Mobile GNSS Reference Station for Vertical Positioning Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional differential GNSS techniques, such as RTK, face limitations in accuracy, especially for vertical position measurements, due to variations in ionosphere electron density, which become more significant as the distance between the base station and rover increases, restricting the effective range to about 70 km.
Innovation Solution
Implementing one or more GNSS reference stations in conjunction with a GNSS base station to determine position corrections, including vertical corrections, which are used by GNSS rovers to improve positioning accuracy, and scaling these corrections based on distances between the rover, reference station, and base station to minimize error contributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If RTK corrections are used from a single base station, then positioning accuracy is improved within a limited range, but the effective range is restricted to about 70 km due to ionosphere electron density variations
Solution Approach 1:
A mobile reference station is introduced as an intermediary between the base station and rover. This reference station receives corrections from the base station and transmits them to the rover, enabling the rover to access corrected positioning data beyond the base station's direct 70 km range while maintaining accuracy through the intermediary's local correction application
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile reference station creates a copy of the base station's correction data and transmits it to the rover. This copied correction information allows the rover to apply accurate positioning corrections without being directly within the base station's operational range, effectively extending the service area
2Area of stationary object
If the distance between base station and rover increases, then coverage area is expanded, but vertical position accuracy deteriorates due to increased susceptibility to propagation errors
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile reference station acts as a local intermediary that generates fresh corrections at positions closer to the rover. This reduces the effective distance between the correction source and the rover, maintaining vertical positioning accuracy even when the overall system coverage area is expanded beyond the base station's direct range
3Length of moving object
If multiple reference stations are deployed to extend range, then effective coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reference station is designed to be mobile rather than fixed, allowing a single unit to dynamically serve multiple locations. This dynamic approach extends the effective range without requiring multiple permanent reference stations, thereby avoiding the complexity increase that would result from deploying and maintaining multiple fixed infrastructure elements
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for determining corrected positions of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) rover using a GNSS base station and one or more GNSS reference stations include determining a statistical representation of position measurements from the GNSS reference stations and an instantaneous position measurement from the GNSS reference stations. A position correction is determined based on the statistical representation and the instantaneous position measurement. A corrected position of the GNSS rover is determined based on a position of the GNSS rover and the position correction.