Implementing a Virtual Time scale with LabVIEW, realization of local UTC(k) reference clock

Presented by:
Stefano Lagrasta Cromazio Valerio Innocenzi

Marco Cicchinelli

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Implementing a Virtual Time scale with LabVIEW, realization of local UTC(k) reference clock
*** Why ?
Some introductive information to understand the reason for work done

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Keeping International Time Reference Scales

The Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) in France is in charge to provide standard time scales to be adopted by the entire World International reference time scales TAI and UTC have been maintained and disseminated by the BIPM via monthly Circular T. 56 time laboratories are contributing their clock and time transfer data to the BIPM. Participating clocks are about 300 Once a month, these data are used to produce the standard international references for frequency and time: International Atomic Time ( TAI ) Universal Coordinated Time ( UTC ) Real time realizations of UTC are produced at most of the BIPM contributing laboratories and denoted as UTC( k )
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Navigation systems like GPS an Galileo use CDMA for one-way ranging
Satellite Navigation systems implement one-way ranging technology to allow user receiver position computation

User equipment determines first the time shift PRN between received signal CDMA profile and a self-generated replica of it: Receiver own replica of CDMA

CDMA as received from satellite

relative time shift, PRN

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One-way ranging strongly depends on time keeping (1)

Let t be a reference (absolute) scale, measuring elapsing time at Earth surface

Let T be the time scale implemented by user receiver clock; T exhibits a time error dT with respect to the time scale t :

T = t + dT
Let TSV be the time scale implemented by on-board Navigation satellite payload clock; TSV exhibits a time error dTSV and a relativistic offset tREL with respect to the time scale t :

TSV = t + dTSV tREL

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One-way ranging strongly depends on time keeping (2)

One-way ranging distance, which is the primary measurement needed by receiver for calculating its own coordinates, is proportional to the RF signal propagation time, One has:

= PRN dT + ( dTSV tREL )

In order to obtain the desired interval from correlation measurement PRN , the receiver needs to implement precise estimates for the time offsets dT, tREL and dTSV Now, dT will be determined as unknown of positioning equations, along with { x, y, z } coordinates

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One-way ranging strongly depends on time keeping (3)

No problem with tREL , that comes from reconstruction of satellite orbit profile and Einsteins Relativity modelling equations

But estimating and predicting the evolution of dTSV depends on:

good quality of the on-board clock. Must be regular and with predictable (future) time error: atomic is a good choice; the existence of a real, ground (atomic) reference, able to implement the best possible realization of the absolute time scale t

In other words: the Ground Mission Control segment needs to implement a physical time scale, best model for t :

t
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Implementing a Virtual Time scale with LabVIEW, realization of local UTC(k) reference clock
*** What ?
And now, lets go right to the point .!

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Definition of the activity

The objective of the activity is the design, development and implementation of a timing laboratory capable to generate and maintain a local atomic time scale UTC(K) continuous, stable, accurate and recognized by the international scientific community This work arises from the collaboration between National Instruments and Telespazio S.p.A., under the plan of industrial training for students participating the Master in Space and Communication Systems

ESA (European Space Agency) also took part in this initiative, by making available its timing laboratory infrastructure located at ESTEC (NoordWijk, NL).

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ESTEC UTC Lab Overview

(1)

The objectives that the time laboratory pursues are:

ensure the quality of generated time, through certification by the International Community of Time ensure continuity and reliability of service, through guaranteed performances of stability and accuracy, by removing possible interruptions due to maintenance operations develop and enhance the expertise acquired in the realization of a time scale support test activities of space missions (especially those concerned with satellite radio-assisted Navigation) exploit research, in order to guarantee a continuous optimization of timing generation and monitoring algorithms

define new applications

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ESTEC UTC Lab Overview

(2)

The ESTEC UTC Laboratory includes the following equipment, relevant for this project:
an Active Hydrogen Maser (AHM) atomic clock; four (4) Cesium clocks; a Multi-Channel Phase Comparator (MCPC);

a FemtoStepper;
a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) Common View receiver.

In addition, it is worth to mention the object of work done:

a set of algorithms for the realization and monitoring of the UTC(k) time the MCPC driver; the FemtoStepper driver
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Processing chain & data flow

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Processing chain & data flow

It has to acquire mutual clock offset measurements from the Multi-Channel Phase Comparator, via a UDP (User Datagram protocol) interface, with a data rate of 1Hz.

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Processing chain & data flow

It is able to eliminate the impact of the MCPC output signal anomalies (e.g. phase spikes) on the Ensemble Algorithm

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Processing chain & data flow

It provides the offset between the AHM clock and the Ensemble Clock, i.e.: self-generated virtual time scale

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Processing chain & data flow

It computes the frequency corrections to steer the AHM clock towards the Ensemble Time, by means of the FemtoStepper component

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Processing chain & data flow

It instructs the FemtoStepper through a serial port, sending it command strings and acquiring the confirmation for the execution of commands

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Monitoring Algorithm

(1)

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Monitoring Algorithm

(2)

This algorithm aims to facilitate a supervisor to better manage the clock system, ensuring continuity of operations and limiting the expected degradation of performance due to contingencies and anomalies
The algorithm processes the clock output phase/frequency measurements, being targeted to detect the Feared Events such as phase jumps, frequency jumps and frequency instabilities, which commonly affect atomic clocks

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ESTEC UTC Lab Front Panel

(1)

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ESTEC UTC Lab Front Panel

(2)

Real Dataset provided by Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Time Laboratory - UTC(PTB). Data Rate = 1 h; Period: from 07/Mar/2007 to 10/Aug/2007
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ESTEC UTC Lab Front Panel

(3)

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ESTEC UTC Lab Front Panel

(4)

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Conclusions and Future Developments

(1)

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Conclusions and Future Developments

(2)

In its final configuration, the Time Laboratory will be able to: generate a stable and continuous time reference, in an autonomous operational mode offer the operation of clocks within a controlled environment perform a continuous performance monitoring of implemented time scale determine the offset between the official (BIPM) UTC and own UTC(k), steering its time scale to the world UTC reference

disseminate its own UTC(k) time reference to users

exchange data with the operating/institutional time servers, such as those ones of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) and of the various UTC(k) laboratories, spread around the world.
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Special Thanks

We thank, for their drive and their willingness, bodies and people without whom this work would never have been done:
Ing. Marco Lisi (ESA) Ing. Pierluigi De Simone (ESA) Dr. Alexander Mudrak (ESA) Ing. Raffaele Fiengo (National Instruments)

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Thank You for Your Attention

Authors:
Telespazio Headquarters Via Tiburtina 965 00156 Roma communication@telespazio.com +39 06 4079 1
www.telespazio.com

Stefano Lagrasta
stefano.lagrasta@telespazio.com

Cromazio Valerio Innocenzi

valerio.innocenzi@external.telespazio.com

Marco Cicchinelli
marco.cicchinelli@external.telespazio.com

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