Geometric Information Content in Positioning with GPS

Da Kuang

Abstract:	The geometric information content of different GPS observable in the positioning problem is analyzed by investigating the eigenvectors of the normal matrix of the estimation problem. The ‘following general conclusions are drawn from analytical inference and are supported by numerical simulation: 1) For point positioning, the average measured range direction is approximately a principal axis of the random error ellipsoid for the estimated point position; 2) clock error or any other constant bias in the range measurements is absorbed into this direction, and 3) eliminating the bias by differencing the measurements results in loss of information in this direction. Similar conclusions apply to relative positioning. It was also found that GPS satellite orbit error affects baseline length much less than it affects baseline orientation.
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:	1367 - 1374
Cite this article:	Kuang, Da, "Geometric Information Content in Positioning with GPS," 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. 1367-1374.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In