On-the-fly GPS-based attitude determination using single- and double-differenced carrier phase measurements

Carrier phase measurements are primary observations for GPS attitude determination. Although the satellite-related errors can be virtually eliminated by forming single differences, the baseline-related errors such as line biases are still present in the single-differenced carrier phase measurements. It is, therefore, difficult to resolve the single-differenced integer ambiguities due to the line biases. By forming double differences, the line biases of the single-differenced carrier phase measurements can be effectively removed. However, the main disadvantages of this method lie in the fact that the double-differenced measurements are mathematically correlated and consequently the attitude obtained from the double differences is noisy. This paper presents a new algorithm through which both single and double differences are used simultaneously to resolve these problems in real-time. The solution of the integer ambiguities can be obtained by searching for the most likely grid point in the attitude domain that is independent of the correlation with the double differences. Next, the line biases and corresponding single difference integer ambiguities can be resolved on the fly by using the noisy attitude solution obtained from the previous double difference procedure. In addition, the relationship between the physical signal path difference and the line bias is formed. A new method is also applied to derive the attitude angles through finding the optimal solution of the attitude matrix element. The proposed new procedure is validated using ground and flight tests. Results have demonstrated that the new algorithm is effective and can satisfy the requirement of real-time applications.     

GPS/陀螺组合测姿中整周模糊度的快速解算

采用方向余弦矩阵描述姿态,建立GPS/陀螺组合姿态确定系统模型,由矩阵Kalman滤波方法解算整周模糊度的浮点解,然后再利用MCLambda方法得到整周模糊度固定解。仿真实验结果表明,附加方向余弦矩阵约束的Kalman滤波方法可以有效地提高整周模糊度浮点解的精度,使得整周模糊度的固定成功率和效率均得到提高,尤其是在GPS观测条件较差的情况下。     

Precise GRACE baseline determination using GPS

Precision relative navigation is an essential aspect of spacecraft formation flying missions, both from an operational and a scientific point of view. When using GPS as a relative distance sensor, dual-frequency receivers are required for high accuracy at large inter-satellite separations. This allows for a correction of the relative ionospheric path delay and enables double difference integer ambiguity resolution. Although kinematic relative positioning techniques demonstrate promising results for hardware-in-the-loop simulations, they were found to lack an adequate robustness in real-world applications. To overcome this limitation, an extended Kalman Filter modeling the relative spacecraft dynamics has been developed. The filter processes single difference GPS pseudorange and carrier phase observations to estimate the relative position and velocity along with empirical accelerations and carrier phase ambiguities. In parallel, double difference carrier phase ambiguities are resolved on both frequencies using the least square ambiguity decorrelation adjustment (LAMBDA) method in order to fully exploit the inherent measurement accuracy. The combination of reduced dynamic filtering with the LAMBDA method results in smooth relative position estimates as well as fast and reliable ambiguity resolution. The proposed method has been validated with data from the gravity recovery and climate experiment (GRACE) mission. For an 11-day data arc, the resulting solution matches the GRACE K-Band Ranging System measurements with an accuracy of 1 mm, whereby 83% of the double difference ambiguities are resolved.     

长距离网络RTK参考站间双差模糊度快速解算算法

提出了一种长距离网络RTK参考站间双差整周模糊度快速解算方法,该方法利用双频载波相位模糊度间的线性关系确定宽巷模糊度,然后选取双频载波相位的备选模糊度组合,通过计算参考站间对流层误差和轨道误差等非色散误差,对双频载波相位整周模糊度进行搜索。实验结果表明,此方法能够快速、可靠地解算长距离参考站间的双差整周模糊度。     

长距离GPS/BDS参考站网多频载波相位整周模糊度解算方法

长距离网络RTK是实现GPS/BDS高精度实时定位的主要手段之一,其核心是长距离参考站网GPS/BDS整周模糊度的快速准确确定。本文提出了一种长距离GPS/BDS参考站网载波相位整周模糊度解算方法,首先利用GPS双频观测数据计算和确定宽巷整周模糊度,同时利用BDS的B2、B3频率观测值确定超宽巷整周模糊度。然后建立GPS载波相位整周模糊度和大气延迟误差的参数估计模型,附加双差宽巷整周模糊度的约束,解算双差载波相位整周模糊度,并建立参考站网大气延迟误差的空间相关模型。根据B2、B3频率的超宽巷整周模糊度建立包含大气误差参数的载波相位整周模糊度解算模型,利用大气延迟误差空间相关模型约束BDS双差载波相位整周模糊度的解算。克服了传统的使用无电离层组合值解算整周模糊度的不利影响。采用实测长距离CORS网GPS、BDS多频观测数据进行算法验证,试验结果证明该方法可实现长距离参考站网GPS/BDS载波相位整周模糊度的准确固定。     

Modeling and quality control for reliable precise point positioning integer ambiguity resolution with GNSS modernization

Recent research has demonstrated that the undifferenced integer ambiguities can be recovered using products from a network solution. The standard dual-frequency PPP integer ambiguity resolution consists of two aspects: Hatch-Melbourne-Wübbena wide-lane (WL) and ionosphere-free narrow-lane (NL) integer ambiguity resolution. A major issue affecting the performance of dual-frequency PPP applications is the time it takes to fix these two types of integer ambiguities, especially if the WL integer ambiguity resolution suffers from the noisy pseudorange measurements and strong multipath effects. With modernized Global Navigation Satellite Systems, triple-frequency measurements will be available to global users and an extra WL (EWL) model with very long wavelength can be formulated. Then, the easily resolved EWL integer ambiguities can be used to construct linear combinations to accelerate the PPP WL integer ambiguity resolution. Therefore, we propose a new reliable procedure for the modeling and quality control of triple-frequency PPP WL and NL integer ambiguity resolution. First, we analyze a WL integer ambiguity resolution model based on triple-frequency measurements. Then, an optimal pseudorange linear combination which is ionosphere-free and has minimum measurement noise is developed and used as constraint in the WL and the NL integer ambiguity resolution. Based on simulations, we have investigated the inefficiency of dual-frequency WL integer ambiguity resolution and the performance of EWL integer ambiguity resolution. Using almanacs of GPS, Galileo and BeiDou, the performances of the proposed triple-frequency WL and NL models have been evaluated in terms of success rate. Comparing with dual-frequency PPP, numerical results indicate that the proposed triple-frequency models can outperform the dual-frequency PPP WL and NL integer ambiguity resolution. With 1 s sampling rate, generally, only several minutes of data are required for reliable triple-frequency PPP WL and NL integer ambiguity resolution. Under benign observation situations and good geometries, the integer ambiguity can be reliably resolved even within 10 s.     

LEO GPS attitude determination algorithm for a micro-satellite using boom-arm deployed antennas

This paper describes a low earth orbiter micro-satellite attitude determination algorithm using GPS phase and pseudorange data as the only observables. It is designed to run in real-time, at a rate of 10 Hz, on-board the spacecraft, using minimal chip and memory resources. The spacecraft design includes four GPS antennas deployed on boom arms to improve the antenna separations. The boom arms feature smart sensors, from which time-varying deformation data are used to calculate changes in the body-fixed system (BFS) co-ordinates of the attitude antennas. These data are used as input to the attitude algorithm to improve the accuracy of the output. The conventional double-difference phase observation equations have been re-arranged so that the only unknown parameters in the functions (once the ambiguities have been determined) are the spacecraft Euler angles. This greatly increases the redundancy in the mathematical model, and is exploited to enhance the algorithm's ability to trap observations contaminated by unmodelled multipath. This approach has been shown to be successful in identifying phase outliers at the 5–10 mm level. Speed of execution of the program is improved by utilising numerical differentiation of the model equations in the linearisation process. Furthermore, as the number of solve-for parameters is reduced to three by the chosen mathematical model, matrix inversion requirements are minimised. A novel approach to ambiguity resolution and determination of initial estimates of the attitude parameters has been developed utilising a heuristic technique and the known, and time varying, BFS co-ordinates of the antenna array. Algorithm testing is based on a simulation of the micro-satellite trajectory combined with variations in attitude derived from spin-stabilisation and periodic roll and pitch parameters. The trajectory of the spacecraft centre of mass was calculated by numerical integration of a force model using Earth gravity field parameters, third body effects due to the Sun and the Moon, dynamic Earth tide effects (solar and lunar), and a solar radiation pressure model. Frame transformations between J2000 and ITRF97 used the IERS conventions. A similar approach was used to calculate the trajectories of all available GPS satellites during the same period, using initial conditions of position and velocity from IGS precise orbits. RMS differences between the published precise orbit and the integrated satellite positions were at the 5-mm level. Phase observables are derived from these trajectories, biased by simulation of receiver and satellite clock errors, cycle slips, random or systematic noise and initial integer ambiguities. In the actual simulation of the attitude determination process in orbit, GPS satellite positions are calculated using broadcast ephemerides. The results show that the aim of 0.05° (two sigma) attitude precision can be met provided that the phase noise can be reduced to the level of 1–2 mm. Attitude precision was found to vary strongly with constellation geometry, which can change quite rapidly depending on the variations in spacecraft attitude. The redundancy in the mathematical model was found to be very effective in trapping and isolating cycle slips to the double difference observations that are contaminated. This allows for the possibility of correcting for cycle slips without full recourse to the ambiguity resolution algorithm. Electronic Publication     

GNSS双频整周关系约束模糊度算法研究

根据GNSS双频载波相位观测值间的特定关系,提出了一种基于双频整周关系约束的模糊度解算方法(FirCAR)。该方法在局部整数范围内可将载波相位的等效波长增长,以利于整周模糊度的快速解算。不同长度的基线数据实验证明了该算法的正确性和有效性,并分析了卫星截止高度角对解算结果的影响。     

BDS参考站三频整周模糊度单历元确定方法

参考站载波相位整周模糊度的准确确定是实现BDS网络RTK定位的关键。本文研究了BDS参考站三频载波相位整周模糊度单历元确定方法。首先推导了参考站三频载波相位整周模糊度之间的多个整数线性关系,根据双频载波相位整周模糊度的整数线性关系,以及B1载波相位整周模糊度备选值,确定B1/B2和B1/B3载波相位整周模糊度的备选组合。然后利用不受误差影响的三频载波相位整周模糊度间整数线性关系,对整周模糊度备选值进行约束和确定。根据大气误差的空间相关性,采用以卫星高度角和方位角为依据的基准卫星选择方法,降低了对流层延迟误差残差对多频载波相位整周模糊度之间线性关系约束能力的影响。试验结果表明,本文方法能够实现参考站三频载波相位整周模糊度的单历元准确确定,且计算效率高,算法简单。     

Double-epoch algorithm in rapid positioning using single frequency GPS receivers

A new algorithm, called as Double-Epoch Algorithm (DEA) is proposed in GPS rapid positioning using two epoch single frequency phase data in this paper. Firstly, the structure characteristic of the normal matrix in GPS rapid positioning is analyzed. Then, in the light of the characteristic, based on TIK-HONOV regularization theorem, a new regularizer is designed to mitigate the ill-condition of the normal matrix. The accurate float ambiguity solutions and their MSEM (Mean Squared Error Matrix) are obtained, using two epoch single frequency phase data. Combined with LAMBDA method, DEA can fix the integer ambiguities correctly and quickly using MSEM instead of the covariance matrix of the ambiguities. Compared with the traditional methods, DEA can improve the efficiency obviously in rapid positioning. So, the new algorithm has an extensive application outlook in deformation monitoring, pseudokinematic relative positioning and attitude determination, etc.     

Double-epoch algorithm in rapid positioning using single frequency GPS receivers

A new algorithm, called as Double-Epoch Algorithm (DEA) is proposed in GPS rapid positioning using two epoch single frequency phase data in this paper. Firstly, the structure characteristic of the normal matrix in GPS rapid positioning is analyzed. Then, in the light of the characteristic, based on TIKHONOV regularization theorem, a new regularizer is designed to mitigate the ill-condition of the normal matrix. The accurate float ambiguity solutions and their MSEM (Mean Squared Error Matrix) are obtained, using two epoch single frequency phase data. Combined with LAMBDA method, DEA can fix the integer ambiguities correctly and quickly using MSEM instead of the covariance matrix of the ambiguities. Compared with the traditional methods, DEA can improve the efficiency obviously in rapid positioning. So, the new algorithm has an extensive application outlook in deformation monitoring, pseudokinematic relative positioning and attitude determination, etc.     

一种单频单历元BDS／GPS组合整周模糊度解算方法

针对单频单历元组合载波相位差分技术(RTK)定位过程中存在的秩亏及模糊度解算病态等问题,提出了一种模糊度降相关的新方法。该方法引入伪距观测值进行辅助解算。首先采用经验分权法对伪距与载波相位观测值分配权重,并通过加权最小二乘法获得整周模糊度浮点解及协方差。然后通过对整周模糊度浮点解的方差-协方差矩阵进行降序排列和剔除病态模糊度。最后利用修正后的浮点解迭代搜索模糊度的整数解。试验结果表明而且可以起到良好的模糊度降相关的效果定位。      

一种改进的宽巷引导整周模糊度固定算法

一般卫星导航接收机的伪距测量误差大于宽巷波长。根据宽巷引导模型,直接使用双差伪距取整固定双差宽巷整周模糊度有很大概率会产生一周固定错误。基于此,提出了一种改进的宽巷引导整周模糊度固定算法,针对宽巷整周模糊度一周固定错误进行探测和修复。利用整周模糊度为整数的特质构造理论探测量,并将该探测量与载噪比所确定的门限相比较,判断是否出现宽巷整周模糊度一周固定错误;利用双差整周模糊度自由度为3的特点,修复错误宽巷整周模糊度。对该算法在高斯噪声条件下的可行性进行了理论分析,结果表明正常载噪比的观测数据均可分辨出一周宽巷整周模糊度的估计错误。同时,分析了考虑多径等误差后该算法所能接受的载波相位最大误差。计算了不同伪距误差下宽巷整周模糊度一周固定错误出现的概率。使用GPS实测短基线数据对算法进行验证,该算法可将基于宽巷引导的整周模糊度固定算法的固定率从原来的只有不到1/3提升至接近100%。     

一种检验GPS整周模糊度解算有效性的方法

检验解算的整周模糊度是ＧＰＳ精密快速定位的一个重要课题。过去已提出了不少方法，然而这些方法都存在一定的缺陷。本文提出一种新的方法，它是基于模型可区分度的概念。该方法利用可接受的第一、二类错误概率，计算边界值，并与固定解中最小残差二次型和次最小残差二次型比较，以确认相应于最小残差二次型的整周模糊度的有效性。     

附有约束条件的GPS模糊度快速解算

采用GPS相位观测值进行快速定位时,由于坐标与模糊度参数间的强共线性,造成浮点模糊度最小二乘解的精度很差,整周模糊度难以正确固定。在GPS的实际应用中,可以利用坐标参数与模糊度参数的约束条件,改善浮点模糊度的解算精度,减小整数模糊度的搜索空间。首先给出了这两类约束的通用模型,然后给出了不同情况下约束条件的具体形式,并导出了相应的GPS模糊度快速解算公式。用实例验证了算法的有效性。结果表明,采用约束条件,可排除大量错误的模糊度备选组合,从而提高模糊度的解算效率和成功率。因此,在GPS定位时,应尽可能利用各种约束条件。     

长距离GPS/BDS双系统网络RTK方法

基于区域参考站网的网络实时动态定位(real-time kinematic,RTK)方法是实现全球定位系统(global positioning system,GPS)、北斗卫星导航系统(BeiDou satellite navigation system,BDS)高精度定位的主要手段.研究了一种长距离GPS/BDS双...     

BDS网络RTK中距离参考站整周模糊度单历元解算方法

提出了一种BDS网络RTK中距离(50~100 km)参考站间的双频载波相位整周模糊度单历元解算方法。该方法首先利用B1、B2载波相位整周模糊度间的线性关系选取B1、B2载波相位整周模糊度备选值。利用双频载波相位整周模糊度备选值计算双差电离层延迟误差,根据参考站各卫星电离层延迟误差间的空间关系,使用双差电离层延迟误差构建双差电离层延迟误差的线性计算模型。通过双差电离层延迟误差线性计算模型的建立搜索和确定B1、B2载波相位的整周模糊度。经CORS网实测数据试验算例的验证,该方法只需一个历元的观测数据即可确定参考站间双差B1、B2载波相位整周模糊度,且不受周跳影响。     

GPS短基线整周模糊度的直接解法

提出了在位移值较大的情况下(0.7 m),通过多种载波相位组合,解算短基线GPS整周模糊度的方法。导出了在解算过程中保证L1和L2载波的整周模糊度N1和N2为整数的条件,从而将DC(direct calcu-lation)算法[1]不仅推广到大变形的情况,而且推广到短基线GPS整周模糊度的解算,解决了快速准确解算短基线GPS整周模糊度的问题。     

Testing of a new single-frequency GNSS carrier phase attitude determination method: land,ship and aircraft experiments

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) ambiguity resolution is the process of resolving the unknown cycle ambiguities of the carrier phase data as integers. The sole purpose of ambiguity resolution is to use the integer ambiguity constraints as a means of improving significantly on the precision of the remaining GNSS model parameters. In this contribution, we consider the problem of ambiguity resolution for GNSS attitude determination. We analyse the performance of a new ambiguity resolution method for GNSS attitude determination. As it will be shown, this method provides a numerically efficient, highly reliable and robust solution of the nonlinearly constrained integer least-squares GNSS compass estimators. The analyses have been done by means of a unique set of extensive experimental tests, using simulated as well as actual GNSS data and using receivers of different manufacturers and type as well as different platforms. The executed field tests cover two static land experiments, one in the Netherlands and one in Australia, and two dynamic experiments, a low-dynamics vessel experiment and high-dynamics aircraft experiment. In our analyses, we focus on stand-alone, unaided, single-frequency, single-epoch attitude determination, as this is the most challenging case of GNSS compass processing.     

Modified ambiguity function approach for GPS carrier phase positioning

This paper presents a new strategy for GPS carrier phase data processing. The classic approach generally consists of three steps: a float solution, a search for integer ambiguities, and a fixed solution. The new approach is based on certain properties of ambiguity function method and ensures the condition of integer ambiguities without the necessity of the additional step of the integer search. The ambiguities are not computed explicitly, although the condition of “integerness” of the ambiguities is ensured in the results through the least squares adjustment with condition equations in the functional model. An appropriate function for the condition equations is proposed and presented. The presented methodology, modified ambiguity function approach, currently uses a cascade adjustment with successive linear combinations of L1 and L2 carrier phase observations to ensure a correct solution. This paper presents the new methodology and compares it to the three-stage classic approach which includes ambiguity search. A numerical example is provided for 25 km baseline surveyed with dual-frequency receivers. All tests were performed using an in-house developed GINPOS software and it has been shown that the positioning results from both approaches are equivalent. It has also been proved that the new approach is robust to adverse effects of cycle slips. In our opinion, the proposed approach may be successfully used for carrier phase GPS data processing in geodetic applications.