A Study on Microwave Two-Way Time Comparison Synchronization Technology for Distributed Systems
(Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology, Nanjing 210039, China)
Abstract
To address the high-precision time synchronization requirement of mobile platform distributed systems in GNSS-denied scenarios, a two-way time comparison and synchronization technology based on the microwave channel is proposed, and a time synchronization device is developed. The device realizes inter-node time synchronization through a microwave link in the non-GNSS frequency band, uses a multi-channel receiving architecture and spread spectrum modulation technology to improve anti-interference ability, completes the hardware collaborative design through a fully domestic SOC chip, and uses a TDMA+CDMA hybrid networking mode to realize fast access for multiple nodes. Verified by zero-baseline and 10 m static baseline tests, the time synchronization accuracy of the device after zero calibration is better than 0.5 ns, reaching sub-nanosecond synchronization performance. Error analysis shows that the principle error of the scheme can be controlled at the picosecond level in low-speed mobile scenarios, and it has theoretical adaptability to low-speed dynamic scenarios. The research results can provide feasible technical support for high-precision time synchronization of mobile platform distributed systems, and meet the engineering application requirements in GNSS-denied environments.
Keywords
distributed system; microwave two-way time comparison; time synchronization; spread spectrum modulation
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About the authors
Li Yang (1992-), male, Han ethnicity, born in Jiyuan, Henan, is an engineer with a master's degree. His research interests include high-performance embedded control systems and time-frequency synchronization technology; He Hanchen (1994-), male, Han ethnicity, born in Nanjing, Jiangsu, is an engineer with a master's degree. His research interests include high-performance embedded control systems and time-frequency synchronization technology; Yue Huhu (1995-), male, Han ethnicity, from Fengzhen, Inner Mongolia, engineer, master's degree, research direction: high-performance embedded control systems, time-frequency synchronization technology research.