Integration of LAMBDA Ambiguity Resolution with Kalman Filter for Relative Navigation of Spacecraft

Duncan B. Cox Jr., John D. W. Brading

Abstract:	In 1993 Prof. Peter Teunissen provided a general theoretical approach to finding a minimum-mean-squared- error solution to a set of linear measurement equations involving unknown continuous and integer states. In 1995 he provided a practical method (known as the LAMBDA method) of efficiently implementing part of this approach, namely, the resolution of the integer states. This paper provides a method of implementing the general Teunissen approach using a Kalman filter. The result is an optimum filter in a recursive form. When the LAMBDA method is used to facilitate the integer-resolution calculations, the entire optimum filter is computationally efficient, and has the potential for wide application. Extensions to prediction and smoothing are straight-forward. An example of the application of this filter for relative navigation of space vehicles on the basis of GPS carrier and code measurements is described, and computer simulation results are provided.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1999) June 27 - 30, 1999 Royal Sonesta Hotel Cambridge, MA
Pages:	739 - 745
Cite this article:	Updated citation: Published in NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation
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