Error Analysis and Improvement of the Ambiguity Function Method Based on the Intersection Point on Sphere: Error Analysis and Improvement of the Ambiguity Function Method Based on the Intersection Point on Sphere

The improved Ambiguity Function Method (AFM) method of intersection point on sphere is an effective algorithm for attitude determination using GPS signal, but the success rate is influenced by observation noise significantly. To deal this problem, in this paper, the error analysis is given and a further improvement method is proposed. First the original algorithm is extended under the double difference observation model. Then the statistical properties of noise and error propagation characteristics are both analyzed, which are followed by in-depth study of its affects to the success rate of attitude determination. Finally the noise sensitivity of the solution process is reduced by integer ambiguity recognition algorithm. The testing results show that the success rate of GPS attitude determination of the proposed algorithm increases greatly over that of the original algorithm while the restriction on public clocks is eliminated.