An offroad paradigm for thinking about resilient PNT

Logan Scott

GNSS/GPS Expert

October 22, 2024

My friend Dana Goward recently asked me what is the right way to think about PNT resilience and robustness? Upon reflection, there is a great deal to be learned from the overland off-roading community. Firstly, you don’t want to be out there on your own. Bring friends / multi GNSS / multi frequency / eLoran / BPS. If your vehicle gets stuck in the mud (jammed) or rolls down the hill (ASAT) you have friends to keep you going.

Secondly, aftermarket modifications can significantly improve robustness and capability. Rather than go out with a stock vehicle, remove vulnerabilities and add capabilities by adding skid plates, roll bars, suspension upgrades etc. Among the PNT equivalents are secure data servers for time, ephemeris, spoof warnings etc. Also, a good CRPA, properly integrated will yield 1000x and more improvements in jamming resistance. None of these is a fundamental change to the stock vehicle.

And finally, try things out, take risks and break stuff. It is the only way to learn what actually works and is useful. Just ask SpaceX.

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But you do. You understand the systems, the dependencies, the failure chains. That insight is rare — and it's exactly what your country needs right now. Contact your government leaders and industry decision-makers and tell them resilient PNT isn't a feature — it's the foundation everything else depends on.

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