Design, development and verification of a UAV-based GNSS payload for reflectometry

This thesis focuses on the design, development, and verification of a Global Navigation Satellite System-Reflectometry (GNSS-R) payload tailored for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) utilizing Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components. UAVs serve as versatile aerial platforms capable of operating at diverse altitudes, thereby offering varying levels of spatial resolution suitable for localized remote sensing applications. A customized GNSSR payload was created and tested in a comprehensive flight campaign over diverse terrains. The collected data underwent post-processing to generate reflectometry products, such as Delayed Doppler Maps (DDM) and Delayed Waveforms (DWF). Comparative analyses were conducted on GNSS-R reflections from different surfaces to confirm the payload’s reflectometry capabilities. The research results offer valuable insights into the practical applications of GNSS-R technology in remote sensing, emphasizing its potential viability for various applications in this field.