Study of Global Navigation Satellite System Receivers' Accuracy for Unmanned Vehicles

Area of Science:

• Navigation Systems Engineering
• Geomatics Engineering
• Robotics

Background:

• High-precision navigation is crucial for unmanned ground and aerial vehicles due to autonomous operation and increased traffic.
• Existing L1 band Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers offer cost-effectiveness but lack sufficient accuracy for many civilian applications.
• Real-time kinematic (RTK) systems provide sub-centimeter precision but are prohibitively expensive for widespread use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and compare dilution-of-precision (DOP) parameters of latest-generation dual-band GNSS receivers against L1 band receivers.
• To evaluate the impact of dual-band GNSS integration on navigation accuracy for unmanned vehicle applications.
• To assess the performance improvements offered by advanced GNSS receiver technology and multi-constellation signal reception.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of DOP parameters using L1/L5 band patch and wideband helix antennas designed by the authors.
• Evaluation of GNSS receivers from different generations by a leading manufacturer.
• Assessment of the influence of increased satellite tracking capabilities on position accuracy.

Main Results:

• Dual-band GNSS receivers demonstrate a significant increase in navigation precision, achieving sub-meter accuracy.
• Multi-constellation signal reception further enhances positioning capabilities.
• Advancements in GNSS receiver processing power allow for increased satellite tracking, improving accuracy even for L1-band systems.

Conclusions:

• The integration of dual-band GNSS receivers presents a practical solution for achieving high-precision navigation in unmanned vehicles.
• Dual-band technology, combined with multi-constellation support and improved receiver hardware, substantially enhances navigation performance and broadens application possibilities.