Analyzing the geolocation precision of TDOA using formation-flying cluster of three microsatellites

doi:10.11947/j.AGCS.2023.20220269

Abstract

Abstract: Geolocating of the radio-frequency(RF) emitters with formation-flying cluster of microsatellite has become an efficient means to monitor the non-cooperative RF targets on the earth's surface, and the key technique involved is to geolocate the emitters with space-based TDOA measurement. The main factor impacting the space-based TDOA measurement is analyzed in this paper. Two TDOA geolocation methods, namely the single epoch geolocation with the constraint of geodetic height and multi-epoch geolocation are presented for the formation-flying cluster of three microsatellites, and the precisions are validated by simulation test. The results show that the precision of the single epoch geolocation method of TDOA and the multi-epoch geolocation can meet 510 and 110 m, respectively, when the non-cooperative targets on sea surface are monitored by the equilateral triangular formation-flying microsatellites. The geolocation error becomes more remarkable for targets near the satellite ground-track when the equilateral triangular formation satellites adopt the combined configuration with one satellite at a higher latitude and the other two at lower ones.

Key words: time different of arrive, passive geolocation, low earth orbit satellite, formation flying, geolocation precision

CLC Number:

P227

SONG Xiaoyong, MAO Yue, ZONG Wenpeng, WANG Long, FENG Laiping. Analyzing the geolocation precision of TDOA using formation-flying cluster of three microsatellites[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2023, 52(10): 1631-1639.

References

[1] SARDA K, CAJACOB D, ORR N G, et al. Making the invisible visible:precision RF-emitter geolocation from space by the HawkEye 360 pathfinder mission[C]//Proceedings of the 32 nd Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites. Logan:[s. n.], 2018.
[2] JAMES A V, JOSEF S K. Commercial radio frequency (RF) collections from space[EB/OL].[2022-04-16]. http://www.aerospace.org/policy.
[3] HO K C, CHAN Y T. Solution and performance analysis of geolocation by TDOA[J]. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 1993, 29(4):1311-1322.
[4] YANG Zhengbin, WANG Lei, CHEN Peiqun, et al. Passive satellite localization using TDOA/FDOA/AOA measurements[C]//Proceedings of 2014 IEEE Conference Anthology.[S. l.]:IEEE, 2014.
[5] QU Xiaomei, LIU Tao. Source localization using TDOA and FDOA measurements with sensor information uncertainties[C]//Proceedings of the 40 th Chinese Control Conference. Shanghai:IEEE, 2021:3173-3178.
[6] HO K C, LU Xiaoning, KOVAVISARUCH L. Source localization using TDOA and FDOA measurements in the presence of receiver location errors:analysis and solution[J]. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 2007, 55(2):684-696.
[7] 万鹏武. TDOA被动定位关键技术研究与应用[D].西安:西安电子科技大学, 2018. WAN Pengwu. Research and application of key technologies of TDOA passive location[D]. Xi'an:Xidian University, 2018.
[8] 刘梦竹.基于到达时间与频率估计的高精度多星无源定位方法研究[D].哈尔滨:哈尔滨工业大学, 2019. LIU Mengzhu. Research on high-precision multi-satellite passive location method based on arrival time and frequency estimation[D]. Harbin:Harbin Institute of Technology, 2019.
[9] 侯强.基于TDOA和FDOA的多站无源定位关键技术研究[D].济南:山东大学, 2021. HOU Qiang. Research on key technologies of multi-station passive location based on TDOA and FDOA[D]. Jinan:Shandong University, 2021.
[10] CHAN Y T, HO K C. A simple and efficient estimator for hyperbolic location[J]. IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing, 1994, 42(8):1905-1915.
[11] 邹延宾. TOA/TDOA定位的凸优化方法研究[D].成都:电子科技大学, 2018. ZOU Yanbin. Research on convex optimization method of TOA/TDOA positioning[D]. Chengdu:University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, 2018.
[12] WONG S, KASHYAP N, JASSEMI-ZARGANI R, et al. Analysis of a space-based passive radio-frequency (RF) sensing system for geolocating targets on the earth's surface[EB/OL].[2022-02-12]. http://www.Canada.ca/en/defence-research-development.
[13] 杨元喜,郭海容,何海波,等.卫星导航定位原理[M].北京:国防工业出版社, 2021. YANG Yuanxi, GUO Hairong, HE Haibo, et al. Principle of satellite navigation and positioning[M]. Beijing:National Defense Industry Press, 2021.
[14] MONTENBRUCK O, GILL E. Satellite orbits:models, methods and applications[M]. Heidelberg:Springer, 2000.
[15] 邵凯,张厚喆,秦显平,等.分布式InSAR编队卫星精密绝对和相对轨道确定[J].测绘学报, 2021, 50(5):580-588. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2021. 20200415. SHAO Kai, ZHANG Houzhe, QIN Xianping, et al. Precise absolute and relative orbit determination for distributed InSAR satellite system[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2021, 50(5):580-588. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2021. 20200415.
[16] 邵凯,易彬,张厚喆,等.单星模糊度固定的整数相位钟法及在低轨卫星定轨中的应用[J].测绘学报, 2021, 50(4):487-495. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2021. 20200302. SHAO Kai, YI Bin, ZHANG Houzhe, et al. Integer phase clock method with single-satellite ambiguity fixing and its application in LEO satellite orbit determination[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2021, 50(4):487-495. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2021. 20200302.
[17] 王亚菲,钟世明,王海涛,等. LEO卫星轨道预报精度分析[J].测绘学报, 2016, 45(9):1035-1041. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2016. 20160045. WANG Yafei, ZHONG Shiming, WANG Haitao, et al. Precision analysis of LEO satellite orbit prediction[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2016, 45(9):1035-1041. DOI:10.11947/j.AGCS.2016. 20160045.
[18] 秦显平,杨元喜. LEO星载GPS双向滤波定轨研究[J].武汉大学学报(信息科学版), 2009, 34(2):231-235. QIN Xianping, YANG Yuanxi. GPS-based orbit determination for LEO using bidirectional filter[J]. Geomatics and Information Science of Wuhan University, 2009, 34(2):231-235.
[19] JÄGGI A. Pseudo-stochastic orbit modeling of low earth satellites using the global positioning system[D]. Bern:Astronomical Institute University of Bern, 2006.
[20] 匡开发. GNSS卫星实时精密定轨技术研究[D].武汉:武汉大学, 2019. KUANG Kaifa. Research on real-time precise orbit determination technology of GNSS satellite[D]. Wuhan:Wuhan University, 2019.
[21] 秦显平,任夏,杨元喜.基于自适应滤波的编队卫星实时相对定轨[J].北京航空航天大学学报, 2014, 40(9):1195-1199. QIN Xianping, REN Xia, YANG Yuanxi. Real-time relative orbit determination for formation flying satellites using adaptive filtering[J]. Journal of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2014, 40(9):1195-1199.
[22] 郭磊.导航星历精度对LEO星载GPS实时精密定轨的影响分析[C]//中国卫星导航年会论文集.哈尔滨:[s. n.], 2018. GUO Lei. Influence of navigation ephemeris on LEO satellite precise real-time orbit determination[C]//Proceedings of 2018 China Satellite Navigation Conference. Harbin:[s. n.], 2018.
[23] 陈建云,周永彬,杨俊.卫星导航系统星间链路测量与通讯原理[M].北京:国防工业出版社, 2021. CHEN Jianyun, ZHOU Yongbin, YANG Jun. Principles of navigation satellite system inter-satellite link measurement and communication[M]. Beijing:National Defense Industry Press, 2021.
[24] 郭付阳.无源定位中的时差、频差和尺度差估计[D].西安:西安电子科技大学, 2017. GUO Fuyang. Estimation of time difference, frequency difference and scale difference in passive location[D]. Xi'an:Xidian University, 2017.
[25] 杨元喜.卫星导航的不确定性、不确定度与精度若干注记[J].测绘学报, 2012, 41(5):646-650. YANG Yuanxi. Some notes on uncertainty, uncertainty measure and accuracy in satellite navigation[J]. Acta Geodaetica et Cartographica Sinica, 2012, 41(5):646-650