Advanced navigation and positioning specialist Tersus GNSS examines how Precise Point Positioning (PPP) is revolutionizing positioning technology by providing centimeter-level accuracy globally with just a single GNSS receiver.
Tersus GNSS elevates this technology through its TAP (Tersus Advanced Positioning) service, eliminating the need for local base stations and ensuring reliable coverage even in remote regions.
Understanding Precise Point Positioning (PPP)
PPP is a GNSS-based technology that enables highly accurate positioning by correcting satellite orbit and clock errors in real-time. Unlike traditional Single Point Positioning (SPP), which offers accuracy only at the meter scale, PPP uses precise satellite data and advanced correction algorithms to achieve centimeter-level accuracy. It simplifies the client system, removing the need for base stations or CORS networks, and ensures consistency in positioning accuracy across the globe.
Compared to Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) systems, PPP has key advantages. It eliminates the logistical complexity of setting up base stations or relying on network connectivity. Furthermore, it ensures uniform performance in any location, making it ideal for areas where network coverage is limited or nonexistent.
Advantages Over RTK
- Simplified Client System: No need for base station setup or network-based corrections.
- Global Consistency: Delivers uniform accuracy worldwide, even in areas with poor network coverage.
Tersus Advanced Positioning (TAP) Service
The TAP (Tersus Advanced Positioning) Service revolutionizes PPP by enabling reliable, centimeter-level positioning in challenging environments.
TAP delivers corrections via satellite, bypassing the need for local infrastructure, and provides high signal stability and uninterrupted service. It supports a range of GNSS constellations, including GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo, ensuring robust and precise tracking.
TAP is particularly effective in environments with limited network access, such as oceans, deserts, mountains, and remote regions. With a global coverage model and convergence times as short as 15 minutes, TAP ensures reliable performance for critical applications like autonomous navigation, precision agriculture, and robotics.
Key Features of TAP:
- Worldwide coverage with seamless operation under clear skies
- Independent of network-based correction systems
- Internet-based data delivery as a backup option
- 24/7 signal stability and uninterrupted transmission
Technical Specifications:
- Signal tracking: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo
- Accuracy (RMS): <5 cm
- Convergence time: 15 minutes
- Coverage: Global
- Signal stability: 99.99%
PPP and Emerging Technologies
While PPP offers unparalleled accuracy, its longer convergence time has been a limitation. PPP-RTK, an evolving hybrid of PPP and RTK, combines the strengths of both technologies and offers:
- Faster convergence times
- Independence from internet or radio communication
- High-precision positioning with global applicability
Tersus GNSS’s TAP service exemplifies the transformative potential of Precise Point Positioning, delivering reliable, high-precision positioning in even the most remote regions. Explore more by reading “What is PPP?” on the Tersus GNSS website.
