Instantaneous and Controllable Ambiguity Resolution Based on Linear Integer Aperture Estimator: Principle and Application

Abstract

Ambiguity resolution is of importance in precise GNSS application and ambiguity validation is one of critical steps. It is usually realized by the so-called integer aperture (IA) estimator. Though ratio test based on look-up table satisfies the instantaneous and controllable application, its effectiveness in practice is not sufficiently verified and comparison with other IA estimators is not enough. Besides, there is no evaluation standard for the quality of look-up table. In this contribution, we will propose a modified instantaneous and controllable (iCON) method which can apply linear IA estimators to instantaneous applications. This method is easy to be implemented and can realize the instantaneous control to failure rates. In order to verify the effectiveness of this method, simulation experiments are implemented to test the performances of four linear IA estimators. Furthermore, this method is applied into GNSS compass application. Simulation and field test results show that the linear IA estimation based on this method can realize the quality control of ambiguity resolution, and the precision of GNSS compass can be better than integer estimation. In the field test, linear IA estimators have similar, or a little better, performance as ratio test in the precision of GNSS compass. All results prove the effectiveness of linear IA estimation in the quality control of ambiguity resolution for the first time and provide the guidelines for the usage of IA estimators.