Manipulated GPS Signals Cause Damage in the Logistics Industry

Manipulated GPS signals cause significant damage and pose numerous risks in the logistics industry. The solutions with GPS Anti-Jamming Technology (GAJT) from NovAtel, part of Hexagon, can locate and suppress jamming signals to maintain reliable positioning, timing, and navigation. The exclusive distribution partner in Germany is ppm precise position management GmbH.

(Penzberg) “Continuous GPS reception is crucial for smooth shipping and truck traffic, but particularly in the Baltic and Mediterranean regions, signal disruptions are becoming increasingly common,” says Michael Singer, Managing Director of ppm GmbH. “NovAtel’s GAJT solutions help transport companies avoid costly route changes or rising insurance premiums.”

Since most transport companies rely on various global satellite navigation systems (GNSS), the disruptions usually do not pose an immediate danger to employees and passengers. However, there have already been flight cancellations, route changes, and missed unloading slots at ports, all of which incur very high costs.

But not only jamming, which disrupts or interrupts satellite signals, leads to rising costs in the logistics industry. Criminals also repeatedly attempt to mislead trucks carrying valuable cargo onto the wrong route through spoofing, which involves deliberately faking a false satellite navigation signal to steal the freight.

Automatically Detecting Jamming Signals

With the GAJT solutions, these problems can be avoided, as they protect systems from radio frequency (RF) interference and disturbances. To this end, the GAJT product family is equipped with a range of sensitive sensors and complex algorithms that can locate the jamming source. This is achieved, among other things, by perceiving the movement of the signal: While the GPS signal comes from a satellite moving through space at a speed of about four kilometers per second, the jamming signal is usually static and located on the ground. The GAJT antennas automatically detect a jamming signal and create a digital representation of it. The algorithm can then eliminate the jamming signal. The GNSS receiver on board a vehicle or cargo ship thus receives continuously correct satellite data.

Additionally, the GAJT systems offer the advantage that users can easily continue to use their existing satellite navigation systems. Only the antenna needs to be replaced with the GAJT system to be protected against jamming and spoofing.

Solutions for Fleet Management and Maritime Applications

ppm GmbH offers two different GAJT systems from NovAtel, part of Hexagon. Both the GAJT 710 series and the GAJT 410 series provide a reliable defense layer against RF interference and jamming attacks. While the GAJT 410 products stand out due to their lower weight and size, the GAJT 710 products feature more antenna segments, allowing for even more precise localization of the jamming signal. They are also equipped with a “silent mode function” to make them less detectable. Both series are available in a version for land vehicles, such as trucks or cash-in-transit vehicles, as well as in a variant for maritime applications, such as tankers, container ships, and cruise ships. Coastal operations, such as hydrographic surveying, shipbuilding, dredging, and piloting, can also be protected with these solutions.

Photo: © NovAtel Inc. / Image caption: GPS Anti-Jamming Technology, or GAJT, for secure GPS reception