The integrated GPS/INS system has become an indispensable tool for providing precise and continuous position, velocity, and attitude information for many positioning and navigation applications. Although the integrated GPS/INS system provides augmented solutions that make use of the complementary features of each component system, its performance is still limited by the quality of GPS measurements, and the geometric strength of the satellite constellation. To address such a problem this research has focussed on the integration of GPS, Pseudolite and INS technologies. The main research contributions are summarised below: (a)A cost effective GPS/INS integration approach has been developed and tested, consisting of a single-frequency L1 GPS receiver and a tactical-grade strapdown INS. Results of field experiments demonstrate that this approach is capable of delivering position accuracies of the order of a few centimetres under a benign operational environment and provides continuously positioning at sub-decimetre accuracy during GPS signal blockage lasting up to about five seconds. (b) A novel kinematic positioning and navigation system based on GPS/Pseudolite/INS integration has been proposed as an alternative to existing GPS/INS systems. With this integration approach, the continuity, integrity, and precision of the GPS/INS system can be significantly improved as the inclusion of pseudolite signals enhances the GPS signal availability and the geometry strength. (c)The impact of pseudolite location errors in such pseudolite-augmented systems has been investigated. Theoretical and numerical analyses reveal that the error effects on measurement models, and on final positioning solutions, can be minimised by selecting optimal pseudolite location(s). (d)A new ambiguity resolution procedure has been developed for use in the proposed GPS/Pseudolite/INS system. It is designed to rapidly and reliably resolve the single-frequency ambiguities due not only to the aiding by pseudolites and INS, but also by adopting a realistic stochastic model and a statistically rigorous ambiguity validation test. The proposed procedure can indeed improve the performance of the single-frequency ambiguity resolution algorithm in terms of both reliability and time-to-fix-ambiguity. (e)An effective cycle slip detection and identification algorithm has been developed, which is suitable for the integrated GPS/Pseudolite/INS system. Test results indicate that induced cycle slips can be reliably detected and instantaneously identified, even if the slips occur at successive epochs. (f)Flight trials have been conducted to evaluate the overall performance for aircraft approach and landing using the GPS/Pseudolite/INS system. Results from these trials show that an enhancement in the accuracy and reliability of the vehicle navigation solution can be achieved with the employment of one or more pseudolite.

La thèse propose l’étude de systèmes de constellations locales permettant le positionnement dans des milieux difficiles. Dans ce contexte, il apparaît que les trajets indirects perturbent la mesure du temps de propagation entre l’antenne de l’émetteur et l’antenne du récepteur. L’éblouissement entre les signaux, phénomène d’interférence du CDMA, est exacerbé à cause des distances courtes et des variations de puissance de réception. La thèse apporte des réponses à ces deux problématiques. Pour les trajets indirects nous proposons d’utiliser les mesures de phase de la porteuse qui y sont moins sensibles. Il faut alors solutionner le problème de l’ambiguïté entière sur ces mesures. Une méthode le permet sans avoir recours à une technique différentielle en utilisant une boucle de poursuite insensible aux trajets indirects : la SMICL. Pour l’éblouissement, nous avons développé trois approches. L’une d’elle utilise les séquences de longueurs maximales et permet de réduire notablement son importance. Une deuxième méthode, baptisé Technique de la Double Emission (TDE), permet de supprimer intégralement ces interférences pour une paire d’émetteurs lorsque leurs Doppler respectifs sont égaux. Nous avons étudié le cas où les Doppler sont différents et mis au point une version améliorée de la TDE, la TDE étendue à la porteuse, qui permet de supprimer les influences du Doppler. Nous avons également montré que cette dernière peut s’appliquer à un émetteur fixe en présence d’une constellation de satellites. Une troisième méthode, appelée TDE maximale, utilise à nouveau une séquence de longueur maximale pour étendre la méthode TDE au cas de plusieurs émetteurs en présence. / The thesis proposes the study of systems of local constellations for positioning indoors.In this context, it appears that indirect paths disturb the measurement of time delay between the transmitter antenna and receiver antenna. The Near-Far problem between signals, a CDMA interference phenomenon, is exacerbated because of the short distances and variations in received power. The thesis provides answers to these two issues.For indirect multipath we propose to use carrier phase measurements. It must then solve the problem of ambiguity on these measurements. A method without carrying out a differential technique is proposed: a tracking loop insensitive to indirect routes: the SMICL. For the Near-Far problem, we have developed three approaches. One approach uses sequences of maximum length and significantly reduces its influence. A second method, called the Double Transmission Technique (DTT), can completely remove the interference for a pair of transmitters when their respective Doppler are equal. We have studied the case where different Doppler and developed an improved version of the DTT, the DTT extended to the carrier, which eliminates the influence of the Doppler. We also showed that this may also be applied to a fixed transmitter in the presence of a constellation of satellites. A third method, called DTT maximum, again uses a maximum length sequence to extend the method to the case DTT in the presence of several transmitters.

Tandis que les humains explorent la nature sans relâche, ils font également attention à être plus conscients d'eux-mêmes, à mieux connaître ce qui les entourent, et, par exemple, à être informés de leurs positions, vitesses, ou trajectoires où qu'ils se trouvent. Les systèmes de positionnement par satellites (GNSS) ont fourni une manière de le faire à l'extérieur, devenant un assistant indispensable pour nous. Après le succès de GPS et GLONASS, Galileo et BeiDou sont actuellement en cours de déploiement, offrant plus de choix pour le positionnement autonome ou assisté. Toutefois, les signaux GNSS sont vulnérables aux obstacles: il n'y a presque pas de service GNSS à l'intérieur des bâtiments, dans les tunnels, ou dans les parkings souterrains; la continuité des services de positionnement par satellites n'est toujours pas assurée dans les "canyons urbains". Afin de faire face à ce problème, cette thèse est consacrée au positionnement en environnements contraints (où le GNSS n'est pas disponible), en y incluant la conception, les algorithmes et les technologies correspondantes. Un état de l'art est élaboré sur les systèmes de positionnement à radio ou à l'inertie. Parmi les technologies possibles, la discussion ne se limite pas à l'approche basée sur GNSS, mais elle est centrée sur cette dernière à cause de ses avantages et aussi de l’implication profonde de notre groupe de recherche dans ce domaine. Nous avons, d'une part, étudié la possibilité ainsi que les limites du positionnement avec une précision centimétrique en déployant notre système Repealite (i.e. un système de positionnement à l'intérieur d'une base des émetteurs GNSS spéciaux); et proposé, d'autre part, une méthode de localisation en groupe d'objets dynamiques communicants. Cette méthode procède d'une problématique délicate que l'on rencontre dans les approches GNSS, qu'est la détermination de la position initiale du récepteur. On montre en quoi elle permet également d'aller au-delà de la portée des approches classiques GNSS / While the human beings explore the nature tirelessly, they also put significant concerns to be aware of themselves, to know better of the circumstances, and to be informed with their precise positions, velocities, trajectories, and so on, in local environments. The Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) have provided an efficient method to do so outdoors, and have already become an indispensable assistant of many people. After the success of GPS and GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou are currently under deployment, offering more choices of the independent or collaborative positioning. However, the GNSS signal is vulnerable to obstructions: almost no GNSS services are available inside buildings, tunnels, or underground parkings; the services are not always coherent in urban canyons. In order to address this problem, this thesis is dedicated to the design frameworks for the positioning in GNSS-challenged environments, as well as the corresponding algorithms and technologies. A brief survey of the latest radio-based and inertial positioning/tracking systems is provided. Among the feasible technologies, the discussion is centered on but not limited to the GNSS-based approach, which is due to the inherited advantages of this approach and also the deep engagement of our research group in this domain. We have, on one hand, explored the possibility and limitations on the centimeter-accuracy positioning with our Repealite system (i.e. a GNSS-base indoor positioning system with specific features); on the other hand, a method of batch localization for the nodes in a network of dynamic communicating objects is proposed, which is originated from an issue of the GNSS-based approach - the resolution of the receiver initial point, but then it goes beyond the scope of the “classical” GNSS-based approach

This dissertation explores both the estimation of various parameters from a multiple antenna GPS receiver, which is used as an attitude sensor, and attitude determination using GPS-like Pseudolite signals. To use a multiple antenna GPS receiver as an attitude sensor, parameters such as baselines, integer ambiguities, line biases, and attitude, should be resolved beforehand. Also, due to a cycle slip problem a subsystem to correct this problem should be implemented. All of these tasks are called a self survey. A new algorithm to estimate these parameters from a GPS receiver is developed usingnonlinear batch filteringmethods.For convergence issues, both the nolinear least squares (NLS) and Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) methods are applied in the estimation.Acomparison ofthe NLSand LMmethods shows that the convergence of the LM method for the large initial errors is more robust than that of the NLS. In the proximity of the International Space Station (ISS), Pseudolite signals replace the GPSsignals since almostallsignals are blocked.Since the Pseudolite signals have spherical wavefronts, a new observation model should be applied. A nonlinear predictive filter, an extended Kalman filter (EKF), and an unscented filter (UF) are developed and compared using Pseudolite signals. A nonlinear predictive filter can provide a deterministic solution; however, it cannot be used for the moving case. Instead, the EKF or the UF can be used with the angular rate measurements. A comparison of EKF and UF shows that the convergence of the UF for the large initial errors is more robust than that of the EKF. Also, an alternative global navigation constellation is presented by using the Flower Constellation (FC) scheme. A comparison of FC global navigation constellation and other GPS constellations, U.S. GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS, shows that position and attitude errors of the FC constellation are smaller that those of the others.

This dissertation explores both the estimation of various parameters from a multiple antenna GPS receiver, which is used as an attitude sensor, and attitude determination using GPS-like Pseudolite signals. To use a multiple antenna GPS receiver as an attitude sensor, parameters such as baselines, integer ambiguities, line biases, and attitude, should be resolved beforehand. Also, due to a cycle slip problem a subsystem to correct this problem should be implemented. All of these tasks are called a self survey. A new algorithm to estimate these parameters from a GPS receiver is developed usingnonlinear batch filteringmethods.For convergence issues, both the nolinear least squares (NLS) and Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) methods are applied in the estimation.Acomparison ofthe NLSand LMmethods shows that the convergence of the LM method for the large initial errors is more robust than that of the NLS. In the proximity of the International Space Station (ISS), Pseudolite signals replace the GPSsignals since almostallsignals are blocked.Since the Pseudolite signals have spherical wavefronts, a new observation model should be applied. A nonlinear predictive filter, an extended Kalman filter (EKF), and an unscented filter (UF) are developed and compared using Pseudolite signals. A nonlinear predictive filter can provide a deterministic solution; however, it cannot be used for the moving case. Instead, the EKF or the UF can be used with the angular rate measurements. A comparison of EKF and UF shows that the convergence of the UF for the large initial errors is more robust than that of the EKF. Also, an alternative global navigation constellation is presented by using the Flower Constellation (FC) scheme. A comparison of FC global navigation constellation and other GPS constellations, U.S. GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS, shows that position and attitude errors of the FC constellation are smaller that those of the others.

La thèse propose l'étude de systèmes de constellations locales permettant le positionnement dans des milieux difficiles. Dans ce contexte, il apparaît que les trajets indirects perturbent la mesure du temps de propagation entre l'antenne de l'émetteur et l'antenne du récepteur. L'éblouissement entre les signaux, phénomène d'interférence du CDMA, est exacerbé à cause des distances courtes et des variations de puissance de réception. La thèse apporte des réponses à ces deux problématiques. Pour les trajets indirects nous proposons d'utiliser les mesures de phase de la porteuse qui y sont moins sensibles. Il faut alors solutionner le problème de l'ambiguïté entière sur ces mesures. Une méthode le permet sans avoir recours à une technique différentielle en utilisant une boucle de poursuite insensible aux trajets indirects : la SMICL. Pour l'éblouissement, nous avons développé trois approches. L'une d'elle utilise les séquences de longueurs maximales et permet de réduire notablement son importance. Une deuxième méthode, baptisé Technique de la Double Emission (TDE), permet de supprimer intégralement ces interférences pour une paire d'émetteurs lorsque leurs Doppler respectifs sont égaux. Nous avons étudié le cas où les Doppler sont différents et mis au point une version améliorée de la TDE, la TDE étendue à la porteuse, qui permet de supprimer les influences du Doppler. Nous avons également montré que cette dernière peut s'appliquer à un émetteur fixe en présence d'une constellation de satellites. Une troisième méthode, appelée TDE maximale, utilise à nouveau une séquence de longueur maximale pour étendre la méthode TDE au cas de plusieurs émetteurs en présence.

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Despite significant progress in GPS/INS integration-based direct geo-referencing (DGR) technology over the past decade, its performance still needs to be improved in terms of accuracy and tolerance to GPS outages. This is mainly due to the limited geometric strength of the GPS satellite constellation, the quality of INS and the system integration technology. This research is focused on pseudolite (PL) augmentation to enhance the geometric strength of the GPS satellite constellation, and the Neural Network (NN) aided Kalman filter (KF) system integration algorithm to improve the geo-referencing system's performance during GPS outages. The main research contributions are summarized as below: a) Systematic errors introduced by pseudolites have been investigated. Theoretical and numerical analyses reveal that errors of troposphere delay modelling, differential nonlinearity and pseudolite location are sensitive to pseudolite receiver geometry. Their effect on final positioning solutions can be minimised by selecting optimal pseudolite and receiver locations, which is referred to as geometry design. Optimal geometry design for pseudolite augmented systems has been proposed based on simulation results in airborne surveying scenarios. b) Nonlinear geometry bias, or nonlinearity, exists in single difference processes when the unit vectors from the reference and user receivers to a satellite or pseudolite are non-parallel. Similar to long baseline differential GPS (DGPS), nonlinearity is a serious issue in pseudolite augmentation. A Projected Single Difference (PSD) method has been introduced to eliminate nonlinear geometry bias. An optimized expression has been derived to calculate the direction of project vectors, and the advantages of applying PSD in pseudolite augmented airborne DGPS have been demonstrated. c) A new method for pseudolite tropospheric delay modelling has been proposed, which is based on single-differenced GPS tropospheric delay models. The performance of different models has been investigated through simulations and field testing. The advantages and limitations of each method have been analysed. It is determined that the Bouska model performs relatively well in all ranges and elevations if the meteorological parameters in the models can be accurately collected. d) An adaptive pseudolite tropospheric delay modelling method has been developed to reduce modelling error by estimating meteorological parameters in real-time, using GPS and pseudolite measurements. Test results show that pseudolite tropospheric delay modelling errors can be effectively mitigated by the proposed method. e) A novel geo-referencing system based on GPS/PL/INS integration has been developed as an alternative to existing GPS/INS systems. With the inclusion of pseudolite signals to enhance availability and geometry strength of GPS signals, the continuity and precision of the GPS/INS system can be significantly improved. Flight trials have been conducted to evaluate the system performance for airborne mapping. The results show that the accuracy and reliability of the geo-referenced solution can be improved with the deployment of one or more pseudolites. f) Two KF and NN hybrid methods have been proposed to improve geo-referenced results during GPS outages. As the KF prediction diverges without measurement update, the performance of a GPS/INS integrated system degrades rapidly during GPS outages. Neural networks can overcome this limitation of KF. The first method uses NN to map vehicle manoeuvres with KF measurement in a loosely coupled GPS/INS system. In the second method, an NN is trained to map INS measurements with selected KF error states in a tightly coupled GPS/INS system when GPS signals are available. These training results can be used to modify KF time updates. Optimal input/output and NN structure have been investigated. Field tests show that the proposed hybrid methods can dramatically improve geo-referenced solutions during GPS outages.

Despite significant progress in GPS/INS integration-based direct geo-referencing (DGR) technology over the past decade, its performance still needs to be improved in terms of accuracy and tolerance to GPS outages. This is mainly due to the limited geometric strength of the GPS satellite constellation, the quality of INS and the system integration technology. This research is focused on pseudolite (PL) augmentation to enhance the geometric strength of the GPS satellite constellation, and the Neural Network (NN) aided Kalman filter (KF) system integration algorithm to improve the geo-referencing system's performance during GPS outages. The main research contributions are summarized as below: a) Systematic errors introduced by pseudolites have been investigated. Theoretical and numerical analyses reveal that errors of troposphere delay modelling, differential nonlinearity and pseudolite location are sensitive to pseudolite receiver geometry. Their effect on final positioning solutions can be minimised by selecting optimal pseudolite and receiver locations, which is referred to as geometry design. Optimal geometry design for pseudolite augmented systems has been proposed based on simulation results in airborne surveying scenarios. b) Nonlinear geometry bias, or nonlinearity, exists in single difference processes when the unit vectors from the reference and user receivers to a satellite or pseudolite are non-parallel. Similar to long baseline differential GPS (DGPS), nonlinearity is a serious issue in pseudolite augmentation. A Projected Single Difference (PSD) method has been introduced to eliminate nonlinear geometry bias. An optimized expression has been derived to calculate the direction of project vectors, and the advantages of applying PSD in pseudolite augmented airborne DGPS have been demonstrated. c) A new method for pseudolite tropospheric delay modelling has been proposed, which is based on single-differenced GPS tropospheric delay models. The performance of different models has been investigated through simulations and field testing. The advantages and limitations of each method have been analysed. It is determined that the Bouska model performs relatively well in all ranges and elevations if the meteorological parameters in the models can be accurately collected. d) An adaptive pseudolite tropospheric delay modelling method has been developed to reduce modelling error by estimating meteorological parameters in real-time, using GPS and pseudolite measurements. Test results show that pseudolite tropospheric delay modelling errors can be effectively mitigated by the proposed method. e) A novel geo-referencing system based on GPS/PL/INS integration has been developed as an alternative to existing GPS/INS systems. With the inclusion of pseudolite signals to enhance availability and geometry strength of GPS signals, the continuity and precision of the GPS/INS system can be significantly improved. Flight trials have been conducted to evaluate the system performance for airborne mapping. The results show that the accuracy and reliability of the geo-referenced solution can be improved with the deployment of one or more pseudolites. f) Two KF and NN hybrid methods have been proposed to improve geo-referenced results during GPS outages. As the KF prediction diverges without measurement update, the performance of a GPS/INS integrated system degrades rapidly during GPS outages. Neural networks can overcome this limitation of KF. The first method uses NN to map vehicle manoeuvres with KF measurement in a loosely coupled GPS/INS system. In the second method, an NN is trained to map INS measurements with selected KF error states in a tightly coupled GPS/INS system when GPS signals are available. These training results can be used to modify KF time updates. Optimal input/output and NN structure have been investigated. Field tests show that the proposed hybrid methods can dramatically improve geo-referenced solutions during GPS outages.