GNSS Receiver Antenna Absolute Field Calibration System Development: Testing and Preliminary Results
For high-precision Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning based on carrier-phase measurements, knowledge of the GNSS receiver antenna electrical signal reception characteristics, i.e., phase center, is crucial. Numerous studies have led to the understanding of the influence of GNSS r...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/18/4622 |
| _version_ | 1797577150377754624 |
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| author | Antonio Tupek Mladen Zrinjski Marko Švaco Đuro Barković |
| author_facet | Antonio Tupek Mladen Zrinjski Marko Švaco Đuro Barković |
| author_sort | Antonio Tupek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | For high-precision Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning based on carrier-phase measurements, knowledge of the GNSS receiver antenna electrical signal reception characteristics, i.e., phase center, is crucial. Numerous studies have led to the understanding of the influence of GNSS receiver antenna phase center corrections (PCCs) on GNSS positioning accuracy and other estimated parameters (e.g., receiver clock estimates, ambiguities, etc.). With the goal of determining the PCC model of GNSS receiver antennas, only a few antenna calibration systems/facilities are in operation or under development worldwide. The International GNSS Service (IGS) publishes type-mean PCC models for almost all geodetic-grade GNSS antennas. However, the type-mean models are not perfect and do not fully reflect the signal reception properties of individual GNSS receiver antennas. Relevant published scientific research has shown that the application of individual PCC models significantly improves the accuracy of GNSS positioning and other estimated parameters. In this article, the new automated GNSS antenna calibration system, recently developed at the Laboratory for Measurements and Measuring Technique (LMMT) of the Faculty of Geodesy of the University of Zagreb in Croatia, is presented. The developed system is an absolute field calibration system based on the utilization of a Mitsubishi MELFA 6-axis industrial robot. During calibration, the robot tilts and rotates the GNSS antenna under test (AUT) around a fixed point within the antenna. The antenna PCC modelling is based on time-differenced double-difference carrier-phase observations. Our preliminary results for the Global Positioning System (GPS) L1 (G01) frequency show a submillimeter repeatability of the estimated PCC model and a submillimeter agreement with the Geo++ GmbH calibration results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:03:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0e44083eda1b42628927ceb9cc846f32 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:03:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-0e44083eda1b42628927ceb9cc846f322023-11-19T12:50:19ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922023-09-011518462210.3390/rs15184622GNSS Receiver Antenna Absolute Field Calibration System Development: Testing and Preliminary ResultsAntonio Tupek0Mladen Zrinjski1Marko Švaco2Đuro Barković3Faculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Kačićeva 26, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Kačićeva 26, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Ivana Lučića 5, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFaculty of Geodesy, University of Zagreb, Kačićeva 26, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaFor high-precision Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning based on carrier-phase measurements, knowledge of the GNSS receiver antenna electrical signal reception characteristics, i.e., phase center, is crucial. Numerous studies have led to the understanding of the influence of GNSS receiver antenna phase center corrections (PCCs) on GNSS positioning accuracy and other estimated parameters (e.g., receiver clock estimates, ambiguities, etc.). With the goal of determining the PCC model of GNSS receiver antennas, only a few antenna calibration systems/facilities are in operation or under development worldwide. The International GNSS Service (IGS) publishes type-mean PCC models for almost all geodetic-grade GNSS antennas. However, the type-mean models are not perfect and do not fully reflect the signal reception properties of individual GNSS receiver antennas. Relevant published scientific research has shown that the application of individual PCC models significantly improves the accuracy of GNSS positioning and other estimated parameters. In this article, the new automated GNSS antenna calibration system, recently developed at the Laboratory for Measurements and Measuring Technique (LMMT) of the Faculty of Geodesy of the University of Zagreb in Croatia, is presented. The developed system is an absolute field calibration system based on the utilization of a Mitsubishi MELFA 6-axis industrial robot. During calibration, the robot tilts and rotates the GNSS antenna under test (AUT) around a fixed point within the antenna. The antenna PCC modelling is based on time-differenced double-difference carrier-phase observations. Our preliminary results for the Global Positioning System (GPS) L1 (G01) frequency show a submillimeter repeatability of the estimated PCC model and a submillimeter agreement with the Geo++ GmbH calibration results.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/18/4622GNSSreceiver antennaabsolute field calibrationindustrial robotphase center correction (PCC)GPS L1 |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Tupek Mladen Zrinjski Marko Švaco Đuro Barković GNSS Receiver Antenna Absolute Field Calibration System Development: Testing and Preliminary Results Remote Sensing GNSS receiver antenna absolute field calibration industrial robot phase center correction (PCC) GPS L1 |
| title | GNSS Receiver Antenna Absolute Field Calibration System Development: Testing and Preliminary Results |
| title_full | GNSS Receiver Antenna Absolute Field Calibration System Development: Testing and Preliminary Results |
| title_fullStr | GNSS Receiver Antenna Absolute Field Calibration System Development: Testing and Preliminary Results |
| title_full_unstemmed | GNSS Receiver Antenna Absolute Field Calibration System Development: Testing and Preliminary Results |
| title_short | GNSS Receiver Antenna Absolute Field Calibration System Development: Testing and Preliminary Results |
| title_sort | gnss receiver antenna absolute field calibration system development testing and preliminary results |
| topic | GNSS receiver antenna absolute field calibration industrial robot phase center correction (PCC) GPS L1 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/15/18/4622 |
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