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Initial assessment of the COMPASS/BeiDou-2 regional navigation satellite system

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Abstract

An initial characterization and performance assessment of the COMPASS/BeiDou-2 regional navigation system is presented. Code and carrier phase measurements on up to three frequencies have been collected in March 2012 with a small regional network of monitoring stations. The signal and measurement quality are analyzed and compared with the Japanese Quasi Zenith Satellite System. A high level of stability is demonstrated for the inter-frequency carrier phase biases, which will facilitate the application of triple-frequency undifferenced ambiguity resolution techniques in future precise point positioning applications. The performance of the onboard Rubidium frequency standards is evaluated in comparison to ground-based hydrogen masers and shown to be well competitive with other GNSS satellite clocks. Precise orbit and clock solutions obtained in post-processing are used to study the presently achievable point positioning accuracy in COMPASS/BeiDou-2-only navigation. Finally, the benefit of triple-frequency measurements and extra-wide-lane ambiguity resolution is illustrated for relative positioning on a short baseline.

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Acknowledgments

GNSS data from COMPASS/BeiDou-2 capable receivers where kindly provided by Curtin University of Technology (CUT), the Japanese Space Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Trimble Navigation Limited for the purpose of this study. Data from the KZN2 reference station are publicly made available by Kazan Federal University (KZU) within the frame of the Multi-GNSS Experiment (MGEX) of the International GNSS Service (IGS). We would also like to thank Nanyang University of Technology (NTU) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) for hosting additional reference stations at their premises. Dedicated or updated firmware versions for the employed receivers have kindly been made available by Septentrio and Trimble which also offered intensive technical information and discussions. The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of all individuals and institutions that have supported this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. German Space Operations Center, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, 82230, Weßling, Germany

    Oliver Montenbruck & André Hauschild

  2. Institut für Astronomische und Physikalische Geodäsie, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany

    Peter Steigenberger & Urs Hugentobler

  3. Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia

    Peter Teunissen

  4. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tsukuba, Japan

    Shinichi Nakamura

Authors
  1. Oliver Montenbruck
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  2. André Hauschild
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  3. Peter Steigenberger
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  4. Urs Hugentobler
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  5. Peter Teunissen
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  6. Shinichi Nakamura
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Correspondence to Oliver Montenbruck.

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Montenbruck, O., Hauschild, A., Steigenberger, P. et al. Initial assessment of the COMPASS/BeiDou-2 regional navigation satellite system. GPS Solut 17, 211–222 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-012-0272-x

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