Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component Estimation

The combination of multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) may improve the performance of time and frequency transfers by increasing the number of available satellites and improving the time dilution of precision. However, the receiver clock estimation is easily affected by the inapprop...

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Main Authors: Pengfei Zhang, Rui Tu, Yuping Gao, Rui Zhang, Na Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-08-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/18/9/2878
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author Pengfei Zhang
Rui Tu
Yuping Gao
Rui Zhang
Na Liu
author_facet Pengfei Zhang
Rui Tu
Yuping Gao
Rui Zhang
Na Liu
author_sort Pengfei Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The combination of multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) may improve the performance of time and frequency transfers by increasing the number of available satellites and improving the time dilution of precision. However, the receiver clock estimation is easily affected by the inappropriate weight of multi-GNSSs due to the different characteristics of individual GNSS signals as well as the outliers from observations. Thus, we utilised a robust Helmert variance component estimation (RVCE) approach to determine the appropriate weights of different GNSS observations, and to control for the influence of outliers in these observation in multi-GNSS time and frequency transfer. In order to validate the effectiveness of this approach, four time links were employed. Compared to traditional solutions, the mean improvement of smoothed residuals is 3.43% using the RVCE approach. With respect to the frequency stability of the time links, the RVCE solution outperforms the traditional solution, particularly in the short-term, and the mean improvement is markedly high at 14.89%.
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spelling doaj.art-3321bbfa48fb40798c10d9b76432597c2022-12-22T04:27:26ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202018-08-01189287810.3390/s18092878s18092878Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component EstimationPengfei Zhang0Rui Tu1Yuping Gao2Rui Zhang3Na Liu4National Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shu Yuan Road, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shu Yuan Road, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shu Yuan Road, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shu Yuan Road, Xi’an 710600, ChinaNational Time Service Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shu Yuan Road, Xi’an 710600, ChinaThe combination of multiple Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) may improve the performance of time and frequency transfers by increasing the number of available satellites and improving the time dilution of precision. However, the receiver clock estimation is easily affected by the inappropriate weight of multi-GNSSs due to the different characteristics of individual GNSS signals as well as the outliers from observations. Thus, we utilised a robust Helmert variance component estimation (RVCE) approach to determine the appropriate weights of different GNSS observations, and to control for the influence of outliers in these observation in multi-GNSS time and frequency transfer. In order to validate the effectiveness of this approach, four time links were employed. Compared to traditional solutions, the mean improvement of smoothed residuals is 3.43% using the RVCE approach. With respect to the frequency stability of the time links, the RVCE solution outperforms the traditional solution, particularly in the short-term, and the mean improvement is markedly high at 14.89%.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/18/9/2878time and frequency transfermulti-GNSSrobust estimationHelmert variance component
spellingShingle Pengfei Zhang
Rui Tu
Yuping Gao
Rui Zhang
Na Liu
Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component Estimation
Sensors
time and frequency transfer
multi-GNSS
robust estimation
Helmert variance component
title Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component Estimation
title_full Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component Estimation
title_fullStr Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component Estimation
title_full_unstemmed Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component Estimation
title_short Improving the Performance of Multi-GNSS Time and Frequency Transfer Using Robust Helmert Variance Component Estimation
title_sort improving the performance of multi gnss time and frequency transfer using robust helmert variance component estimation
topic time and frequency transfer
multi-GNSS
robust estimation
Helmert variance component
url http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/18/9/2878
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