Single-Baseline Long-Distance RTK using a CLS GNSS Module and Open-Source Software: A Case Study from India

Abstract

For GNSS Real-Time Kinematic (RTK), the reference Base receiver operating at a precise location together with the wirelessly connected Rover receiver(s) provide(s) high-quality real-time position solutions. This work shows the potential of compact, low-cost, single-frequency (CLS) GNSS modules as the RTK Rover up to large baseline distances. A combination of the uBLOX M8T CLS module and the Tallysman TW2710 patch antenna is used in single and hybrid GNSS combinations for short-to-long single-baseline lengths with the open-source RTKLib as the processing software. The results show that, for up to 288 km baseline distance, GPS, GLONASS and Galileo standalone operation provides below 1, 3 and 2 m precisions, respectively and sub-0.5 m precision is achieved for GPS+GLONASS+Galileo and GPS+Galileo+QZSS operations. The work shows the advantages of CLS modules as Rover those exploits the multi-constellation signal availability from India using open-source RTK processing software for reduction of the overall RTK infrastructure cost.

Keywords:

• Compact GNSS module
• Long baseline
• Multi-GNSS
• RTK

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors acknowledge Integrated Test Range, Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), (Project code: PMD/CARS/050/2020), and the author AB acknowledges Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), DST, Govt of India (Project Code: CRG/ 2020/005098) for the financial support.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Integrated Test Range, DRDO: [Grant Number PMD/CARS/050/2020]; Science and Engineering Research Board: [Grant Number CRG/ 2020/005098].

Notes on contributors

Somnath Mahato

Somnath Mahato received BTech in electronics and communication engineering from Meghnad Saha Institute of Technology, West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata, in 2012 and an M Tech in electronics and communication engineering (microwaves) from The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, in 2014. Currently, he is working as senior research fellow at The University of Burdwan. His research interests include global navigation satellite systems, satellite communication, and microwave active and passive device design. Email: [email protected]

Mrinal Goswami

Mrinal Goswami received an MSc in physics and an MTech in microwave engineering from The University of Burdwan, West Bengal. Currently, he is pursuing PhD in electronics and communication engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Durgapur. He is working as scientist F in the Radar Systems Group in Integrated Test Range (ITR), DRDO, Chandipur, India. His areas of interest include GNSS, radar and navigation systems, radio frequency telemetry systems, and microwave engineering. Email: [email protected]

Surajit Kundu

Surajit Kundu received BTech in electronics and communication engineering from the Academy of Technology, West Bengal University of Technology in 2009, MTech from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 2012 and PhD from the National Institute of Technology Sikkim in 2018. Currently, he is working as assistant professor in the Department of ECE, National Institute of Technology, Sikkim. His research interests include antenna design, ultra-wideband communication, frequency-selective surfaces, satellite communication, navigation, and ground-penetrating radar. Email: [email protected]

Anindya Bose

Anindya Bose received BSc in physics in 1990, MSc in physics in 1992, an MPhil in microwaves in 1993 and PhD in 2003 from The University of Burdwan, Burdwan, India. He is an alumnus of International Space University (ISU), Strasbourg, France. Currently, he is working as senior scientific officer in the Department of Physics, The University of Burdwan, India. His research interests include global navigation satellite system (GNSS), NavIC and applications of GNSS, satellite applications, microwave communication, antennas and e-Learning. Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]