A new SDR GNSS Receiver Prototype for Reflectometry Applications: Ideas and Design

In this paper the preliminary design of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver with scatterometric capabilities is presented. The aim is to exploit the reflected GNSS signals to retrieve information about the soil characteristics. The receiver prototype is specifically designed to be small and lightweight, to be mounted on board an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The presented prototype, with respect to the existing devices, is characterized by the use of low-cost equipment, enabling, at the same time, a flexible and reconfigurable solution thanks to the use of a Software Defined Radio (SDR) technology. This paper illustrates the overall system, the proposed approach and the development status of the work. In particular, the hardware platform is described. Then, the signal-processing techniques that can be consequently adopted and the methods to retrieve the soil characteristics are outlined too. Furthermore, some preliminary results obtained during a preparatory experimental campaign in static conditions are provided.