Attitude determination using multiple baselines in a navigational positioning system

摘要

A method and system for performing attitude determination for an array of receivers in a navigational positioning system are described. A navigational positioning system includes an array of receiver antennas that simultaneously receive signals emitted from satellites or other fixed or moving sources. A first set of potential solutions for a first baseline vector and a second set of potential solutions for a second baseline vector determined. Each baseline vector corresponds to any pair of receiver antennas in the array. The baseline vector comprises both the scalar distance between the antennas and the orientation of the line between the antennas in a geospatial coordinate frame. In one embodiment, test results are obtained for at least two tests performed on each potential solution in a set of potential solution. Each potential solution in the sets of potential solutions is evaluated as a candidate for a correct solution for the corresponding baseline vector. The evaluation of each potential solution is based on every test result obtained for that potential solution without disqualifying any one of the potential solutions as a candidate for the correct solution based on any one test result. Comparisons between each potential solution in the first set with each potential solution in the second set determine a degree of geometric consistency between each pair of compared solutions. One of the pairs of compared potential solutions is selected as representative of the attitude of the array if the degree of consistency of that pair satisfies predetermined criteria.