image: BDS PPP-AR/PPP-RTK service system. The BDS PPP-B2b PPP-RTK service system consists of three main components: the ground reference station network, the data center, and the broadcasting system. The ground reference station network is responsible for receiving GNSS observation data and transmitting it in real-time to the data center, which utilizes these observations to generate various SSR products and sends them to the broadcasting system. The broadcasting system, in turn, uploads the SSR correction data to BDS GEO satellites through satellite data annotation stations and broadcasts it to users. At the user end, by combining GNSS satellite observation data with SSR correction data from BDS GEO satellites, real-time and precise PPP-RTK positioning can be achieved rapidly. When the atmospheric corrections are not available, the PPP-RTK turns into PPP-AR. The broadcast code and phase biases products can still be used to achieve PPP ambiguity resolution (PPP-AR), which can achieve higher precision and faster convergence than the float PPP solutions.
Credit: Satellite Navigation
The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) is undergoing a significant upgrade to meet the burgeoning needs for high-precision positioning across various sectors. The new services aim to provide decimeter-level accuracy within minutes, a substantial improvement over the current capabilities. This advancement is crucial for emerging technologies such as autonomous driving, robotic navigation, and smart city infrastructures, which rely on reliable and precise location data for effective operation.
With the rapid growth of technologies like autonomous driving and robotic navigation, the demand for highly accurate and reliable positioning systems has surged. Traditional systems such as Global Positioning System (GPS), GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and Galileo have set high standards, but challenges like limited regional coverage and long convergence times remain. These issues underscore the need for enhanced navigation satellite systems. The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) aims to address these challenges by improving its high-precision services, making it a vital player in the global positioning landscape.
Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telecommunication Technology, in collaboration with the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory and Wuhan University, have published a pivotal study (DOI: 10.1186/s43020-024-00143-8) in Satellite Navigation journal. Released on 24 June 2024, the study details the BeiDou system's high-precision services, outlining its current state, achievements, and future trajectory.
The study examines BeiDou's high-precision services, focusing on the PPP-B2b of BDS-3, which achieves decimeter-level accuracy within 14 minutes. Despite its advancements, BDS-3 lags behind international counterparts like Galileo's High Accuracy Service (HAS) and Quasi-Zenith Satellite System's (QZSS's) Centimeter-Level Augmentation Service (CLAS) in regional coverage and convergence time. To address these limitations, the research proposes a multi-layer development framework, emphasizing the integration of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Incorporating a LEO constellation of 288 satellites can improve positioning accuracy to better than 5 cm within approximately one minute, enhancing global coverage and significantly reducing convergence time. Simulation results demonstrate that LEO-enhanced PPP services can achieve rapid and precise positioning, overcoming current limitations and positioning BeiDou as a leader in high-precision satellite navigation.
Dr. Xingxing Li from Wuhan University stated, "The advancements in BeiDou's high-precision services are pivotal for meeting the escalating demands of modern navigation applications. The integration of LEO satellites is particularly promising, as it significantly enhances coverage and reduces convergence time, bringing us closer to achieving real-time, centimeter-level positioning accuracy on a global scale."
The enhanced BeiDou high-precision services have profound implications for various applications, including autonomous driving, unmanned aerial vehicles, and smart device navigation. The proposed improvements in global coverage and convergence time will enable more accurate and reliable positioning solutions, fostering innovation and efficiency in these fields. This progress represents a significant step forward in the evolution of global navigation satellite systems, positioning BeiDou as a leader in high-precision services.
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References
DOI
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43020-024-00143-8
Funding information
This work was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.41974041, 42374044).
About Satellite Navigation
Satellite Navigation (E-ISSN: 2662-1363; ISSN: 2662-9291) is the official journal of Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The journal aims to report innovative ideas, new results or progress on the theoretical techniques and applications of satellite navigation. The journal welcomes original articles, reviews and commentaries.
Journal
Satellite Navigation
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
High-precision services of BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS): current state, achievements, and future directions
Article Publication Date
24-Jun-2024
COI Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.