Feasibility of consumer grade GNSS receivers for the integration in multi-sensor-systems

authored by: Tobias Kersten, Jens-André Paffenholz
Abstract: Various GNSS applications require low-cost, small-scale, lightweight and power-saving GNSS devices and require high precision in terms of low noise for carrier phase and code observations. Applications vary from navigation approaches to positioning in geo-monitoring units up to integration in multi-sensor-systems. For highest precision, only GNSS receivers are suitable that provide access to raw data such as carrier phase, code ranges, Doppler and signal strength. A system integration is only possible if the overall noise level is known and quantified at the level of the original observations. A benchmark analysis based on a zero baseline is proposed to quantify the stochastic properties. The performance of the consumer grade GNSS receiver is determined and evaluated against geodetic GNSS receivers to better understand the utilization of consumer grade receivers. Results indicate high similarity to the geodetic receiver, even though technical limitations are present. Various stochastic techniques report normally distributed carrier-phase noise of 2 mm and code-range noise of 0.5–0.8 m. This is confirmed by studying the modified Allan standard deviation and code-minus-carrier combinations. Derived parameters serve as important indicators for the integration of GNSS receivers into multi-sensor-systems.
Organisation(s): Institute of Geodesy
External Organisation(s): Clausthal University of Technology
Type: Article
Journal: Sensors
Volume: 20
No. of pages: 18
ISSN: 1424-8220
Publication date: 26.04.2020
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Analytical Chemistry, Instrumentation, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Biochemistry
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.3390/s20092463 (Access: Open)
: Details in the research portal "Research@Leibniz University"

BibTeX

@article{af5cca37bb3643d8b05d0b3e8a71bbac,
title = "Feasibility of consumer grade GNSS receivers for the integration in multi-sensor-systems",
abstract = "Various GNSS applications require low-cost, small-scale, lightweight and power-saving GNSS devices and require high precision in terms of low noise for carrier phase and code observations. Applications vary from navigation approaches to positioning in geo-monitoring units up to integration in multi-sensor-systems. For highest precision, only GNSS receivers are suitable that provide access to raw data such as carrier phase, code ranges, Doppler and signal strength. A system integration is only possible if the overall noise level is known and quantified at the level of the original observations. A benchmark analysis based on a zero baseline is proposed to quantify the stochastic properties. The performance of the consumer grade GNSS receiver is determined and evaluated against geodetic GNSS receivers to better understand the utilization of consumer grade receivers. Results indicate high similarity to the geodetic receiver, even though technical limitations are present. Various stochastic techniques report normally distributed carrier-phase noise of 2 mm and code-range noise of 0.5–0.8 m. This is confirmed by studying the modified Allan standard deviation and code-minus-carrier combinations. Derived parameters serve as important indicators for the integration of GNSS receivers into multi-sensor-systems.",
keywords = "GNSS, high sensitivity GNSS receiver, multi-sensor-system, direct geo-referencing, laser scanning, Direct geo-referencing, GNSS, High sensitivity GNSS receiver, Laser scanning, Multi-sensor-system",
author = "Tobias Kersten and Jens-Andr{\'e} Paffenholz",
note = "Funding information: Acknowledgments: The authors like to thank T. Maschke, B.Eng., for performing the GNSS-splitter measurements. In addition, we would like to thank Prof. Sch{\"o}n (IfE) for providing the laboratory environment for the benchmark analysis and the fruitful discussions with the IfE working group Positioning and Navigation. These studies were performed without any funding and only rely on the scientific research interests of the authors. The publication of this article was funded by the Open Access Fund of Leibniz Universit{\"a}t Hannover. We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the interesting discussions and helpful comments of the three unknown reviewers and express our thanks.",
year = "2020",
month = apr,
day = "26",
doi = "10.3390/s20092463",
language = "English",
volume = "20",
journal = "Sensors",
issn = "1424-8220",
publisher = "Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute",
number = "9",
}