A General Criterion of Integer Ambiguity Search
Guochang Xu · Journal of Global Positioning Systems · 2002
Abstract. A general criterion for integer ambiguity searching is derived in this paper. The criterion takes into account not only the residuals caused by ambiguity parameter changing, but also the residuals caused by coordinates changing through ambiguity fixing. The search can be carried out in a coordinate domain, in an ambiguity domain or in both domains. The three searching scenarios are theoretically equivalent. The optimality and uniqueness properties of the proposed criterion are also discussed. A numerical explanation of the general criterion is outlined. The theoretical relationship between the general criterion and the commonly used least squares ambiguity search (LSAS) criterion is derived in an equivalent case in detail. It shows that the LSAS criterion is just one of the terms of the equivalent criterion. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the behaviour of the two components of the equivalent criterion.