Method and device for instantaneous determination of orientation, based on satellite positioning signals

摘要

The invention relates to the measurement of orientation of a mobile in space, for example the heading of a ship with the aid of receivers of satellite-based radio positioning signals. ;To obtain a measurement of orientation very rapidly, use is made of two reception antennas located at two points A and B whose distance D is known perfectly, and the following is carried out: n successive calculations of position of the point A with respect to the point B (for example a dozen successive calculations if the distance D is 40 centimetres) are performed on the basis of a single set of 2 p pseudo-distances measured between each antenna and p satellites. The n calculations correspond to n initial estimated positions (Ae1 to Ae_n) serving as starting assumptions for the calculation. The n estimated positions are situated on a circle with centre B and radius D. The calculated positions (Ac₁ to Ac_n) are situated at distances d₁ to d_n from the point B. A position Ac_k is selected representing a true position of the point A while verifying that this position is on the circle with centre B and radius D to within a few millimetres. The selection may possibly be improved by verifying the consistency of the measurement (if there are more than four satellites observed).