Improving precise point positioning performance based on Prophet model

PLoS One. 2021 Jan 19;16(1):e0245561. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245561. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Precision point positioning (PPP) is widely used in maritime navigation and other scenarios because it does not require a reference station. In PPP, the satellite clock bias (SCB) cannot be eliminated by differential, thus leading to an increase in positioning error. The prediction accuracy of SCB has become one of the key factors restricting positioning accuracy. Although International GNSS Service (IGS) provides the ultra-rapid ephemeris prediction part (IGU-P), its quality and real-time performance can not meet the practical application. In order to improve the accuracy of PPP, this paper proposes to use the Prophet model to predict SCB. Specifically, SCB sequence is read from the observation part in the ultra-rapid ephemeris (IGU-O) released by IGS. Next, the SCB sequence between adjacent epochs are subtracted to obtain the corresponding SCB single difference sequence. Then using the Prophet model to predict SCB single difference sequence. Finally, the prediction result is substituted into the PPP positioning observation equation to obtain the positioning result. This paper uses the final ephemeris (IGF) published by IGS as a benchmark and compares the experimental results with IGU-P. For the selected four satellites, compared with the results of the IGU-P, the accuracy of SCB prediction of the model in this paper is improved by about 50.3%, 61.7%, 60.4%, and 48.8%. In terms of PPP positioning results, we use Real-time kinematic (RTK) measurements as a benchmark in this paper. Positioning accuracy has increased by 26%, 35%, and 19% in the N, E, and U directions, respectively. The results show that the Prophet model can improve the performance of PPP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Spacecraft
  • Time Factors

Grants and funding

The paper is supported by National Key R&D Project (2018YFB2200900); The General Object of National Natural Science Foundation (61772358); Transformation and Cultivation Project of Scientific and Technological Achievements of Universities in Shanxi Province: Disaster early warning system based on BDS high-precision positioning technology. The Key Technology R&D Program of Jinzhong (Y201024).