After successful completion of the course, students are able to independently research a topic related to positioning in GNSS denied (indoor) and challenged environments. The students are able to produce a multi-sensor or cooperative positioning solution under different conditions and in different environments, process positioning data from different sensors, and write a scientific report.

They will be able to comprehend and solve problems in the field of positioning for topics such as:

• Indoor positioning, 
• Positioning in urban canyons, 
• Sensor fusion (multi-sensor positioning), 
• Cooperative positioning, 
• Indoor/outdoor seamless transition, 
• Integrity monitoring methods for safety-critical applications, etc. 

The students will acquire knowledge of current problems that the wider scientific community is working on. They will also have an understanding of GNSS drawbacks when it comes to challenged environments and the need for different solutions such as multi-sensor or cooperative positioning.

GNSS disadvantages, challenges of different environments (indoor and outdoor), basics of positioning, Extended Kalman Filter and other positioning estimators, multi-sensor fusion, cooperative positioning

Open discussion of previous and upcoming problems; independent work with software; pre-recorded lectures on relevant topics that are available on e-learning platform; data collection measuring campaigns;

This course is designed with aim of introducing students to a classical research process: from choosing the topic based on the literature review to setting up a methodology, solving the problem and writing about it, and going through the peer-review process. 

Students will work in groups of 3-4 (depending on the number of students in the course). The teachers will guide the students in their search for the problem they want to solve and in their effort to solve the chosen problem.

The following 7 points describe the flow of the course and how the course will be executed. Each of the 5 outcomes corresponds to one assessment item provided in the Examination modalities section.

1. Introduction to the GNSS challenged and denied environments. Students will be provided with materials so they can find a problem that they want to solve. Each group will discuss among themselves which problem they are interested in solving. OUTCOME 1: Submission of the initial problem idea.
2. Going over the submitted problem ideas and brainstorming on improvement. OUTCOME 2: Submission of the problem and plan on solving the problem. The motivation for the choice of the problem is explained.
3. Defining all the terms necessary to understand the problems better.
4. Self-study. Students are guided in their study. Teachers help them find the resources. OUTCOME 3: Students write a brief report about their literature review and practical tasks they have performed.
5. Based on the acquired knowledge in the previous step, students start solving the problem they defined at the beginning of the semester. Teachers guide them and help them come to a positive conclusion in their problem-solving. Students are encouraged to already start writing/documenting their methodology and steps.
6. OUTCOME 4: Written scientific report.
7. OUTCOME 5: Presentation.

Report and presentation.

There will be 5 points of assessment during the semester. Assessment items (see Additional Information for explanation):

• Initial problem idea: 5%
• Problem definition: 5%
• Literature review: 10%
• Report: 50%
• Presentation: 30% (18% awarded by teachers + 12% awarded by other students)