  •  Secured Operation even in harsh environments
  •  Insurance of Safe Installation

Performed Developments:

  •  Software & Hardware – including Secure Firmware
  •  Test Tools
  •  Corresponding IPs

Case Studies

Context & Objectives

While the need for trustworthy Positioning and Timing information has recently gained importance – in particular with the advent of connected, self-driving vehicles as well as for applications relying on GNSS to charge users – the evolution of Software Defined Radio (SDR) technologies provides easy and affordable solutions to counterfeit GNSS signal in real-time. Detecting and mitigating GNSS attacks is therefore required to limit and control the impacts of forged GNSS information in many critical applications.

FDC teamed up with STMicroelectronics, CLS (ex Novacom Services) and NavCert to develop a new generation of GNSS receiver, resilient to jamming and spoofing attempts.

FDC’s Activities

Leveraging our unique blend of technical expertise in GNSS, Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) and Security, FDC has designed and developed a Secure GNSS module prototype, improving resilience and trust in Position, Navigation and Timing. Our activities included:

  • GNSS module specification, design and development – Hardware and Software
  • Module prototype tests and validation campaigns
  • Module integration into a geo-location OBU, installation in vehicles and in-field pilots
  • Certification preparation: RED, EMC and UNECE AECS (eCall) type-approval pre-testing

Outcomes

  • TRL 7 GNSS module prototype (Galileo, EGNOS, GPS and GLONASS enabled) focusing on GNSS attack detection and mitigation and implementing greater resilience against the increasing range of GNSS threats by:
    • Detecting signal attack attempts (spoofing, meaconing and jamming)
    • Providing indicators to users about the confidence of the positioning
    • Providing proof of the integrity and origin of the PVT data (digital signature)
  • Prototype deeply tested by FDC (more than 3,000 kms of field test) and with the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) at the European Microwave Signature Laboratory (EMSL)
  • Prototype experimented in real environment

Context & Objectives

Entities willing to access Galileo secure service are bound to apply specific security rules. As stated in the Decision No 1104/2011/EU, these rules shall be applied by the European Union (EU) Member States seeking to use PRS but also by the EU itself. In order to support the enforcement of this Decision, FDC was mandated for the development of bespoke software allowing the management of corresponding data between Member States and with the EU.

FDC’s Activities

Our engineers designed and developed professional software easing the management of sensitive information. FDC’s activities included:

  • Modelling and implementation of a software database
  • Development of user-friendly interfaces
  • Elaboration of user documentation

Outcomes

  • 3 bespoke software modules with user-friendly interfaces
  • 3 User Manuals
  • 1 Security Operating Procedures (SecOps) document defining protection measures for the managed information>/li>