GNSS Attitude Determination Using Apparent Phase Center Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing attitude determination methods for carriers require specially designed GNSS receivers that are complex and less common, necessitating multiple antennas and complex signal processing, whereas standard GNSS receivers with only location services are widely used and lack efficient attitude determination capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A device and method utilizing a standard GNSS receiver with a positioning service, combined with a drive module to generate the apparent phase center motion of antennas, allowing attitude determination through controlled movement and signal analysis, without the need for multiple antennas or complex signal processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If specially designed GNSS receivers with multiple antennas are used for attitude determination, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattitude determination precisionVSAvoidreceiver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical hardware approach (multiple physical antennas and complex specially designed receivers) with a software-based signal processing approach. By using a single antenna and processing GNSS signals through mathematical operations including carrier phase measurements and coordinate transformations, the system achieves attitude determination without requiring complex hardware configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual representation of multiple antenna signals through mathematical modeling and signal processing. Instead of physically connecting multiple antennas to a complex receiver, the system processes signals from a single antenna and computationally derives the information that would otherwise require multiple physical sensors, effectively creating a software copy of the multi-antenna functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If multiple antennas are used for attitude determination, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattitude determination precisionVSAvoidsystem setup ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the need for complex physical antenna arrangements by substituting the mechanical multi-antenna system with a single-antenna configuration and corresponding signal processing algorithms. This substitution dramatically simplifies system installation, maintenance, and operation while preserving the essential attitude determination capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If standard GNSS receivers with positioning service only are used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereceiver complexityVSAvoidattitude determination precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the functionality of a standard positioning-only GNSS receiver into an attitude determination device by changing the processing parameters and algorithms. Instead of using only position coordinates, the system utilizes carrier phase measurements, signal propagation models, and mathematical transformations to extract orientation information, thereby enabling attitude determination with a standard receiver.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the need for specialized hardware (specially designed GNSS receivers with attitude determination capability) with software-based signal processing techniques that work with standard receivers. Through mathematical operations on the received signals, the system achieves attitude determination functionality without requiring specialized hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4285159B1Device for determining the attitude of a carrier, and associated system for assisting with the piloting of a carrier and determination method

Publication Date: 2025.12.10 THALES SA

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AI summary

The invention relates to a device (16) for determining the attitude of a carrier comprising a GNSS receiver capable of receiving GNSS signals from one or more antennas (14) arranged in known positions, the determining device (16) comprising: - a movement generation module (22) configured to generate a movement of an apparent phase center according to a control law; - a control module (23) configured to determine the control law; - a determination module (24) configured to determine an absolute orientation of a vector of interest from at least one observable value provided by the GNSS receiver (12) and from the control law, and to determine at least one component of the attitude of the carrier from the absolute orientation of the vector of interest.