New technologies present new challenges to PNT - the RIN PNT Advisory Group Executive Committee meeting had a lot to cover at its 23rd May meeting.  

UK PNT Advisory Group (PAG) Chair Andy Proctor and PAG Secretary Guy Buesnel report on the committees wide-ranging discussions.

The PNT Advisory Group Executive Committee met last month online; the topics discussed include:
• Advances in Quantum technologies for PNT
• The rise of Artificial Intelligence
• PNT in Automation/autonomous systems 
• The role of PNT Standards or Guidance in improving systems or equipment resilience 
• Developing a communications strategy for the committee
• Improving committee participation and International Reach 
• Forthcoming RIN Defence Seminar at Aerospace Bristol
• Following up the recent LEO event
• A review of PNT Advisory Group Activities

Defence PNT

An area focussed on was the forthcoming RIN Defence Seminar at Aerospace Bristol on 03 July.  The MoD wants to reconnect with companies and individuals in the Defence Sector on PNT matters. RIN and the Advisory Group has developed a one-day programme of talks and discussion to enable discussions and networking. The event is especially important given the recent news stories detailing how an inertial navigation sensor has undergone trials on a Royal Navy warship.

The Seminar’s focus will be on 
• What is meant by "resilient PNT" and "assured PNT"?
• How should threats and hazards be considered?
• Development of requirements for defence PNT systems
• Approaches to assessing risks at different levels from modules to integrated systems
• Mitigation approaches and their relative/absolute effectiveness
• Research and development challenges
• Latest developments in PNT for defence applications

The programme will have presentations from MoD and DSTL personnel in the morning and two panel discussions in the afternoon session. The event moderator is the RIN PNT Advisory Group Chair, Andy Proctor

The talks will include: -
• Keynote: Wing Cdr Mark Brammer, MOD
• Briefing from Strategic Command, Space Capability Planning (SATCOM & PNT) - Al Harris, PNT Desk Officer
• Briefing from DSTL on their activities - Rob Handley, Acting Chief PNT Scientist
• Briefing from DE&S - Jonathan Wilson
• Briefing from DSC on their activity - Stuart Snedden, Space Team, UK Defence Solutions Centre

The afternoon panel discussions will concentrate on “Threats and Disruptions” and “Systems Thinking/Infrastructure protection”.

The last few places for this event are available here:  https://rin.org.uk/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1748439

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) PNT

The Advisory Group discussed how best to follow up the recent RIN LEO PNT Seminar. RIN hosted the event in March 2023 to encourage a discussion and debate, under “Chatham House rules”, to discuss the technical, value chain, resilience, and business model challenges of providing PNT services from large satellite constellations. The event centred around open discussion, independence, and the objective of bringing the challenges forward for debate. 
These challenges include frequency selection, orbit determination and prediction accuracy (noted by a few attendees as “hard for LEO”); concept of operation (doppler or time-of-arrival), and the integration with other, linked services (independence and interoperability). 
Of greater concern in the room was the lack of clear business models from most of the LEO PNT providers. That is understandable as companies are reluctant to expose their models in front of their competitors. But there was less clarity in the room about why someone would pay for additional PNT services from space.

Approximately 100 people attended in person from over 40 organisations, UK and beyond, spanning users, service providers, equipment manufacturers and government officials.

The Advisory Group noted that a follow up by RIN is needed as the one-day seminar attracted some very lively debate and argument and succeeded in highlighting several key areas where significant challenges remain.

“Standards damn Standards”

The role of standards or guidance in increasing the resilience of systems or equipment is being discussed with the PAG preparing a white paper in this area. Its author Ramsey Farragher had opened the paper up to contributions from the rest of the executive committee. 

RIN PAG Chair Andy Proctor outlined the evolving US IEEE P1952 standard and its focus on resilience levels.  He speculated as to whether this approach would succeed in adding value to the PNT community but also stated that there was a need for intervention, be it a standard, guidance or even a code of conduct.  An analysis of the US Resilience Conformance Framework would be part of developing the correct intervention.

The meeting noted it is necessary to help users assess their current levels of resilience – there is nothing available to support presently.  This links to the other PAG activity on if there is a need for a UK PNT test bed, which is being consulted upon. The “standards” report is nearly completed and the executive committee discussed whether an RIN event on standards to coincide with the release of the document, would be worth considering. 

This blog invites recipients to feedback to the RIN on if a seminar on PNT standards/guidance/best practice would be welcomed. Please contact RIN Communications and Events Manager Clare Stead at comms@rin.org.uk with any feedback

Ensuring better communications

The group Secretary Guy Buesnel also presented plans to develop a coherent communications strategy for the RIN PAG which could be widely used to achieve consistency and greater reach for the group, including keeping members on the mailing list up to date.

The Committee also unanimously decided to issue approve the admission of Mitch Narins FRIN to the PNT Advisory Committee Exec team.  Mitch has been a prolific contributor to the work of the RIN and to developing Systems thinking for achieving PNT resilience and in developing usable standards to improve PNT Resilience. Mitch was employed with the FAA for more than 26 years, becoming Chief Systems Engineer for Navigation Services. He is also an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University, a member of the editorial advisory board for GPS World, magazine, a member of the Corporate Faculty at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, is a Fellow of the RIN and is now the Principal Consultant and owner of Strategic Synergies, LLC.  Mitch will bring a wealth of industrial and academic expertise to the committee as well as a US perspective on Resilient PNT affairs.
The PNT Advisory Group always welcomes suggestions and inputs on PNT matters, large or small. Feel free to get in touch. 

Andy and Guy.