Comparative analysis of positioning accuracy of Samsung Galaxy smartphones in stationary measurements

Abstract

Achieving single meter positioning accuracy by portable mobile devices still poses a major challenge to the satellite signal receivers constructors, despite gradual constellation completing process and the progress achieved in last decades. Nowadays popular smartphones are multifunctional devices that serve also as a personal navigation tool in navigation and sport activities using the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) receivers installed. It would seem that introducing newer models to the global market would cause constant progress in the accuracies obtained, however, the study results do not confirm that. This study focused on Galaxy series smartphones of Samsung, one of the leading manufacturers worldwide, to examine its technological progress. The aim was to verify the thesis using statistical models and analyses to compare succeeding generations of smartphones on six devices from the series. The authors conducted two synchronous stationary measurement campaigns of 24 and 12 hours with one-second interval in obstacle-free environment which provided 70000+ and 30000+ statistical samples of position measurements. The reference values of true smartphones coordinates were determined by means of state-of-the-art precise surveying instruments and geodetic calculations. The results indicate that two newest generations of the Galaxy series included in the research, namely S6 and S7, obtained lower accuracies than their predecessors. Against the backdrop of lack of public availability of smartphones technical parameters, the conducted research results are relevant especially to smartphones positioning service users community.

Assessment of the Steering Precision of a Hydrographic Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) along Sounding Profiles Using a Low-Cost Multi-Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receiver Supported Autopilot

“…Thanks to the continuous development and extension of the GNSS satellite system constellation (GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo), multi-GNSS receivers continue to improve their operational characteristics, including positioning accuracy. Many studies have attempted to verify the positioning accuracy, availability, continuity, and reliability with multi-GNSS receivers from urban [40,41,42] and maritime [43] to pedestrian positioning applications [44] using different methods [45].…”

Method of Evaluating the Positioning System Capability for Complying with the Minimum Accuracy Requirements for the International Hydrographic Organization Orders

“…The assessment of particular positioning systems (DGPS, EGNOS, and multi-GNSS) in terms of compliance with the requirements set out for the IHO orders should be carried out based on measurement sessions that are as long as possible. In addition, it should be noted that the results of an accuracy assessment for a certain system in both stationary and dynamic sessions may be significantly statistically different, which is proven by the research carried out on the Gdańsk Bay in the years 2014–2017 (Figure 5) [35,36,37,38]. For this reason, analyses and assessments of the model should be carried out in relation to stationary and dynamic measurements in parallel.…”

“…It consisted of parallel registration of position coordinates by all telephones. During a 24-hour measurement session, between 71,438 and 86,371 positions were registered depending on the smartphone model (Table 2) [38]. Dynamic measurements of the multi-GNSS systems using the example of Samsung Galaxy smartphones, carried out during vessel manoeuvring on the Gdańsk Bay on 20 June 2017.…”

“…It consisted of parallel registration of position coordinates by all telephones. During a 24-hour measurement session, between 71,438 and 86,371 positions were registered depending on the smartphone model (Table 2) [38].…”

Testing the Positioning Accuracy of GNSS Solutions during the Tramway Track Mobile Satellite Measurements in Diverse Urban Signal Reception Conditions

“…Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) and Galileo [1][2][3][4], and their augmentation systems [Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) [5][6][7][8]] are widely used in various branches of transport, including maritime, air and land, as well as rail transport [9][10][11][12]. There are three major areas in rail transport, in which satellite systems can be applied: passenger information, rail traffic management and rail traffic control [13][14][15].…”