Assessment of Differential Carrier Phase Measurements from Orbcomm LEO Satellite Signals for Opportunistic Navigation

Author(s):  
Joe Khalife ◽  
Zaher M. Kassas
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1621
Author(s):  
Duojie Weng ◽  
Shengyue Ji ◽  
Yangwei Lu ◽  
Wu Chen ◽  
Zhihua Li

The differential global navigation satellite system (DGNSS) is an enhancement system that is widely used to improve the accuracy of single-frequency receivers. However, distance-dependent errors are not considered in conventional DGNSS, and DGNSS accuracy decreases when baseline length increases. In network real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning, distance-dependent errors are accurately modelled to enable ambiguity resolution on the user side, and standard Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) formats have also been developed to describe the spatial characteristics of distance-dependent errors. However, the network RTK service was mainly developed for carrier-phase measurements on professional user receivers. The purpose of this study was to modify the local-area DGNSS through the use of network RTK corrections. Distance-dependent errors can be reduced, and accuracy for a longer baseline length can be improved. The results in the low-latitude areas showed that the accuracy of the modified DGNSS could be improved by more than 50% for a 17.9 km baseline during solar active years. The method in this paper extends the use of available network RTK corrections with high accuracy to normal local-area DGNSS applications.


GPS Solutions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Wang ◽  
Zishen Li ◽  
Ningbo Wang ◽  
Zhiyu Wang

AbstractGlobal Navigation Satellite System raw measurements from Android smart devices make accurate positioning possible with advanced techniques, e.g., precise point positioning (PPP). To achieve the sub-meter-level positioning accuracy with low-cost smart devices, the PPP algorithm developed for geodetic receivers is adapted and an approach named Smart-PPP is proposed in this contribution. In Smart-PPP, the uncombined PPP model is applied for the unified processing of single- and dual-frequency measurements from tracked satellites. The receiver clock terms are parameterized independently for the code and carrier phase measurements of each tracking signal for handling the inconsistency between the code and carrier phases measured by smart devices. The ionospheric pseudo-observations are adopted to provide absolute constraints on the estimation of slant ionospheric delays and to strengthen the uncombined PPP model. A modified stochastic model is employed to weight code and carrier phase measurements by considering the high correlation between the measurement errors and the signal strengths for smart devices. Additionally, an application software based on the Android platform is developed for realizing Smart-PPP in smart devices. The positioning performance of Smart-PPP is validated in both static and kinematic cases. Results show that the positioning errors of Smart-PPP solutions can converge to below 1.0 m within a few minutes in static mode and the converged solutions can achieve an accuracy of about 0.2 m of root mean square (RMS) both for the east, north and up components. For the kinematic test, the RMS values of Smart-PPP positioning errors are 0.65, 0.54 and 1.09 m in the east, north and up components, respectively. Static and kinematic tests both show that the Smart-PPP solutions outperform the internal results provided by the experimental smart devices.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Drazen Svehla

<p>Precise orbit determination (POD) of LEO satellites is done with a geodetic grade GPS receiver measuring carrier-phase between a LEO and GPS satellites, and in some cases this is supported with a DORIS instrument measuring Doppler between LEO and ground DORIS stations. Over the last 20 years we have demonstrated 1-2 cm accurate LEO POD and about 1 mm for inter-satellite distance. In order to increase the accuracy of the single satellite POD or satellites in LEO formation we propose an “optical GNSS receiver”, a cw-laser on a LEO satellite to measure Doppler between a LEO and GNSS satellite(s) equipped with SLR arrays and to develop it for the next gravity field mission.      </p><p>The objective of the ESA mission NGGM-MAGIC (Next Generation Gravity Mission - Mass-change and Geosciences International Constellation) is the long-term monitoring of the temporal variations of Earth’s gravity field at high resolution in time (3 days) and space (100 km), complementing the GRACE-FO mission from NASA at 45° orbit inclination. Currently, the GRACE-type mission design is based on optical carrier-phase measurements between two LEO satellites flying in a formation and separated by 200 km.</p><p>We propose an extension of the GRACE-type LEO-LEO concept by the “optical GNSS receiver” to provide Doppler measurements between a LEO satellite and GNSS satellite(s) equipped with SLR corner cubes by means of a cw-laser onboard a LEO satellite. Such a “vertical” LEO-GNSS observable is missing in the classical GRACE-type LEO-LEO concept. If Doppler measurements are carried out from the two GRACE-type satellites in the LEO orbit to the same GNSS satellite and by forming single-differences to that GNSS satellite one can remove any GNSS-orbit related error in the measured LEO-GNSS Doppler. In this way, radial orbit difference can be obtained between the two GRACE-type satellites (free of all GNSS orbit errors) and complement “horizontal” LEO-LEO measurements between the two GRACE-type satellites in the LEO orbit.</p><p>The non-mechanical laser beam steering has been developed for an angle window of -40° to +40° and it does not require a rotating and a big telescope in LEO (no clouds and atmosphere turbulences in LEO). Therefore, in such a beam-steering window, one could always observe with a fiber cw-laser one GNSS satellite close to the zenith from both GRACE-type satellites. The non-mechanical beam steering concept in zenith direction can be supported by a small 10-cm like (fixed) Ritchey-Chrétien telescope (COTS), a Cassegrain reflector design widely used for LEO satellites, e.g., for James Webb Space Telescope or for an optical Earth imaging with Cubesats with the 50 cm resolution.</p><p>Considering that several GNSS satellites in the field of view could be observed from a LEO satellite with this approach (including LAGEOS-1/2 and Etalon satellites) and the non-mechanical laser beam steering could be extended towards the LEO horizon, an “optical” GNSS receiver is a new concept for POD of LEO satellites. Here, we provide simulations of this new concept for LEO POD with GNSS/SLR constellations equipped with SLR arrays and discuss all new applications this new concept could bring.</p>


Author(s):  
Khan Badshah ◽  
Qin Yongyuan

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;" lang="EN-GB">This paper discusses the techniques of attitude, velocity ad position estimation from GNSS carrier phase measurements, and investigates the performance of the lower precision MEMS-based INS/GNSS system based on carrier phase measurements. Double differenced carrier phase measurements provide more accurate velocity and position estimation compared to code and Doppler measurements. However, integer ambiguity is required to be removed for precise positioning. Multiples<span style="color: red;"> </span>antennae approach is used to derive the attitude information from carrier phase measurements in order to control the large initial misalignment angles for initialization of the integration process or to utilize during benign dynamics. Lever arm effect is considered to compensate for the separation of GNSS antenna and IMU location. The derived three GNSS observables are used to correct the INS through optimal Kalman filtering in a closed loop. Simulation results indicates the effectiveness of the integrated system for airborne as well as for land navigation vehicles</span></em><span lang="EN-GB">. </span></p><div id="_mcePaste" class="mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; text-align: justify;"><em><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;" lang="EN-GB">This paper discusses the techniques of attitude, velocity ad position estimation from GNSS carrier phase measurements, and investigates the performance of the lower precision MEMS based INS/GNSS system based on carrier phase measurements. Double differenced carrier phase measurements provide more accurate velocity and position estimation compared to code and Doppler measurements. However, integer ambiguity is required to be removed for precise positioning. Multiples<span style="color: red;"> </span>antennae approach is used to derive the attitude information from carrier phase measurements in order to control the large initial misalignment angles for initialization of the integration process or to utilize during benign dynamics. Lever arm effect is considered to compensate for the separation of GNSS antenna and IMU location. The derived three GNSS observables are used to correct the INS through optimal Kalman filtering in a closed loop. Simulation results indicates the effectiveness of the integrated system for airborne as well as for land navigation vehicles</span></em><span lang="EN-GB">. </span></p></div>


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