GLONASS–only FDMA+CDMA RTK: Performance and outlook

Abstract An assessment of standalone GLONASS RTK performance is provided using its FDMA and CDMA signals. The new integer-estimable GLONASS FDMA model (Teunissen 2019), which guarantees the integer-estimability of its ambiguities, is employed. We introduce the combined integer-estimable GLONASS FDMA+CDMA model and compare its strength against the FDMA model for instantaneous integer ambiguity resolution and positioning. Various combinations of GLONASS signals are considered including FDMA L1, FDMA+CDMA L1+L3, FDMA L1+L2 and FDMA+CDMA L1+L2+L3. To provide insight into the current RTK performance of GLONASS, we used observations of a short baseline to analyze the integer ambiguity resolution success rate and positioning precision, formally and empirically. To provide insight into the future RTK performance of GLONASS, we present a formal analysis of the integer ambiguity resolution success rate and ADOP, assuming that all the GLONASS satellites transmit FDMA L1, L2 and CDMA L3 signals. A formal analysis of standalone GLONASS ambiguity resolution based on current and future GLONASS constellation is then presented for different locations around the world.