Variable duration fixed failure rate ambiguity resolution

In global navigation satellite system ambiguity resolution, it is common to use a configurable acceptance test, like the popular ratio test, to control the failure rate. Work in the literature proposes acceptance tests which let users directly choose an acceptable failure rate, but it focuses on instantaneous and fixed duration ambiguity resolution (where results may be success, failure, or undecided). We present a fixed failure rate acceptance test which avoids undecided results by varying the duration of the ambiguity resolution window. The proposed method uses Monte Carlo simulation with a time-correlated noise model to select acceptance test parameters that will minimize mean ambiguity resolution time while maintaining the target failure rate. Results of real-world experiments with single-frequency data from receivers with patch antennas show with 24 h of stationary data the method produces a mean ambiguity resolution time reduction of 52 % (from 525 to 250 s) compared with a ratio test. In a test with 90 min of kinematic data, the reduction was 33 % (from 620 to 410 s).     

信噪比的GNSS宽巷模糊度单历元固定算法

针对常规GNSS解算模糊度存在的问题,该文提出了一种新的GNSS宽巷模糊度单历元求解算法。利用单历元双频码伪距观测值和载波相位观测值得到双差宽巷模糊度浮点解,将所有浮点宽巷模糊度分别向上、向下取整建立模糊度搜索空间;将模糊度空间中的所有备选组合代入双差宽巷观测方程中进行最小二乘解算,其中单位权中误差最小的组合就是最优的宽巷模糊度组合;然后对最优组合进行正确性检验以确定宽巷模糊度。确定宽巷模糊度后,可以利用宽巷观测值和载波观测值求出基础模糊度整周解。实验表明,该文提出的模糊度固定方法具有较高的成功率和可靠性,静态数据中模糊度固定成功率达到98.84%,动态数据中模糊度固定成功率达到了99.60%。     

大型桥梁桥塔监测的GNSS相对对流层延迟估计

针对大型桥梁桥塔与基站高程差异较大,残余对流层延迟成为影响全球卫星导航系统(GNSS)监测成功率与精度的主要因素之一。该文基于随机过程理论,对桥梁监测GNSS残余对流层湿延迟进行参数估计,有效地提高了桥梁塔顶监测GNSS模糊度固定率。通过采用对流层经验模型改正对流层干延迟,将基准站和塔顶观测站对流层湿延迟组成相对对流层湿延迟,并联合位置参数和模糊度参数建立双差卡尔曼模型,最后利用最小二乘模糊度降低相关平差法(LAMBDA)对双差模糊度进行固定,并估计位置参数与相对对流层延迟参数。实验结果表明,该方法可以有效估计相对对流层延迟,有效提高GNSS模糊度固定率。     

基于格论的GNSS模糊度解算

快速、准确地解算整周模糊度是实现GNSS载波相位实时高精度定位的关键,由于模糊度之间的强相关,基于整数最小二乘估计准则时,需要较长的时间才能搜索出最优的整周模糊度向量。为了提高模糊度的搜索效率,本文在扼要介绍格论的理论框架基础上,引入基于格论的模糊度解算方法,通过格基规约来降低模糊度之间的相关性,从而快速搜索出最优的整数模糊度向量。与此同时,将GNSS领域的主要降相关方法统一到格论框架下,探讨了并建议采用Bootstrapping成功率作为格基规约的性能指标之一。最后实验分析了三频多系统长基线相对定位情况下,不同格基规约可获得的性能。     

Analysis of the upper bounds for the integer ambiguity validation statistics

Integer ambiguity validation is an essential quality control step for high-precision positioning and navigation with global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). In order to validate the resolved integer ambiguities, statistical tests, such as the R-ratio test, F-ratio test, W-ratio test, difference test, and projector test, have been favored. In practice, the critical values for these statistical tests are determined either empirically or from the assumed distributions. However, previous research has revealed that some of these statistics have upper bounds, which can be obtained from simulations. In this contribution, we find that under the framework of the integer aperture estimation, the upper bounds for these ambiguity validation statistical tests can be derived without actual measurements or simulation. As a result, the assumed distributions for these statistical tests are inappropriate. According to the derivation, it has been concluded that the upper bounds of these ambiguity validation tests depend only on the ambiguity geometry (e.g., the float ambiguity variance–covariance matrix) and can be obtained at the design stage of GNSS positioning. Thus, the critical value for these ambiguity validation statistics has a rigorous range, and it should be chosen to be smaller than a priori derived upper bound. Otherwise, no integer ambiguities can be obtained.     

RTK/INS紧组合算法在卫星数不足情况下的性能分析

设计了一套基于集中式卡尔曼滤波的实时动态定位（real-time kinematic,RTK）/惯性导航系统（inertial navigation system,INS）紧组合算法,通过实测车载数据对比分析了3颗可用卫星时的固定解和浮点解在位置漂移误差水平和模糊度恢复时间上的差异,验证了该算法在卫星较少情况下的良好性能。该算法在即使观测卫星不足4颗时使用固定解或浮点解进行滤波更新,提高了组合导航在复杂环境下的位置精度,并加快了模糊度恢复过程。实验结果表明,使用中等精度的惯导,在可见卫星数为3颗时,失锁30 s时的水平位置漂移误差为0.3 m;失锁60 s内,平均1~2 s就能可靠地恢复整周模糊度。在位置漂移误差与模糊度恢复方面,固定解和浮点解在GNSS信号短期部分失锁时的差异并不显著,但同时都明显优于信号完全失锁情形。     

基于可靠性指标的Ratio检验模糊度质量方法

整周模糊度估值的可靠性对保障卫星导航定位精度有着至关重要作用,本文针对常规Ratio检验模糊度方法中阈值c难以确定问题,基于模糊度成功率检验理论分析了Ratio检验法的概率特性,推导了模糊度失败率与Ratio检验阈值间的函数关系式,实现利用给定可靠性指标——模糊度失败率确定Ratio检验阈值c,从而保证模糊度固定解的可靠性。算例表明,该方法可解决Ratio检验中阈值c动态取值的关键问题,具有一定的实际意义。     

纳伪概率可控的四舍五入法及其在RTK模糊度固定中的应用

RTK模糊度固定通常采用序贯四舍五入方法,该方法只固定能可靠固定的部分模糊度,因此控制四舍五入的纳伪概率是实现RTK可靠性的关键。从含多个备选假设的假设检验理论出发,研究纳伪概率可控的四舍五入方法,根据风险水平和实数解的质量自适应地确定四舍五入取整区域,从而有效地控制整数固定的纳伪概率。并结合GNSS应用中两种特殊情况,发展两种简单实用的应用策略。采用基线长94.6 km的CORS站GPS双频数据进行网络RTK模糊度固定试验,分析本文纳伪概率可控的四舍五入方法的效果。结果表明,纳伪概率可控的四舍五入方法的固定率与传统四舍五入方法的固定率相当,且较传统方法更能有效地控制纳伪概率,提高整数解的可靠性。     

The affine constrained GNSS attitude model and its multivariate integer least-squares solution

A new global navigation satellite system (GNSS) carrier-phase attitude model and its solution are introduced in this contribution. This affine-constrained GNSS attitude model has the advantage that it avoids the computational complexity of the orthonormality-constrained GNSS attitude model, while it still has a significantly improved ambiguity resolution performance over its unconstrained counterpart. The functional and stochastic model is formulated in multivariate form, for one-, two- and three-dimensional antenna arrays, tracking GNSS signals on an arbitrary number of frequencies with two or more antennas. The stochastic model includes the capability to capture variations in the antenna-quality within the array. The multivariate integer least-squares solution of the model parameters is given and the model’s ambiguity success-rate is analysed by means of the ambiguity dilution of precision (ADOP). A general closed-form expression for the affine-constrained ADOP is derived, thus providing an easy-to-use and insightful rule-of-thumb for the ambiguity resolution capabilities of the affine constrained GNSS attitude model.     

非线性基线长约束条件线性化近似对模糊度解算影响

GNSS动态相对定位中常附加非线性的基线长约束进行解算, 而LAMBDA方法只能处理无约束或者线性约束的模型, 为了应用LAMBDA方法, 应对非线性约束条件进行线性化近似。通常附加该约束后, 模糊度固定成功率会提高, 但对于超短基线有时反而会降低。何种条件下附加线性化近似的基线长约束条件可以提高模糊度固定成功率尚未有定论。本文基于附加基线长约束的GNSS相对定位数学模型, 推导基线长约束条件线性化近似余项对浮点解的最大影响值公式, 给出基线长约束能否线性化近似的诊断条件。当该条件满足时, 线性化近似余项影响可以忽略, 附加线性化近似的基线长约束可以改善浮点解解算精度, 提高模糊度固定成功率;若不满足, 则线性化近似余项影响可能不可以忽略, 附加约束会因浮点解有偏不能固定为正确的模糊度, 并通过算例验证了相关结论。     

Integer least-squares theory for the GNSS compass

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) carrier phase integer ambiguity resolution is the key to high-precision positioning and attitude determination. In this contribution, we develop new integer least-squares (ILS) theory for the GNSS compass model, together with efficient integer search strategies. It extends current unconstrained ILS theory to the nonlinearly constrained case, an extension that is particularly suited for precise attitude determination. As opposed to current practice, our method does proper justice to the a priori given information. The nonlinear baseline constraint is fully integrated into the ambiguity objective function, thereby receiving a proper weighting in its minimization and providing guidance for the integer search. Different search strategies are developed to compute exact and approximate solutions of the nonlinear constrained ILS problem. Their applicability depends on the strength of the GNSS model and on the length of the baseline. Two of the presented search strategies, a global and a local one, are based on the use of an ellipsoidal search space. This has the advantage that standard methods can be applied. The global ellipsoidal search strategy is applicable to GNSS models of sufficient strength, while the local ellipsoidal search strategy is applicable to models for which the baseline lengths are not too small. We also develop search strategies for the most challenging case, namely when the curvature of the non-ellipsoidal ambiguity search space needs to be taken into account. Two such strategies are presented, an approximate one and a rigorous, somewhat more complex, one. The approximate one is applicable when the fixed baseline variance matrix is close to diagonal. Both methods make use of a search and shrink strategy. The rigorous solution is efficiently obtained by means of a search and shrink strategy that uses non-quadratic, but easy-to-evaluate, bounding functions of the ambiguity objective function. The theory presented is generally valid and it is not restricted to any particular GNSS or combination of GNSSs. Its general applicability also applies to the measurement scenarios (e.g. single-epoch vs. multi-epoch, or single-frequency vs. multi-frequency). In particular it is applicable to the most challenging case of unaided, single frequency, single epoch GNSS attitude determination. The success rate performance of the different methods is also illustrated.     

GNSS ambiguity resolution with controllable failure rate for long baseline network RTK

Many large-scale GNSS CORS networks have been deployed around the world to support various commercial and scientific applications. To make use of these networks for real-time kinematic positioning services, one of the major challenges is the ambiguity resolution (AR) over long inter-station baselines in the presence of considerable atmosphere biases. Usually, the widelane ambiguities are fixed first, followed by the procedure of determination of the narrowlane ambiguity integers based on the ionosphere-free model in which the widelane integers are introduced as known quantities. This paper seeks to improve the AR performance over long baseline through efficient procedures for improved float solutions and ambiguity fixing. The contribution is threefold: (1) instead of using the ionosphere-free measurements, the absolute and/or relative ionospheric constraints are introduced in the ionosphere-constrained model to enhance the model strength, thus resulting in the better float solutions; (2) the realistic widelane ambiguity precision is estimated by capturing the multipath effects due to the observation complexity, leading to improvement of reliability of widelane AR; (3) for the narrowlane AR, the partial AR for a subset of ambiguities selected according to the successively increased elevation is applied. For fixing the scalar ambiguity, an error probability controllable rounding method is proposed. The established ionosphere-constrained model can be efficiently solved based on the sequential Kalman filter. It can be either reduced to some special models simply by adjusting the variances of ionospheric constraints, or extended with more parameters and constraints. The presented methodology is tested over seven baselines of around 100 km from USA CORS network. The results show that the new widelane AR scheme can obtain the 99.4 % successful fixing rate with 0.6 % failure rate; while the new rounding method of narrowlane AR can obtain the fix rate of 89 % with failure rate of 0.8 %. In summary, the AR reliability can be efficiently improved with rigorous controllable probability of incorrectly fixed ambiguities.     

Reliability of partial ambiguity fixing with multiple GNSS constellations

Reliable ambiguity resolution (AR) is essential to real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning and its applications, since incorrect ambiguity fixing can lead to largely biased positioning solutions. A partial ambiguity fixing technique is developed to improve the reliability of AR, involving partial ambiguity decorrelation (PAD) and partial ambiguity resolution (PAR). Decorrelation transformation could substantially amplify the biases in the phase measurements. The purpose of PAD is to find the optimum trade-off between decorrelation and worst-case bias amplification. The concept of PAR refers to the case where only a subset of the ambiguities can be fixed correctly to their integers in the integer least squares (ILS) estimation system at high success rates. As a result, RTK solutions can be derived from these integer-fixed phase measurements. This is meaningful provided that the number of reliably resolved phase measurements is sufficiently large for least-square estimation of RTK solutions as well. Considering the GPS constellation alone, partially fixed measurements are often insufficient for positioning. The AR reliability is usually characterised by the AR success rate. In this contribution, an AR validation decision matrix is firstly introduced to understand the impact of success rate. Moreover the AR risk probability is included into a more complete evaluation of the AR reliability. We use 16 ambiguity variance–covariance matrices with different levels of success rate to analyse the relation between success rate and AR risk probability. Next, the paper examines during the PAD process, how a bias in one measurement is propagated and amplified onto many others, leading to more than one wrong integer and to affect the success probability. Furthermore, the paper proposes a partial ambiguity fixing procedure with a predefined success rate criterion and ratio test in the ambiguity validation process. In this paper, the Galileo constellation data is tested with simulated observations. Numerical results from our experiment clearly demonstrate that only when the computed success rate is very high, the AR validation can provide decisions about the correctness of AR which are close to real world, with both low AR risk and false alarm probabilities. The results also indicate that the PAR procedure can automatically chose adequate number of ambiguities to fix at given high-success rate from the multiple constellations instead of fixing all the ambiguities. This is a benefit that multiple GNSS constellations can offer.     

Improved network-based single-epoch ambiguity resolution using centralized GNSS network processing

Network real-time kinematic (NRTK) positioning is today’s industry standard for high-precision applications. Once network ambiguities are fixed, the network engine processes simultaneous observations from a number of continuously operating reference stations to compute corrections for users operating within the network area. Users are treated as passive nodes of the network. However, if two-way communication is available, then users could transmit their observations to the central processing facility where the network can treat them as active nodes, densifying the existing network infrastructure. This multiple rover network (MRN) concept exploits the additional information provided by users in a GNSS network. One application is to use the shorter inter-receiver distances to improve the success rate of single-epoch ambiguity resolution. This is also the goal of the subset ambiguity resolution algorithm, which improves the single-epoch success rate by allowing a subset of ambiguities to be resolved. We present an enhanced processing strategy to complement centimeter-level single-epoch NRTK positioning. This approach combines a single-baseline and an MRN solution with the partial ambiguity resolution algorithm and is only possible for a centralized GNSS network architecture. The algorithm is tested against the standard network ambiguity resolution strategy of full-set ambiguity fixing with respect to the nearest reference station. A 24-h dataset from the Southern California Integrated GNSS network is used with a configuration of three reference stations and four users. The enhanced solution achieves a mean ambiguity resolution success rate of 83% over all four users and all epochs, compared to 32% for the conventional technique.     

New method for single epoch, single frequency land vehicle attitude determination using low-end GPS receiver

Stand-alone, unaided, single frequency, single epoch attitude determination is the most challenging case of GNSS compass processing. For land vehicle applications, the baseline approximately lies in the plane of the local geodetic horizon. This provides an important constraint that can be exploited to directly aid the ambiguity resolution process. We fully integrate the constraint into the observation equations, which are transformed orthogonally. Our method can acquire the high-quality float solution by means of a heading search strategy. The fixed solution is obtained by weighted constrained integer least squares for each possible heading. The correct solution is identified by three consecutive steps: Kolmogorov?CSmirnov test, heading verification, and global minimizer of the fixed ambiguity objective function. The analysis focuses on single frequency, single epoch land vehicle attitude determination using low-end GPS receivers with very low precision of carrier phase and code measurements. The error analysis is given for choosing a proper baseline length in practical application. Experimental results demonstrate that this scheme can improve the ambiguity success rate for very short baseline.     

一种基于多频模糊度快速解算方法的BDS/GPS中长基线RTK定位模型

随着全球卫星导航系统（global navigation satellite system,GNSS）进入多系统时代,空中导航卫星的可见卫星数不断增加,中国北斗卫星导航系统（BeiDou navigation satellite system,BDS）已开始面向用户提供三频导航信号,这都有利于改善单历元实时动态定位（real-time kinematic,RTK）的精度和可靠性。中长基线单历元RTK通常采用电离层无关组合算法,但是该方法将观测噪声进行了放大,模糊度固定成功率随着基线长度的增加而明显降低。提出一种BDS/GPS（global positioning system）中长基线单历元多频RTK定位算法,先以较高成功率快速固定BDS的两个超宽巷模糊度,继而通过简单变换得到BDS宽巷模糊度,然后将其辅助提高GPS宽巷模糊度固定成功率,最后采用将电离层延迟误差参数化的策略以提高BDS/GPS窄巷模糊度固定成功率。结合实测数据进行验证分析,结果表明本文算法是可行的。     

Android智能手机GNSS高精度实时动态定位

本文基于智能手机GNSS观测值的质量和性质,利用手机载波相位观测值不确定度进行粗差处理,使用星间单差法消除智能手机伪距和载波相位观测值之间差值不固定特性的影响,针对手机观测值修改滤波过程中的观测值噪声方差数值,采用不固定载波相位整周模糊度的常加速度动态单频Kalman滤波模型实现实时PPP和RTK两种定位方法,提高手机实时GNSS定位精度。使用某智能手机进行验证,单频实时动态PPP定位在99s内达到稳定状态,平面定位精度为1.51 m,高程精度为2.79 m;RTK定位在27 s内达到稳定状态,平面定位精度为0.73 m,高程精度为0.78 m。测试结果表明目前智能手机的GNSS定位模块具有提供更加精准的位置服务能力,甚至在某些特定场景下具有实施测绘作业的潜能。     

零基线约束的参考站间模糊度固定方法研究

论文提出一种GNSS零基线约束的参考站间模糊度快速固定方法,该方法基于“一天线+双接收机”设计进行参考站间模糊度固定。首先,利用两个参考站四台接收机观测值形成四对参考站间无电离层组合双差观测值。其次,结合无电离层组合观测值模糊度和宽巷整周模糊度进行卡尔曼滤波和N1模糊度实数解计算。然后在模糊度域内进行线性变换,单历元固定零基线模糊度;利用零基线模糊度约束解算四组参考站间模糊度中的一组模糊度。最后,利用固定的模糊度还原所有原始双差整周模糊度。实验证明:与传统参考站间模糊度固定方法比,充分利用了零基线模糊度固定的约束条件进行参考站间模糊度固定,加快了模糊度收敛速度,极大地提高了模糊度固定的速度和成功率。      

PPP网解UPD模糊度固定的无基站差分大型CORS站整网快速精密解算

本文利用“国家基准一期工程”和上千全国部分省市CORS站的GNSS观测资料,基于PPP网解UPD模糊度固定技术实现了区域内无基站差分毫米级定位以及上千全国CORS站整网一次快速精密解算,这对于保障国家应急测绘快速响应、实现灾区基准快速建立以及快速获取和恢复国家统一坐标框架基准站坐标等具有重要的实用价值意义。首先,选取2015年8月1—31日198个国家GNSS连续运行基准站计算卫星端的宽巷、窄巷UPD,采用PPP网解UPD模糊度固定技术,对这些GNSS测站的载波相位进行模糊度固定:宽巷模糊度31 d固定率平均值在80%以上的测站共有193个;窄巷模糊度31 d固定率平均值在60%以上的测站共有165个。其次,对PPP整网一次快速解算定位结果进行统计分析,结果表明:31 d整网解算在NEU 3个方向的RMS分别为2.8、3.9、5.3 mm;标准差分别为2.1、3.2、6.7 mm。再者,使用中国区域内5个IGS观测站进行无基站差分精密定位,与SOPAC单天解ITRF2008框架下历元坐标的对比分析表明,31 d单日解外符合精度水平及高程方向均相差在毫米量级。最后,利用上述GNSS基准站解算出来的卫星端的宽、窄巷UPD(31 d),依次对2015年8月1—31日全国及部分省市1195个CORS站观测数据进行载波相位模糊度固定,得到无模糊度的精确相位观测值,从而使法方程中待估模糊度参数减少,克服了基准站网规模和测站个数的限制,实现了上千CORS站整网一次快速解算,对31 d月平均解与国际知名软件GAMIT/GLOBK的双差月解结果(2015年国家基础测绘任务成果)进行比较,结果显示,NEU 3个方向上差异在1 cm以内的测站分别为99.92%、99.33%、79.83%,其中U方向相差在1.5 cm为93.22%。综上所述,PPP网解UPD模糊度固定技术的方法,确保了区域内无基站精密定位、大网快速解算的精度和效率,能够满足灾区及国家坐标框架基准站坐标快速解算与恢复的迫切需求。     

Position-domain integrity risk-based ambiguity validation for the integer bootstrap estimator

Integrity monitoring for ambiguity resolution is of significance for utilizing the high-precision carrier phase differential positioning for safety–critical navigational applications. The integer bootstrap estimator can provide an analytical probability density function, which enables the precise evaluation of the integrity risk for ambiguity validation. In order to monitor the effect of unknown ambiguity bias on the integer bootstrap estimator, the position-domain integrity risk of the integer bootstrapped baseline is evaluated under the complete failure modes by using the worst-case protection principle. Furthermore, a partial ambiguity resolution method is developed in order to satisfy the predefined integrity risk requirement. Static and kinematic experiments are carried out to test the proposed method by comparing with the traditional ratio test method and the protection level-based method. The static experimental result has shown that the proposed method can achieve a significant global availability improvement by 51% at most. The kinematic result reveals that the proposed method obtains the best balance between the positioning accuracy and the continuity performance.