Precise Acceleration Determination from Carrier Phase Measurements

Sandra Kennedy

Abstract:	This paper examines a method for precise acceleration determination based on carrier phase derivatives, referred to as the carrier method. For precise acceleration determination, positions are typically differentiated twice. This method has two main problems associated with its use. Changing the satellite set used often causes jumps in the position solution that become large acceleration errors once differentiated. The precise acceleration user must carefully control when satellites are introduced or lost. The position method also requires highly accurate positions, as the differentiation process increases the error and noise level. The carrier method is investigated to determine if can overcome these limitations. The algorithm of the carrier method is presented with accompanying discussion of issues surrounding its implementation. Testing is conducted with kinematic data collected during an airborne gravimetry campaign. This application provides an independent reference, in the form of a reference gravity field computed from upward continued ground measurements. Aircraft accelerations are estimated using the carrier method, and then used to compute gravity disturbances. These estimates are compared to the reference field, providing a very accurate and sensitive measure of the acceleration accuracy. It is shown that with the carrier method visible constellation changes can be implemented without degrading the estimated accelerations. The positioning accuracy requirement for the carrier method is verified to be at the several meter level, which can easily be met by a differential code solution. During testing, the carrier method is shown to have an interesting functionality in cycle slip verification. These results are also presented.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2002) September 24 - 27, 2002 Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR
Pages:	962 - 972
Cite this article:	Updated citation: Published in NAVIGATION: Journal of the Institute of Navigation
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