Article
A New Strategy for Improving the Accuracy of Aircraft
Positioning Using DGPS Technique in Aerial Navigation
Kamil Krasuski
1
, Dariusz Popielarczyk
2
, Adam Cie´cko
2,
* and Janusz
´
Cwiklak
1
Citation: Krasuski, K.; Popielarczyk,
D.; Cie´cko, A.;
´
Cwiklak, J. A New
Strategy for Improving the Accuracy
of Aircraft Positioning Using DGPS
Technique in Aerial Navigation.
Energies 2021, 14, 4431. https://
doi.org/10.3390/en14154431
Academic Editor: Francisco
Manzano Agugliaro
Received: 7 June 2021
Accepted: 19 July 2021
Published: 22 July 2021
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4.0/).
1
Institute of Navigation, Military University of Aviation, 08-521 D˛eblin, Poland; k.krasuski@law.mil.pl (K.K.);
j.cwiklak@law.mil.pl (J.
´
C.)
2
Faculty of Geoengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-720 Olsztyn, Poland;
dariusz.popielarczyk@uwm.edu.pl
* Correspondence: a.ciecko@uwm.edu.pl; Tel.: +48-605-850-697
Abstract:
In this paper a new mathematical algorithm is proposed to improve the accuracy of DGPS
(Differential GPS) positioning using several GNSS (Global Navigation Satellites System) reference
stations. The new mathematical algorithm is based on a weighting scheme for the following three
criteria: weighting in function of baseline (vector) length, weighting in function of vector length error
and weighting in function of the number of tracked GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites for a
single baseline. The algorithm of the test method takes into account the linear combination of the
weighting coefficients and relates the position errors determined for single baselines. The calculation
uses a weighting scheme for three independent baselines denoted as
(
1A, 2A, 3A
)
. The proposed
research method makes it possible to determine the resultant position errors for ellipsoidal BLh
coordinates of the aircraft and significantly improves the accuracy of DGPS positioning. The analysis
and evaluation of the new research methodology was checked for data from two flight experiments
carried out in Mielec and D˛eblin. Based on the calculations performed, it was found that in the flight
experiment in Mielec, due to the application of the new research methodology, DGPS positioning
accuracy improved from 55 to 94% for all the BLh components. In turn, in the flight experiment in
D˛eblin, the accuracy of DGPS positioning improved by 63–91%. The study shows that the highest
DGPS positioning accuracy is seen when using weighting criterion II, the inverse of the square of the
vector length error.
Keywords: DGPS; weighted mean model; accuracy; position errors; flight test; GNSS base stations
1. Introduction
The GNSS (Global Navigation Satellites System), as a satellite technology, is continu-
ously developed and widely used in many areas of human life, including the entire aviation
industry [
1
]. However, it is important to note that the benefits of the GNSS in aviation
are enormous, ranging from improved flight safety to reduced fuel emissions for example
for RNAV (Area Navigation) [
2
] or the economic factor itself through improved airport
capacity and an increased number of flight operations [
3
]. This is especially important as
the GNSS, as one of many on-board sensors, is now a fundamental navigation sensor on
board every aircraft. This makes the implementation of this sensor in aircraft positioning
and the selection of an appropriate positioning method or technique particularly important
for aviation science. GNSS satellite technology allows the user to determine the position
of the aircraft using absolute and differential methods [
4
]. Within the presented work,
the Differential DGPS (Differential GPS) method [
5
] in the GPS (Global Positioning Sys-
tem) satellite system will be discussed. In the differential DGPS technique, the location
of the base stations relative to the mobile on-board GPS receiver mounted in the aircraft
plays a key role [
6
]. Moreover, the number of GNSS reference stations involved in DGPS
positioning is also very important [
7
]. The calculation of the aircraft position in DGPS
technique usually uses code observations at the L1 frequency of the GPS system, to ensure
Energies 2021, 14, 4431. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14154431 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
