Selection for signals of opportunity based on affinity propagation clustering method

The navigation method with signals of opportunity (SOOP) in the complex low airspace was introduced. Then a selection algorithm for SOOP was presented to solve the problem, which was hard to choose for the types of SOOP were various and the number of SOOP was so many. More less geometry dilution of precision (GDOP) for signals, the positioning accuracy would be higher. Consequently, the clustering method was considered to choose navigation signals because the signals in the same area influenced GDOP similarly. Firstly, each similarity between arbitrary two SOOP was expressed by their distance. Similar groups were acquired through the affinity propagation clustering method. Then, the groups were selected according to the centers of similar groups. Lastly, for navigation signals were chosen from the determinate groups. The simulation analyzed the rule of clustering for SOOP with different distributions. Then the algorithm simulation, which was applied in Wenchuan of Sichuan Province, proved the signal selection method effective. Meantime, this algorithm will greatly improve the efficiency of signal selection in the complex low airspace.