A multi-technique approach for characterizing the SVN49 signal anomaly, part 1: receiver tracking and IQ constellation

A characterization of the signal anomaly of SVN49 is presented. A mathematical model is developed to relate the observed multipath to the internal signal reflection. The analyses provided are based on measurements, which have been collected during a dedicated tracking campaign with a 30-m dish antenna. Data on the L1 and L2 frequency have been collected with four different receivers. In addition, IQ samples have been recorded directly with a spectrum analyzer. The multipath combination of the receiver measurements on L1 and L2 is analyzed to demonstrate the effect of the signal reflections on different correlator spacing. The capability to suppress the signal reflection with receiver multipath mitigation methods is demonstrated. Finally, preliminary estimates of the attenuation, delay, and phase shift over elevation are obtained from an IQ sample analysis.     

New developments on estimating satellite interfrequency bias for SVN49

In order to estimating satellite interfrequency bias T_gd for the anomalously behaving SVN49, a modified JPL GIM software suite is presented. This research assumed that the single-frequency user will not need to perform any modification in the receiver software and will not need any detailed knowledge of the satellite anomaly using the code observable. We performed a point positioning analysis and investigated the range residuals for SVN49. It was discovered that the new satellite bias estimate resulted in near zero mean residuals with the shape of P2-P1 and L1-L2 observables being consistent with shapes from other satellites. Also, computed is a 10-day average of the estimated satellite interfrequency bias T_gd, which turned out to be −19.13 ns.     

IRNSS-1A: signal and clock characterization of the Indian regional navigation system

An initial characterization of the L5 and S-Band navigation signals transmitted by the first satellite of the Indian regional navigation satellite system (IRNSS) is presented. In the absence of a public signal specification, a 30 m high-gain antenna has been used to record the signal spectrum and the modulated chip sequences. For the IRNSS standard positioning service, use of a Gold ranging code is confirmed and relevant shift register parameters for the two frequencies are identified. Based on a prototype receiver, L5 single-frequency code and phase observations of IRNSS-1A have also been collected. The tracking performance is described, and the measurements are used to characterize the short-term clock stability of IRNSS-1A.     

多径效应的动态特性对码跟踪环路的影响分析

接收机与卫星之间的相对运动,使得多径效应存在动态特性。针对卫星轨道的不同,分析多径效应对测距误差的影响,着重讨论静止接收机接收GEO卫星信号时出现的固有多径现象,仿真分析多径信号的衰落频率对码跟踪环路的影响。仿真结果表明,当衰落频率接近或大于码环路带宽时,多径对码跟踪精度的影响会在一定程度上被滤除;不同的卫星轨道导致多径效应的动态特性存在差异,会使测距误差在时域上表现出短时快变和长时缓变两种特征。为研究多径效应产生机理与卫星轨道因素的相关性提供了验证途径。     

A study on the dependency of GNSS pseudorange biases on correlator spacing

We provide a comprehensive overview of pseudorange biases and their dependency on receiver front-end bandwidth and correlator design. Differences in the chip shape distortions among GNSS satellites are the cause of individual pseudorange biases. The different biases must be corrected for in a number of applications, such as positioning with mixed signals or PPP with ambiguity resolution. Current state-of-the-art is to split the pseudorange bias into a receiver- and a satellite-dependent part. As soon as different receivers with different front-end bandwidths or correlator designs are involved, the satellite biases differ between the receivers and this separation is no longer practicable. A test with a special receiver firmware, which allows tracking a satellite with a range of different correlator spacings, has been conducted with live signals as well as a signal simulator. In addition, the variability of satellite biases is assessed through zero-baseline tests with different GNSS receivers using live satellite signals. The receivers are operated with different settings for multipath mitigation, and the changes in the satellite-dependent biases depending on the receivers’ configuration are observed.     

GPS multipath mitigation: a nonlinear regression approach

Under the assumption that the surrounding environment remains unchanged, multipath contamination of GPS measurements can be formulated as a function of the sidereal repeatable geometry of the satellite with respect to the fixed receiver. Hence, multipath error estimation amounts to a regression problem. We present a method for estimating code multipath error of GPS ground fixed stations. By formulating the multipath estimation as a regression problem, we construct a nonlinear continuous model for estimating multipath error based on well-known sparse kernel regression, for example, support vector regression. We will empirically show that the proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance on code multipath mitigation with 79 % reduction on average in terms of standard deviation of multipath error. Furthermore, by simulation, we will also show that the method is robust to other coexisting signals of phenomena, such as seismic signals.     

基于GNSS多径信号的反射面参数估计算法

全球卫星导航系统（GNSS）多径信号广泛存在于城市峡谷等复杂导航定位场景中. 多径信号在干扰GNSS接收机并造成系统定位精度下降的同时,也为接收机提供了周边反射面环境信息. 在码相位延迟幅度联合跟踪算法（CADLL）实现GNSS多径信号感知和特征参数提取的基础上,设计实现了基于粒子滤波的反射面参数估计算法. 该算法可以在GNSS多径环境中增强接收机的环境感知能力,相关环境信息可应用于场景感知、避障、路径规划和定位增强等领域. 静态环境下进行GNSS多径信号采集和算法测试,实验结果表明该算法能够有效估计反射面位置参数,反射面方位角均方根误差（RMSE）小于10°,反射面俯仰角RMSE小于5°,反射面距离RMSE小于10 m.      

Analysis of early late phase in single-and dual-frequency GPS receivers for multipath detection

Much of the research into multipath detection and mitigation has not considered the carrier phase delay between the line of sight (LOS) and reflected signals. A new variable referred to as early late phase (ELP) has recently been proposed to exploit this phase difference. It has been found that in a receiver tracking the L1 GPS signal, the probability of detecting multipath is lower when the carrier phase difference between the LOS and a reflected signal is an integer multiple of π. Since the pseudorange error caused by the multipath’s presence is the highest in this case, we propose to exploit the coexistence of another GPS civilian signal, the L2C. We present an analysis of ELP for the L1 and L2C signals, and a combination of both, for detecting multipath. The multipath detection performance has been compared using probabilities of false alarm and detection. An ideal algorithm should have lower probability of false alarm and higher probability of detection. However, it has been found that using dual-frequency ELP increases both probabilities. Thus, receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves, and the area under the ROC curves, have been used for effective comparison. It has been found that the L2C signal individually gives worse performance than L1 because of its weaker signal strength. However, the combination of L1 and L2C gives the best overall performance, and thus it can be claimed that ELP using dual-frequency receivers is a more effective approach for detecting multipath.     

北斗B1C、B2a信号非理想性分析及接收约束建议

卫星导航信号的非理想性会导致不同接收机之间出现测距偏差,是影响卫星导航系统服务精度和完好性的重要因素。首先,针对北斗系统B1C、B2a新体制信号的非理想性进行分析,利用大口径天线采集了全部北斗三号在轨卫星播发的B1C、B2a信号（共27颗卫星）,评估了不同接收带宽、码鉴相间距下测距偏差的大小与变化特点;然后,以双频多星座星基增强服务应用为例,分析了两个信号在相应接收机中的设计约束条件。研究结果发现,在接收机常用的参数范围内,B1C、B2a信号非理想性引入的测距偏差分别不超过0.68 m、0.44 m;在测距偏差小于0.1 m的性能约束下,B1C、B2a信号可用的约束条件参数范围优于国际民航标准草案中的相关要求。     

GNSS导航信号的开环补偿多径抑制方法

多径的存在会给全球导航卫星系统的接收机带来较大的定位误差。因此,高精度的接收机须对多径信号进行抑制。针对目前常用的多径抑制方法的优缺点,提出了一种基于多门延迟和曲线拟合的多径抑制方法。该方法通过多门延迟来重塑伪码的自相关函数,用于找到直射信号的伪码真实位置和接收机码跟踪环路鉴别结果之间的偏差,进一步通过曲线拟合方法更加精确地计算出该偏差,最后将该偏差通过开环方法补偿给伪距计算,使得接收机在不改变环路跟踪性能和抗动态干扰性能的前提下实现定位性能的提升。仿真结果表明新算法在前端带宽的影响下对短、中长多径均能进行有效地抑制。      

北斗导航卫星系统测距信号的精度分析

基于单测站和短基线实验的伪距相位差值 (Code-minus-phase Combination, CC)和多路径(Multipath, MP)两类组合观测值,对比分析了北斗（BD）和GPS测距信号质量,并检验了多路径误差对CC模糊度固定的影响。结果表明：BD GEO卫星(Geostationary Earth Orbit)的测距信号质量优于IGSO卫星(Inclined Geosynchronous Satellite Orbit),且两类测距信号的多路径误差分别包含长、短期的变化趋势。针对CC模糊度固定,当采用较长时间段（如本文中的600s）时,GPS L1/L2和BD B1/B2四个频段上的成功率均超90%;而对于快速模糊度固定（如仅采用120秒）,由于受强多路径误差影响,BD IGSO卫星的固定成功率最低,不超过50%。     

Tracking and orbit determination performance of the GRAS instrument on MetOp-A

The global navigation satellite system receiver for atmospheric sounding (GRAS) on MetOp-A is the first European GPS receiver providing dual-frequency navigation and occultation measurements from a spaceborne platform on a routine basis. The receiver is based on ESA’s AGGA-2 correlator chip, which implements a high-quality tracking scheme for semi-codeless P(Y) code tracking on the L1 and L2 frequency. Data collected with the zenith antenna on MetOp-A have been used to perform an in-flight characterization of the GRAS instrument with focus on the tracking and navigation performance. Besides an assessment of the receiver noise and systematic measurement errors, the study addresses the precise orbit determination accuracy achievable with the GRAS receiver. A consistency on the 5 cm level is demonstrated for reduced dynamics orbit solutions computed independently by four different agencies and software packages. With purely kinematic solutions, 10 cm accuracy is obtained. As a part of the analysis, an empirical antenna offset correction and preliminary phase center correction map are derived, which notably reduce the carrier phase residuals and improve the consistency of kinematic orbit determination results.

Development and testing of a new ray-tracing approach to GNSS carrier-phase multipath modelling

Multipath is one of the most important error sources in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) carrier-phase-based precise relative positioning. Its theoretical maximum is a quarter of the carrier wavelength (about 4.8 cm for the Global Positioning System (GPS) L1 carrier) and, although it rarely reaches this size, it must clearly be mitigated if millimetre-accuracy positioning is to be achieved. In most static applications, this may be accomplished by averaging over a sufficiently long period of observation, but in kinematic applications, a modelling approach must be used. This paper is concerned with one such approach: the use of ray-tracing to reconstruct the error and therefore remove it. In order to apply such an approach, it is necessary to have a detailed understanding of the signal transmitted from the satellite, the reflection process, the antenna characteristics and the way that the reflected and direct signal are processed within the receiver. This paper reviews all of these and introduces a formal ray-tracing method for multipath estimation based on precise knowledge of the satellite–reflector–antenna geometry and of the reflector material and antenna characteristics. It is validated experimentally using GPS signals reflected from metal, water and a brick building, and is shown to be able to model most of the main multipath characteristics. The method will have important practical applications for correcting for multipath in well-constrained environments (such as at base stations for local area GPS networks, at International GNSS Service (IGS) reference stations, and on spacecraft), and it can be used to simulate realistic multipath errors for various performance analyses in high-precision positioning.     

北斗全球卫星导航系统试验卫星测距信号质量分析

目前,北斗全球卫星导航系统有5颗试验卫星发射试验信号。试验卫星数据质量分析是北斗全球系统信号体制验证的重要内容。基于单测站北斗试验卫星观测数据,采用伪距相位差组合和伪距多径组合方法,初步分析了试验卫星民用信号以及Bs频点信号伪距测量噪声和多径误差。结果表明,倾斜同步轨道卫星伪距测量精度优于中轨道卫星;在各导航信号中,B2a+b信号伪距测量精度最高,具有最优的抗多径性能;B1C信号伪距测量精度最低,抗多径性能最差;Bs信号伪距测量精度较差,但优于B1C信号,且其伪距多径存在一个与高度角相关的系统误差,在高度角最大时可达0.5 m。     

Characterization of Compass M-1 signals

An analysis of observations from China’s first medium earth orbit satellite Compass M-1 is presented, with main focus on the first orbit and clock solution for this satellite. The orbit is computed from laser ranging measurements. Based on this orbit solution, the apparent clock offset is estimated using measurements from two GNSS receivers, which allow Compass tracking. The analysis of the clock solutions reveals unexpectedly high dynamics in the pseudorange and carrier-phase observations. Furthermore, carrier-to-noise density ratio, pseudorange noise, and multipath are analyzed and compared to GPS and GIOVE. The results of the clock analysis motivate further research on the signals of the geostationary satellites of the Compass constellation.     

TJS-2 geostationary satellite orbit determination using onboard GPS measurements

This study analyzes the quality of onboard data of tracking signals from GPS satellites on the far side of the earth and determines the orbit of the geostationary satellite using code and carrier phase observations with 30-h and 3-day orbit arc length. According to the analysis results, the onboard receiver can track 6–8 GPS satellites, and the minimum and maximum carrier to noise spectral densities were 24 and 45 dB-Hz, respectively. For a GPS receiver on a high-altitude platform above the navigation constellations, the blocking of the earth and a weak signal strength usually cause a piece-wise GPS signal tracking and an increase in the number of ambiguity parameters. Individual GPS satellites may be continuously tracked for as little as several minutes and as long as 3 h. Moreover, considering the negative sign of elevation angles reflects the fact that GPS satellites are tracked below the receiver in the study. GPS satellites appear mainly in the elevation angle range of ??53° to ??83°, and dilution of precision values could reach ten or one hundred and more. Also, it is observed that when a signal suffers from atmospheric refraction, other GPS signals tracked simultaneously by the receiver experience strong systematic errors in the code observations. Based on single-frequency code and carrier phase measurements, the mean 3D root mean square (RMS) value of the overlap comparisons between 30-h orbit determination arcs is 2.14 m. However, we found that there were also some biases in the carrier phase residuals, which contributed to poor orbit accuracy. To eliminate the effects of the biases, we established a correction sequence for each GPS satellite. After corrections, the mean 3D RMS was reduced to 0.99 m, representing a 53% improvement.     

星载GPS伪距多路径误差与观测噪声对自主定轨的影响分析

对搭载美国BlackJack接收机的CHAMP/GRACE-A/Jason-2卫星和搭载国产接收机的HY2A/ZY3/TH1卫星的星载GPS数据的伪距多路径误差与观测噪声进行了研究,重点分析了国产接收机伪距多路径误差的变化特性,并研究了多路径误差与观测噪声对星载GPS自主定轨的影响。结果表明:国产接收机的C/A码与P1码伪距观测精度要整体差于美国的BlackJack接收机,而P2码伪距观测精度要整体优于BlackJack接收机;国产接收机P1码伪距受多路径效应影响较大,其多路径误差随高度角减小存在单调递增的变化趋势,其中HY2A、ZY3与TH1卫星的多路径误差最大分别可达3.6 m、1.8 m与0.7 m;这种单调递增变化的多路径误差会导致星载GPS自主定轨位置结果在径向与切向产生系统性偏差。     

Evaluating pseudorange multipath effects at stations in the National CORS Network

A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the amount of pseudorange multipath at 390+ sites in the National Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) Network. The National CORS Network is a cooperative effort involving over 110 different agencies, universities, and private companies who seek to make GPS data from dual-frequency receivers located throughout the United States and its territories available to the general public. For CORS users, pseudorange multipath can seriously degrade the accuracy of any application that relies on precise measurements of the pseudorange observable over a short period of time, including differential pseudorange navigation, kinematic and rapid-static surveying, and ionospheric monitoring. The main objectives of this study were to identify the most affected and least affected sites in the network, to closely investigate problematic sites, and to compare various receiver/antenna combinations. Dual-frequency carrier phase and pseudorange measurements were used to estimate the amount of L1 and L2 pseudorange multipath at each site over a one-year period. Some of the most severely affected sites were maritime Differential GPS and Nationwide Differential GPS (DGPS/NDGPS) sites. Photographs obtained for these sites verified the presence of transmission towers and other reflectors in close proximity to the GPS antennas. Plotting the variations of the L1 and L2 pseudorange multipath with respect to azimuth and elevation further verified that even above a 60° elevation angle there was still as much as five meters of pseudorange multipath at some sites. The least affected sites were the state networks installed in Ohio and Michigan; these sites used excellent antenna mounts, choke ring antennas, and new receiver technology. A comparison of the 12 most commonly used receiver/antenna combinations in the CORS Network indicated that newer receivers such as the Ashtech UZ-12, Leica RS-500, and Trimble 5700 help to significantly mitigate pseudorange multipath, while the receivers/antennas at some DGPS/NDGPS sites, and the antennas formerly used at the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) sites, are among those most affected by pseudorange multipath. The receiver/antenna comparison did not take into account the potential presence of reflectors at the sites (i.e., it is possible that a well-performing receiver/antenna combination could have been consistently placed at very poor site locations, and vice-versa).Product Disclaimer: Mention of a commercial company or product does not constitute an endorsement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Use for publicity or advertisement purposes of information from this paper concerning proprietary products or the comparison of such products is not authorized.     

Performance comparison of semicodeless GPS receivers for LEO satellites

This report provides a detailed performance analysis of three semicodeless dual-frequency GPS receivers for use in low Earth orbit (LEO). The test set comprises the IGOR receiver, which represents a follow-on of the flight-proven BlackJack receiver, as well as two geodetic receivers (NovAtel OEM4-G2 and Septentrio PolaRx2), which are entirely based on commercial-off-the-shelf technology (COTS). All three receivers are considered for upcoming flight projects or experiments and have undergone at least a preliminary environmental qualification program. Using extensive signal simulator tests, the cold start signal acquisition, tracking sensitivity, differential code biases, raw measurement accuracy, and navigation accuracy of each receiver have been assessed. All tests are based on a common scenario that is representative of an actual space mission and provides a realistic simulation of the signal dynamics and quality on a scientific LEO satellite. Compared to the other receivers, the IGOR instrument exhibits a superior tracking sensitivity and is thus best suited for occultation measurements with low tangent point altitudes. The OEM4-G2 and PolaRx2 receivers are likewise shown to properly track dual-frequency GPS signals and normal signal levels and to provide accurate code and carrier phase measurements. Given their limited resource requirements, these receivers appear well suited for precise orbit determination applications and ionospheric sounding onboard of microsatellites with tight mission budgets.     

一种GPS多路径反射信号的雪深反演

针对传统雪深测量缺乏必要时空敏感性的不足,该文在分析GPS信号多路径反射模型的基础上,利用GPS信噪比观测数据,通过分离提取多路径反射分量研究其时频特性,探讨GPS多路径信号与雪深及其变化关系并进行反演建模。依据菲涅尔反射区理论,确定了反射区域范围,进一步探讨卫星、波段选择及初始反射高度确定等。对比实验研究表明,反演结果与实测值吻合较好,相关系数为0.93,均方根误差为8.6cm;信噪比多路径反射分量的频率能有效跟踪积雪深度的变化。