IRNSS/NavIC and GPS: a single- and dual-system L5 analysis

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) has recently (May 2016) become fully operational. In this contribution, for the fully operational IRNSS as a stand-alone system and also in combination with GPS, we provide a first assessment of L5 integer ambiguity resolution and positioning performance. While our empirical analyses are based on the data collected by two JAVAD receivers at Curtin University, Perth, Australia, our formal analyses are carried out for various onshore locations within the IRNSS service area. We study the noise characteristics (carrier-to-noise density, measurement precision, time correlation), the integer ambiguity resolution performance (success rates and ambiguity dilution of precision), and the positioning performance (ambiguity float and ambiguity fixed). The results show that our empirical outcomes are consistent with their formal counterparts and that the GPS L5-data have a lower noise level than that of IRNSS L5-data, particularly in case of the code data. The underlying model in our assessments varies from stand-alone IRNSS (L5) to IRNSS \(+\) GPS (L5), from unconstrained to height-constrained and from kinematic to static. Significant improvements in ambiguity resolution and positioning performance are achievable upon integrating L5-data of IRNSS with GPS.     

组合GPS／GLONASS精密定位的观测值随机模型

为了获得组合GPS／GLONASS精密定位结果，该文从理论和数值实例两方面分析了研究组合GPS／GLONASS观测值随机模型的重要性，提出了两种利用观测值的误差残差估计随机模型的方法，即验后估计法和方差－协方差迭代法。理论和数值结果表明，这两种随机模型估计方法与采用经验随机模型相比，可以提高整周模糊度解算的可靠性和定位精度，所提出的观测值随机模型估计方法理论上更严格，实践上可行，并建议采用方差－协方差迭代法估计组合GPS／GLONASS精密定位的观测值随机模型。     

Combined GPS/GLONASS data processing

To obtain the GLONASS satellite position at an epoch other than reference time,the satellite‘s equation of motion has to be integrated with broadcasting ephemerides.The iterative detecting and repairing method of cycle slips based on triple difference residuals for combined GPS/GLONASS positioning and the iterative ambiguity resolution approach suitable for combined post processing positioning are discussed systematically.Experiments show that millimter accuracy can be achieved in short baselines with a few hours‘ dual frequency or even single frequency GPS/GLONASS carrier phase observation,and the precision of dual frequency observations is distinctly higher than that of single frequency observations.     

Performance analysis of triple-frequency ambiguity resolution with BeiDou observations

We investigate triple-frequency ambiguity resolution performance using real BeiDou data. We test four ambiguity resolution (AR) methods which are applicable to triple-frequency observations. These are least squares ambiguity decorrelation adjustment (LAMBDA), GF-TCAR (geometry-free three-carrier ambiguity resolution), GB-TCAR (geometry-based three-carrier ambiguity resolution) and GIF-TCAR (three-carrier ambiguity resolution based on the geometry-free and ionospheric-free combination). A comparison between LAMBDA, GF-TCAR and GB-TCAR was conducted over three short baselines and two medium baselines. The results indicated that LAMBDA is optimal in both short baseline and medium baseline cases. However, the performances of GB-TCAR and LAMBDA differ slightly for short baselines. Compared with GF-TCAR, which uses the geometry-free model, the GB-TCAR using the geometry-based model improves the AR performance significantly. Compared with dual-frequency observations, the LAMBDA AR results show a significant improvement when using triple-frequency observations over short baselines. The performance of GIF-TCAR is evaluated using multi-epoch observations. The results indicated that multi-path errors on carrier phases will have a significant influence on GIF-TCAR AR results, which leads to different GIF-TCAR AR performance for different type of satellites. For GEO (Geostationary Orbit) satellites, the ambiguities can barely be correctly fixed because the multi-path errors on carrier phases are very systematic. For IGSO (Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit) and MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) satellites, when the elevation cutoff angle is set as 30°, several tens to several hundreds of epochs are needed for correctly fixing the narrow lane ambiguities. The comparison of positioning performance between dual-frequency observations and triple-frequency observations was also conducted. The results indicated that a minor improvement can be achieved by using triple-frequency observations compared with using dual-frequency observations.     

Assessment of PPP integer ambiguity resolution using GPS,GLONASS and BeiDou (IGSO,MEO) constellations

Although integer ambiguity resolution (IAR) can improve positioning accuracy considerably and shorten the convergence time of precise point positioning (PPP), it requires an initialization time of over 30 min. With the full operation of GLONASS globally and BDS in the Asia–Pacific region, it is necessary to assess the PPP–IAR performance by simultaneous fixing of GPS, GLONASS, and BDS ambiguities. This study proposed a GPS + GLONASS + BDS combined PPP–IAR strategy and processed PPP–IAR kinematically and statically using one week of data collected at 20 static stations. The undifferenced wide- and narrow-lane fractional cycle biases for GPS, GLONASS, and BDS were estimated using a regional network, and undifferenced PPP ambiguity resolution was performed to assess the contribution of multi-GNSSs. Generally, over 99% of a posteriori residuals of wide-lane ambiguities were within ±0.25 cycles for both GPS and BDS, while the value was 91.5% for GLONASS. Over 96% of narrow-lane residuals were within ±0.15 cycles for GPS, GLONASS, and BDS. For kinematic PPP with a 10-min observation time, only 16.2% of all cases could be fixed with GPS alone. However, adding GLONASS improved the percentage considerably to 75.9%, and it reached 90.0% when using GPS + GLONASS + BDS. Not all epochs could be fixed with a correct set of ambiguities; therefore, we defined the ratio of the number of epochs with correctly fixed ambiguities to the number of all fixed epochs as the correct fixing rate (CFR). Because partial ambiguity fixing was used, when more than five ambiguities were fixed correctly, we considered the epoch correctly fixed. For the small ratio criteria of 2.0, the CFR improved considerably from 51.7% for GPS alone, to 98.3% when using GPS + GLONASS + BDS combined solutions.     

GPS／GLONASS组合定位中模糊度的处理

在对GPS／GLONASS组合定位的周跳探测和修复方法进行深入研究的基础上，论述了适合于两种数据联合解算的GPS／GLONASS模糊度迭代处理方法及相应的基于FARA方法的整周模糊度固定方法。在现有BERNESE Ver4.0GSP数据处理软件的基础上，增加及改进了其中的若干模块，从而研制出组合定位系统高精度数据处理软件，并进行了试验计算。结果表明，所开发的组合定位系统数据处理软件内、外符合精度均达到mm级，证明了这种高精度相对定位理论、方法、软件的正确性和可行性。     

Combined GPS/GLONASS data processing

To obtain the GLONASS satellite position at an epoch other than reference time, the satellite's equation of motion has to be integrated with broadcasting ephemerides. The iterative detecting and repairing method of cycle slips based on triple difference residuals for combined GPS/GLONASS positioning and the iterative ambiguity resolution approach suitable for combined post processing positioning are discussed systematically. Experiments show that millimeter accuracy can be achieved in short baselines with a few hours' dual frequency or even single frequency GPS/GLONASS carrier phase observations, and the precision of dual frequency observations is distinctly higher than that of single frequency observations.     

Rapid PPP ambiguity resolution using GPS+GLONASS observations

Integer ambiguity resolution (IAR) in precise point positioning (PPP) using GPS observations has been well studied. The main challenge remaining is that the first ambiguity fixing takes about 30 min. This paper presents improvements made using GPS+GLONASS observations, especially improvements in the initial fixing time and correct fixing rate compared with GPS-only solutions. As a result of the frequency division multiple access strategy of GLONASS, there are two obstacles to GLONASS PPP-IAR: first and most importantly, there is distinct code inter-frequency bias (IFB) between satellites, and second, simultaneously observed satellites have different wavelengths. To overcome the problem resulting from GLONASS code IFB, we used a network of homogeneous receivers for GLONASS wide-lane fractional cycle bias (FCB) estimation and wide-lane ambiguity resolution. The integer satellite clock of the GPS and GLONASS was then estimated with the wide-lane FCB products. The effect of the different wavelengths on FCB estimation and PPP-IAR is discussed in detail. We used a 21-day data set of 67 stations, where data from 26 stations were processed to generate satellite wide-lane FCBs and integer clocks and the other 41 stations were selected as users to perform PPP-IAR. We found that GLONASS FCB estimates are qualitatively similar to GPS FCB estimates. Generally, 98.8% of a posteriori residuals of wide-lane ambiguities are within \(\pm 0.25\) cycles for GPS, and 96.6% for GLONASS. Meanwhile, 94.5 and 94.4% of narrow-lane residuals are within 0.1 cycles for GPS and GLONASS, respectively. For a critical value of 2.0, the correct fixing rate for kinematic PPP is only 75.2% for GPS alone and as large as 98.8% for GPS+GLONASS. The fixing percentage for GPS alone is only 11.70 and 46.80% within 5 and 10 min, respectively, and improves to 73.71 and 95.83% when adding GLONASS. Adding GLONASS thus improves the fixing percentage significantly for a short time span. We also used global ionosphere maps (GIMs) to assist the wide-lane carrier-phase combination to directly fix the wide-lane ambiguity. Employing this method, the effect of the code IFB is eliminated and numerical results show that GLONASS FCB estimation can be performed across heterogeneous receivers. However, because of the relatively low accuracy of GIMs, the fixing percentage of GIM-aided GPS+GLONASS PPP ambiguity resolution is very low. We expect better GIM accuracy to enable rapid GPS+GLONASS PPP-IAR with heterogeneous receivers.     

基于部分固定策略的多系统长距离基准站间模糊度快速解算

基准站间整周模糊度的快速准确固定是实现网络RTK高精度快速定位的前提。对于GPS/GLONASS/BDS组合系统长基线,模糊度维数大幅度增加,加之观测噪声、大气残余误差等因素的影响,很难快速准确地固定所有模糊度,尤其是低高度角卫星模糊度。提出了一种基于部分固定策略的GPS/GLONASS/BDS组合网络长基线部分模糊度快速解算方法,以截止高度角、模糊度固定成功率以及Ratio值为主要参数,优选模糊度固定子集,以实现长距离基准站间模糊度快速固定。通过实测GPS/GLONASS/BDS三系统长基线数据的实验验证,部分模糊度固定方法可有效避免低高度角卫星对模糊度固定的影响,从而显著提高模糊度固定时的成功率及Ratio值,缩短长距离基准站间模糊度准确固定所需的时间。     

Performance analysis of integrated GPS/GLONASS carrier phase-based positioning

Due to the different signal frequencies for the GLONASS satellites, the commonly-used double-differencing procedure for carrier phase data processing can not be implemented in its straightforward form, as in the case of GPS. In this paper a novel data processing strategy, involving a three-step procedure, for integrated GPS/GLONASS positioning is proposed. The first is pseudo-range-based positioning, that uses double-differenced (DD) GPS pseudo-range and single-differenced (SD) GLONASS pseudo-range measurements to derive the initial position and receiver clock bias. The second is forming DD measurements (expressed in cycles) in order to estimate the ambiguities, by using the receiver clock bias estimated in the above step. The third is to form DD measurements (expressed in metric units) with the unknown SD integer ambiguity for the GLONASS reference satellite as the only parameter (which is constant before a cycle slip occurs for this satellite). A real-time stochastic model estimated by residual series over previous epochs is proposed for integrated GPS/GLONASS carrier phase and pseudo-range data processing. Other associated issues, such as cycle slip detection, validation criteria and adaptive procedure(s) for ambiguity resolution, is also discussed. The performance of this data processing strategy will be demonstrated through case study examples of rapid static positioning and kinematic positioning. From four experiments carried out to date, the results indicate that rapid static positioning requires 1 minute of single frequency GPS/GLONASS data for 100% positioning success rate. The single epoch positioning solution for kinematic positioning can achieve 94.6% success rate over short baselines (<6 km).     

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF INTEGRATED GPS/GLONASS CARRIER PHASE-BASED POSITIONING

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基于相位差分的GPS/GLONASS组合定位算法研究

针对短基线详细研究GPS/GLONASS组合定位函数模型,引入一种简单易行的模糊度求解方法以正确固定GLONASS模糊度,最后笔者自编软件实现基于相位差分的GPS/GLONASS高精度组合定位,并采用实际数据验证其正确性和有效性。结果表明：GPS/GLONASS组合系统优于单系统,采用相位观测值可获得高精度定位结果。     

GNSS antenna array-aided CORS ambiguity resolution

Array-aided precise point positioning is a measurement concept that uses GNSS data, from multiple antennas in an array of known geometry, to realize improved GNSS parameter estimation proposed by Teunissen (IEEE Trans Signal Process 60:2870–2881, 2012). In this contribution, the benefits of array-aided CORS ambiguity resolution are explored. The mathematical model is formulated to show how the platform-array data can be reduced and how the variance matrix of the between-platform ambiguities can profit from the increased precision of the reduced platform data. The ambiguity resolution performance will be demonstrated for varying scenarios using simulation. We consider single-, dual- and triple-frequency scenarios of geometry-based and geometry-free models for different number of antennas and different standard deviations of the ionosphere-weighted constraints. The performances of both full and partial ambiguity resolution (PAR) are presented for these different scenarios. As the study shows, when full advantage is taken of the array antennas, both full and partial ambiguity resolution can be significantly improved, in some important cases even enabling instantaneous ambiguity resolution. PAR widelaning and its suboptimal character are hereby also illustrated.     

Modeling and assessment of combined GPS/GLONASS precise point positioning

A combination of GPS and GLONASS observations can offer improved reliability, availability and accuracy for precise point positioning (PPP). We present and analyze a combined GPS/GLONASS PPP model, including both functional and stochastic components. Numerical comparison and analysis are conducted with respect to PPP based on only GPS or GLONASS observations to demonstrate the benefits of the combined GPS/GLONASS PPP. The observation residuals are analyzed for more appropriate stochastic modeling for observations from different navigation systems. An analysis is also made using different precise orbit and clock products. The performance of the combined GPS/GLONASS PPP is assessed using both static and kinematic data. The results indicate that the convergence time can be significantly reduced with the addition of GLONASS data. The positioning accuracy, however, is not significantly improved by adding GLONASS data if there is a sufficient number of GPS satellites with good geometry.     

基于GPS/GLONASS/BDS组合的单历元单频短基线RTK定位算法研究

随着多个GNSS系统不断建成,天空中的导航卫星越来越多,使得RTK作业时的观测量也越来越多,这对提高单频单历元RTK的可靠性起到了至关重要的作用。本文分析了GLONASS信号频分多址的特点,对GPS/GLONASS/BDS单历元单频RTK定位的算法和模型进行了研究,提出了一种适用于三系统组合条件下短基线单频单历元RTK定位的算法,并采用实测数据对算法进行了验证,结果表明,GPS/GLONASS/BDS单历元单频RTK定位是可行的。     

Undifferenced ionospheric-free ambiguity resolution using GLONASS data from inhomogeneous stations

GLONASS frequency division multiple access signals render ambiguity resolution (AR) rather difficult because: (1) Different wavelengths are used by different satellites, and (2) pseudorange inter-frequency biases (IFBs) cannot be precisely modeled by means of a simple function. In this study, an AR approach based on the ionospheric-free combination with a wavelength of about 5.3 cm is assessed for GLONASS precise point positioning (PPP). This approach simplifies GLONASS AR because pseudorange IFBs do not matter, and PPP-AR can be enabled across inhomogeneous receivers. One month of GLONASS data from 165 European stations were processed for different network size and different durations of observation periods. We find that 89.9% of the fractional parts of ionospheric-free ambiguities agree well within ± 0.15 cycles for a small network (radius = 500 km), while 77.6% for a large network (radius = 2000 km). In case of the 3-hourly GLONASS-only static PPP solutions for the small network, reliable AR can be achieved where the number of fixed GLONASS ambiguities account for 97.6% within all candidate ambiguities. Meanwhile, the RMS of the east, north and up components with respect to daily solutions is improved from 1.0, 0.6, 1.2 cm to 0.4, 0.4, 1.1 cm, respectively. When GPS PPP-AR is carried out simultaneously, the positioning performance can be improved significantly such that the GLONASS ambiguity fixing rate rises from 74.4 to 95.4% in case of hourly solutions. Finally, we introduce ambiguity-fixed GLONASS orbits to re-attempt GLONASS PPP-AR in contrast to the above solutions with ambiguity-float orbits. We find that ambiguity-fixed orbits lead to clearly better agreement among ionospheric-free ambiguity fractional parts in case of the large network, that is 80.5% of fractional parts fall in ± 0.15 cycles in contrast to 74.6% for the ambiguity-float orbits. We conclude that highly efficient GLONASS ionospheric-free PPP-AR is achievable in case of a few hours of data when GPS PPP-AR is also accomplished, and ambiguity-fixed GLONASS orbits will contribute significantly to PPP-AR over wide areas.     

北斗短基线三频实测数据单历元模糊度固定

基于北斗实测三频数据,通过分析比较选取了三组线性独立的超宽巷组合,采用无几何模式(geometry-free)和几何模式(geometry-based)相结合的方法对其进行单历元模糊度固定,然后恢复各频率上的原始模糊度,最后进行定位解算。实验结果表明,对于短基线,组合系数的合理选取是模糊度成功固定的关键;在选用合适(长波长、弱电离层、低噪声)的组合时,对于静态和动态短基线,其原始载波模糊度单历元固定成功率分别为99.75%和95.08%,从而可以避开传统解算中周跳探测等复杂的数据预处理过程,单历元取得cm级定位精度。     

GPS and GLONASS Integration: Modeling and Ambiguity Resolution Issues

The integration of GPS with GLONASS may be considered a major milestone in satellite-based positioning, because it can dramatically improve the reliability and productivity of said positioning. However, unlike GPS, GLONASS satellites transmit signals at different frequencies, which result in significant complexity in terms of modeling and ambiguity resolution for integrated GPS and GLONASS positioning systems. In this paper, a variety of mathematical and stochastic modeling methodologies and ambiguity resolution strategies are analyzed, and some remaining research challenges are identified. The exercise, of developing mathematical models and processing methodologies for integrated systems based on more than one satellite system, is a valuable one as it identified crucial issues concerned with the combination of any two or more microwave positioning systems, be they satellite-based or terrestrial. Hence these are experiences that can be applied to future projects that might integrate GPS with Galileo, or GLONASS and Galileo, or all three. ? 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An approach to GLONASS ambiguity resolution

 When processing global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) carrier phases, the standard double-differencing (DD) procedure cannot cancel receiver clock terms in the DD phase measurement equations due to the multiple frequencies of the carrier phases. Consequently, a receiver clock parameter has to be set up in the measurement equations in addition to baseline components and DD ambiguities. The resulting normal matrix unfortunately becomes singular. Methods to deal with this problem have been proposed in the literature. However, these methods rely on the use of pseudo-ranges. As pseudo-ranges are contaminated by multi-path and hardware delays, biases in these pseudo-ranges are significant, which may result in unreliable ambiguity resolution. A new approach is addressed that is not sensitive to the biases in the pseudo-ranges. The proposed approach includes such steps as converting the carrier phases to their distances to cancel the receiver clock errors, and searching for the most likely single-differenced (SD) ambiguity. Based on the results from the theoretical investigation, a practical procedure for GLONASS ambiguity resolution is presented. The initial experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach is useable in cases of GLONASS and combined global positioning system (GPS) and GLONASS positioning. Received: 19 August 1998 / Accepted: 12 November 1999     

GLONASS频间码偏差实时估计方法及其在RTK定位中的应用

GLONASS伪距频间偏差难以利用经验模型消除。在RTK定位解算中,尤其是需顾及大气延迟的中长距离异质基线,IFCB会降低模糊度收敛速度,甚至导致模糊度固定错误。本文基于双差HMW组合和消电离层组合,提出一种站间IFCB实时估计算法,实时获取各频段的非组合站间单差IFCB。试验结果表明,站间IFCB长期稳定,可达数个纳秒;在GPS/GLONASS观测值先验误差比值为3：5的条件下,未改正的IFCB可能导致基线GPS/GLONASS组合RTK定位性能比单GPS差。将本文提出算法应用于RTK定位,能够有效消除IFCB的影响,RTK模糊度浮点解精度、定位收敛速度和固定率都有明显改善,部分基线的RTK定位首次固定时间从9.2 s提高到2.1 s,固定解比率从84.5%提高到97.9%。