Integer Ambiguity Resolution with Nonlinear Geometrical Constraints

Integer ambiguity resolution is the key to obtain very accurate positioning solutions out of the GNSS observations. The Integer Least Squares (ILS) principle, a derivation of the least-squares principle applied to a linear system of equations in which some of the unknowns are subject to an integer constraint, was demonstrated to be optimal among the class of admissible integer estimators. In this contribution it is shown how to embed into the functional model a set of nonlinear geometrical constraints, which arise when considering a set of antennae mounted on a rigid platform. A method to solve for the new model is presented and tested: it is shown that the strengthened underlying model leads to an improved capacity of fixing the correct integer ambiguities.