The Spoofing Detection of Dynamic Underwater Positioning Systems (DUPS) Based on Vehicles Retrofitted with Acoustic Speakers

Abstract

The need of precision for underwater positioning and navigation should be considered as strict as those present at the sea surface. GNSS provides 4D positioning (XYZT). Each satellite contains two rubidium and two cesium atomic clocks. They are monitored by an atomic clock on the ground, and the entire system is constantly calibrated to a universal time standard, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). GNSS receivers determine the time T to within 100 billionths of a second without the cost of owning, operating and maintaining an atomic clock. Of particular importance is the measurement of XYZT underwater. We assume that some surface vehicles are additionally equipped with an Acoustic Speaker, which transmits the XY coordinates of the vessel with an indication of accuracy and the time T of the vessel. Submarine vehicles determine their position by help of acoustic signals from several surface acoustic sources using the Time of Arrival (ToA) algorithm. Detection of Spoofing for the Dynamic Underwater Positioning Systems (DUPS) based on vehicles retrofitted with acoustic speakers is very actual problem. Underwater spoofing works as follows: N acoustic speaker on N ships transmit the coordinates {xi,yi,ti}, i=1,N¯. GNSS signals are susceptible to interference due to their very low power (−130 dBm) and can be easily jammed by other sources, which may be accidental or intentional. The spoofer, like an underwater vehicle, receives these signals from N vessels, distorts them and transmits with increased acoustic power. All receivers into the spoofed area will calculate the same coordinates, so the indication of the coincidence of coordinates from a pair of diversity receivers is an indication of spoofing detection.