Enhanced Loran skywave delay estimation based on artificial neural network in low SNR environment

Abstract

This study proposes a high precision algorithm to estimate the Enhanced Loran skywave delay. It is based on the artificial neural network. The algorithm establishes a neural network model between the receiving Enhanced Loran signal and the skywave propagation delay. By training a large number of data, the neural network model can more accurately reflect the relationship between the receiving signal and the skywave delay. This is an innovative application of the skywave delay estimation algorithm in the Enhanced Loran receiving system, especially in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) environments. The experimental results show that the accuracy of this algorithm is about hundreds of nanoseconds in the condition of normal receiving SNR. The accuracy of the algorithm is about us in the condition of low SNR, while the previous algorithm cannot be used in this case. It has also been proved by the off-air data.