Pourquoi l’utiliser ?

Why use a GNSS Simulator?

Testing with simulators is the widely-accepted best practice for validating the performance of GNSS receivers and systems in many different scenarios and operating conditions in a controlled laboratory environment. Simulators are used extensively in academia and industry, in virtually all GNSS receiver manufacturing and major system integration, and in many different application fields, including navigation, positioning, telecommunications, aviation, automotive, and space, for both civilian and military applications. Using simulators facilitates several stages of research and product development, including requirements analysis, design and development, integration, production, maintenance, and support.

GNSS simulators provide many benefits, including

Control
Simulators allow complete control over all aspects of test scenarios, including GNSS constellation signals and environmental conditions.

Flexibility
Users can easily define different scenarios for different testing needs.

Repeatability
Equipment can be tested under different operating conditions, ranging from nominal to extreme, including conditions that are impractical or impossible to produce in live testing.

Reliability
Because all test conditions are controlled, test results are reliable, and equipment performance can be evaluated against known truth data.

Cost
Tests are conducted in the laboratory, without extra expenses for field tests and test vehicles.

Efficiency
Many different tests can be completed in the same laboratory test bed, without reconfiguring or relocating equipment. New test scenarios can be created and executed quickly.

Future
Simulators provide effective means of testing new and future GNSS capabilities that are not yet supported by actual constellations, such as the GPS L2C and L5 signals and the Galileo system.

A summary of the advantages of testing with GNSS simulators, compared to live testing with actual GNSS constellations, is shown in the table below.

Live Testing with Actual GNSS Constellation	Laboratory Testing with GNSS Simulators
No control over constellation signals	Complete control over constellation signals
Limited control over environmental conditions	Complete control over environmental conditions
Not repeatable conditions are always changing	Fully repeatable
Unintended interference from FM, radar, etc.	No unintended interference signals
Unwanted signal multipath and obscuration	No unwanted signal effects
No way to test with GNSS constellation errors	Easily test scenarios with GNSS constellation errors
Expensive field testing and vehicle trials	Cost-effective testing in laboratory
Limited to signals available in GNSS constellations	Testing of present and future GNSS signals
Competitors can monitor field testing	Testing conducted in secure laboratory