Parameter estimation for multipath error in GPS dual frequency carrier phase measurements using unscented Kalman filters

This paper describes a multipath estimation method for Global Positioning System (GPS) dual frequency carrier phase measurements. Multipath is a major error source in high precision GPS applications, i.e., carrier phase measurements for precise positioning and attitude determinations. In order to estimate and remove multipath at carrier phase measurements, an array GPS antenna system has been used. The known geometry between the antennas is used to estimate multipath parameters. Dual frequency carrier phase measurements increase the redundancy of measurements, so it can reduce the number of antennas. The unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is recently applied to many areas to overcome some of the limitations of the extended Kalman filter (EKF) such as weakness to severe nonlinearity. This paper uses the UKF for estimating multipath parameters. A series of simulations were performed with GPS antenna arrays located on a straight line with one reflector. The geometry information of the antenna array reduces the number of estimated multipath parameters from four to three. Both the EKF and the UKF are used as estimation algorithms and the results of the EKF and the UKF are compared. When the initial parameters are far from true parameters, the UKF shows better performance than the EKF.