Internship in Enhanced Opportunistic Positioning (d/f/m)

Job description

Job Description:

In order to support Navigation Solutions, Airbus Defence and Space is looking for a

Internship in Enhanced Opportunistic Positioning (d/f/m)

Are you looking for an internship and want to get to know the work of a GNSS Signal Engineer?  Then apply now! We look forward to you supporting us in Navigation Solutions as an intern (d/f/m)! 

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Location: Ottobrunn 

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Start: 01.03.2025

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Duration: 3-6 months

Title: 
Monitoring and Characterisation of Broadband Sat-Com Signals for Enhanced Opportunistic Positioning

Context:
The emergence of new highly demanding Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) applications, such as Autonomous Driving or UAVs, and the need to answer recognized threats native to the GNSS technology (e.g. Spoofing, Jamming), has fostered a new interest for Alternative PNT (A‑PNT) solutions. In this context, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space systems, called “Mega-Constellations” and comprising several hundreds, if not thousands of satellites could represent an appealing alternative to the GNSS based on Medium Earth Orbit satellites, and especially when considering the higher received power, but also the two-way user links, which both contribute to a higher robustness and accuracy performance.
In order to demonstrate such promising performance, one attractive strategy consists in exploiting so-called Signal of Opportunity (SoO), which are transmitted by LEO communication satellites such as Starlink (US) and One-Web (UK) ones, both operating in Ku-Band at 12GHz. If the SoO approach might not be as optimal as a dedicated LEO-PNT mission, it already enables to anticipate expected performance, and to identify possible caveats to be solved either for a future In-Orbit-Demonstration (IoD) or final operational missions.

Objectives:
The main objective of the activity to be covered during the internship will be to enhance the performance of an existing LEO-PNT experimental demonstrator, developed within the Airbus Navigation Laboratory, by firstly strengthening the ranging performance obtained with the exploitation of real LEO broadband communication signals, and secondly by fostering positioning performance, possibly through improved Orbit Determination and Time Synchronization (ODTS).

Your location
Our site is just a stone's throw away from Munich, the beautiful capital of Bavaria. Are you into sports and other outdoor activities? The Alps and Lake Starnberg are within an hour’s reach, offering a multitude of recreational options.

Your benefits

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Attractive salary and work-life balance with a 35-hour week (flexitime).

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A final thesis is possible after consultation with the department.

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International environment with the opportunity to network globally.

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Work with modern/diversified technologies.

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At Airbus, we see you as a valuable team member and you are not hired to brew coffee, instead you are in close contact with the interfaces and are part of our weekly team meetings.

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Opportunity to participate in the Generation Airbus Community to expand your own network.

Your tasks and responsibilities

Task 1:

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The first task consists in getting acquainted with the Airbus LEO-PNT demonstrator, by operating both hardware and software components, with the goal to reach sufficient autonomy for further design and development activities. A literature survey shall also be conducted to complete the existing collected background references, and to permit identification of different axes of improvement for:
The LEO-COM signal tracking (including signal characterisation). Here, techniques exploiting the demodulated Sat-Com signals for improved ranging performance shall be especially investigated.
A comprehensive understanding of the Sat-Com signal orchestration (comprising Tx antenna Beam and channel allocation) to enhance positioning availability.
An improved ODTS estimation thanks to an optimised monitoring of satellites.
At the end of the Task 1 a down-selection of the most promising techniques and technologies, for ranging and positioning improvement will be carried-out in cooperation with the supervisor.

Task 2:

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The second task will focus on the design of the pre-selected techniques, and identification of most suited environment (Matlab, C++) for their implementation when targeting near real-time processing. The objective will be to use as much as possible of the existing equipment available within the Airbus Navigation Laboratory. When necessary, support for the procurement of further equipment (antenna, sampler, …) that might have to be provided.

Task 3:

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The third task will concentrate onto the implementation of the previously selected signal processing algorithms for ranging and positioning, as part of a Software Defined Radio framework. The validation of the corresponding algorithms shall be proposed with synthetic signals generated with an existing Software suite, sharing high communality with the real SoO to be recorded.

Task 4:

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The final task will focus on the application of the aforementioned algorithms to recorded real signals. Comparison with performance levels derived from analytical models, but also with aforementioned synthetic signals shall permit validating proposed approach. A report shall be generated along the internship in order to capture the outcomes of the aforementioned tasks.

Desired skills and qualifications

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You are an enrolled student (d/m/f) within Electrical Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering or similar field of study.

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You have a very solid background in signal processing and signal theory.

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You have a good capability to develop software in orderly manner.

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Knowledge in digital communication and digital receiver design is highly welcome

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English is mandatory; other languages are an asset.

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You are a good team player, have excellent communication skills, and are able to work independently.

Please upload the following documents: cover letter, CV, relevant transcripts, enrollment certificate. 
Not a 100% match? No worries! Airbus supports your personal growth.
Take your career to a new level and apply online now!

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH

Employment Type:
Internship

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Experience Level:
Student

Job Family:
Support to Management

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