Communication and radio determination system using two geostationary satellites. II. Analysis of positioning accuracy

Abstract

A new communication and radio determination system has been developed and experiments to evaluate the positioning accuracy of the system have been made. Theoretical estimates of the positioning accuracy and the results of experimental data analysis are presented. The relationship between the positioning error and the satellite ephemeris error while considering the dynamics of orbital motions are the main topics of discussion.Estimated improvements in positioning accuracy using benchmark stations are also described.

Differential positioning experiment using two geostationary satellites

“…A recent paper [7] describes another positioning system using the same geostationary satellites as in our system. Our system is different from these systems because our system features a reference station.…”

“…Theoretical analysis of positioning accuracy in a system using two geostationary satellites [7] can also be applied to our system. This analysis gives theoretical results which are qualitatively similar to our experiment data, on the improvement by a differential positioning method.…”

“…Satellite ephemeris errors can be removed by using the algorithm described in [7]. The positioning error thus obtained is about 300 m for the PRS.…”

“…General discussion of system measurement errors for a positioning system using two geostationary satellites is given in [7].…”

“…Major error sources in a positioning system using two geostationary satellites are as follows [7]. For differential positioning, type 1, the difference between observed ship position and observed PRS position is used to obtain a corrected position of a ship.…”