Antenna Baseline and Line Bias Estimation Using Pseudolites for GPS-Based Attitude Determination

Hirohiko Uematsu and Bradford Parkinson

Abstract:	This paper describes a new method of antenna self-survey using a pseudolite for the GPS attitude determination. Self-survey, which estimates the baseline vectors and the line biases among the antennas, is required for accurate attitude determination using GPS. A conventional self-survey method, i.e., leaving an antenna platform outside for 6 to 12 hours, is not appropriate for satellite applications because an integrated satellite cannot be moved out of a clean room without great difficulty. An alternative way has been building a truss, which has the same dimensions as the satellite, but this is not the best solution because the results can be inaccurate if the modeling of the truss is inaccurate or the cable length is different. The new method uses a pseudolite, which is a low power GPS signal generator, and allows self-survey for an integrated satellite within a clean room by placing and linearly moving a pseudolite above the antenna platform. Estimator equations for the pseudolite self-survey are formulated, and observability and sensitivity issues are discussed. The feasibility of this method was tested with experimental data in a laboratory setup.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1994) September 20 - 23, 1994 Salt Palace Convention Center Salt Lake City, UT
Pages:	717 - 726
Cite this article:	Uematsu, Hirohiko, Parkinson, Bradford, "Antenna Baseline and Line Bias Estimation Using Pseudolites for GPS-Based Attitude Determination," Proceedings of the 7th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1994), Salt Lake City, UT, September 1994, pp. 717-726.
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