GNSS Platform Orientation Using Coherent Phase AoA Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for estimating the orientation of mobile platforms, such as RTK-GPS, face challenges including high cost, complexity, low availability, and intermittent continuity due to non-line-of-sight issues and integer ambiguities, making them impractical for miniaturized devices in urban and sub-urban environments.

Innovation Solution

A method that utilizes coherent phase measurements of GNSS signals from multiple satellites, synchronized across receivers, to estimate the angle of arrival (AoA) and leverage proxy anchor points and sidelink communication to estimate orientation, avoiding the need for bulky multi-receiver setups and resolving integer ambiguities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If RTK-GPS is used for orientation estimation, then position accuracy is improved, but device cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary functionality for orientation estimation from the complete RTK-GPS system. Instead of implementing full RTK-GPS with multiple receivers and complex processing, the invention uses a single GNSS receiver with array signal processing to estimate angles of arrival, achieving orientation estimation with minimal hardware and processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/multi-component RTK-GPS system with an electronic signal processing approach. By using array signal processing and estimating angles of arrival from a single receiver, the invention substitutes complex hardware mechanics with electronic computation, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multi-receiver RTK-GPS is used for orientation estimation, then orientation accuracy is improved, but device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation accuracyVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from spatial separation of multiple receivers to temporal/signal-domain separation. Instead of placing multiple receivers at different spatial locations, the invention uses signal processing techniques (array signal processing, angle of arrival estimation) to extract orientation information from a single receiver, effectively moving the problem from spatial dimension to signal processing dimension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual multi-receiver system through signal processing. By estimating angles of arrival from multiple satellites using a single physical receiver, the invention creates virtual measurement channels that mimic the functionality of multiple physical receivers without requiring additional hardware, thus maintaining orientation accuracy while minimizing device size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If GNSS signals are used for orientation estimation, then global coverage is improved, but availability decreases due to non-line-of-sight issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglobal coverageVSAvoidavailability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary signal processing to extract angle of arrival information before attempting to resolve ambiguities or handle non-line-of-sight conditions. By estimating angles of arrival from the received GNSS signals and using these angle estimates for orientation determination, the system can maintain availability even when traditional RTK-GPS positioning fails due to NLOS or integer ambiguities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate and robust orientation estimation for multiple platforms in challenging environments by directly determining angles rather than distances, reducing the need for lengthy re-acquisition times and overcoming non-line-of-sight issues.

Implementation Method 1

measurements obtained by measuring phases of some reference signals (RSs) that are exchanged between some anchor (reference) points and some mobile platforms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase measurement:

Implementation Method 2

the measurements collected at each mobile platform are the coherent phases that are obtained by synchronously processing the GNSS signal samples across space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoherent processing:

Data Source

PatentUS12487370B1Systems, methods, and apparatus to obtain the orientation of platforms

Publication Date: 2025.12.02 TADAYON NAVID

AI summary

Aspects of the disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatuses for improving the orientation data of multiplicity of users. In one embodiment, the orientation data is generated from synchronous processing of phase information extracted from transmit points transmitting reference signals to multiplicity of users. The transmit points can be one or more reference points of known location and orientation and one or more users which locations and orientations are necessarily known. In another embodiment, the reference points are one or more GNSS satellites/relays that transmit/forward the GNSS signals to multiplicity of users. The users then coherently process the received signals across of plurality of array of receivers.