Satellite Differential Positioning Receiver Multiple Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing satellite differential positioning systems face challenges in achieving high accuracy due to ambiguities in phase measurements and errors such as multipath and ionospheric delays, especially in real-time kinematic (RTK) applications where both base and rover are moving, and the need for improved positioning accuracy and availability.
Innovation Solution
The use of multiple antennas at both the base and rover, arranged in a spatially symmetric or asymmetric manner, to average corrections and measurements, allowing for better compensation of errors and improved determination of rover position through averaging and orientation calculations, even under partial shading conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple base and rover antennas are used to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the positioning function by separating base antennas from rover antennas, with each antenna processing satellite signals independently before combining results. The base station processes measurements from multiple base antennas and generates corrections that are transmitted to the rover, which then combines these with measurements from its multiple antennas to achieve high-precision positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges measurements from multiple base antennas and multiple rover antennas through differential processing. The base station combines measurements from its antennas to generate averaged corrections, and the rover combines these corrections with its own antenna measurements to resolve ambiguities and achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If differential measurements are used to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to ambiguities in phase measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The base station provides feedback corrections to the rover based on its processing of satellite measurements. These corrections include information about ionospheric delays and other systematic errors that the rover uses to refine its position calculation and resolve carrier phase ambiguities more reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary that processes satellite measurements and generates correction data that the rover cannot obtain independently. This intermediary processing helps resolve ambiguities by providing reference measurements that constrain the solution space and improve reliability of the differential positioning.
3Productivity
If real-time processing is implemented to enable continuous position calculation, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may be compromised due to partial shading conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary processing of satellite measurements to generate corrections before transmitting them to the rover. This preliminary action includes resolving ambiguities and correcting systematic errors in advance, allowing the rover to maintain high precision even when operating in partial shading conditions with fewer visible satellites.
Data Source
AI summary
A rover processor determines position of a rover based upon the interaction between multiple antennas located at the rover and multiple antennas located at a base. The rover antennas may include a rover master antenna having a phase center located at the centroid of the antennas patterns of at least two auxiliary rover antennas. The rover processor may determine the position of the rover master antenna based upon the relative positions of at least two rover antennas (e.g., the rover master antenna and at least one rover auxiliary antenna, or at least two rover auxiliary antennas) with respect to at least two antennas of a base transceiver.