A Low-Cost Precise Navigation Solution using Single-Frequency GPS Receiver

C. Wang, Y. Shao, L. Dai, D. Eslinger

Abstract:	NavCom Technology has recently developed a singlefrequency Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) system based on low-cost single-frequency receivers. This singlefrequency RTK system is able to deliver high accuracy real-time RTK positioning performance that is competitive with dual-frequency systems, but with much lower hardware cost. Unlike dual-frequency RTK, low-cost single-frequency RTK has no access to pseudorange and carrier phase measurements on the GPS L2 frequency. This leads to fewer measurements in the single-frequency RTK Kalman filter. In addition, the ionospheric effect can not be eliminated by forming refraction corrected combinations using dual-frequency measurements. Therefore, the baseline between the reference station and the rover receiver is limited to a few kilometers. Special attention also needs to be drawn to the antenna selection with the single-frequency RTK system. Dual frequency RTK systems usually use multipath reducing antennas, but the antennas used with single-frequency receivers generally have limited multipath mitigation capability. A singlefrequency GPS antenna with good multipath mitigation capability is highly recommended for the singlefrequency RTK system. Test results show that single-frequency RTK with the NavCom proprietary RTK Extend capability are able to achieve 1-2 centimeter positioning accuracy in both static and kinematic conditions. With reasonable accuracy and reliability, the single-frequency RTK system has significant market potential in various market segments, such as land survey and mapping, GIS data collection, construction, and machine control.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 2009 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 26 - 28, 2009 Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel Anaheim, CA
Pages:	673 - 681
Cite this article:	Wang, C., Shao, Y., Dai, L., Eslinger, D., "A Low-Cost Precise Navigation Solution using Single-Frequency GPS Receiver," Proceedings of the 2009 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Anaheim, CA, January 2009, pp. 673-681.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In