Development of an instantaneous GNSS/MEMS attitude determination system

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are well suited for attitude determination. The key to high-precision GNSS-attitude determination is the ambiguity resolution. In case of kinematic applications, the rapidity of this process is of particular importance. We present a new instantaneous attitude determination system for GNSS-challenged environments. The single-epoch ambiguity resolution is performed by the ambiguity function method aided by a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS), leading to success rates above 99 %. The GNSS/MEMS fusion is realized by the use of an extended Kalman filter. When the system is stationary, a state vector augmentation with a shaping filter reduces systematic effects in the GNSS-attitudes. By means of two field experiments, the system was tested successfully. Despite poor GNSS measurement conditions, it provided reliable and accurate results, with empirical standard deviations in the range of 0.03-0.1 deg for the yaw angle.