Location Performance Test and Evaluation for Tri-Station Time Difference of Arrival System

The data processing of tri-station Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) location test is an important part of location performance evaluation. The evaluation method of tri-station TDOA location performance was studied and a new three station TDOA location evaluation model and the model parameter acquisition method based on the outfield test data were proposed where the influence factors such integrated time measurement error and radiation source height were considered. Firstly, tri-station location error model was offered, which include plane location system error and three-dimensional space location model error. Secondly, the signal noise ratio (SNR) was introduced into time difference influencing factor, and the integrated time measure error parameterized model of correlation method for TOA location system was proposed. Thirdly, the parameter estimation method of comprehensive time measurement error based on least square method is introduced, and the comprehensive system parameters and time measurement error constant are estimated. Last, location performance test and evaluation technology for tri-station TDOA system was presented, and this method can reckon the integrated time measure error parameter based on TOA location test data of design airline, also can reckon positioning accuracy of arbitrary base station and source position. Finally, simulation results verified this theory, and show that this method excel the test and evaluation method of traditional fixed time difference measure error model.