ilianaboone
- Aug 11, 2023
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- Aug 11, 2023
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Introduction
Outdoor positioning technologies play a crucial role in various fields. Among them, RTK and GPS are two commonly used positioning technologies. This article will introduce the concepts, principles, and differences between RTK and GPS, and also showcase the application potential of RTK technology.
What is RTK Technology?
RTK (Real - Time Kinematic) is a high - precision differential positioning technology based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Through real - time differential data processing, it can improve the positioning accuracy from the meter - level of traditional satellite positioning to the centimeter - level (1 - 10 cm).
Key Components of RTK System
There are two important devices in the RTK system: the reference station (base station) and the rover station. The key to RTK technology lies in the coordinated work of these two stations.
Basic Principle of RTK Technology
The reference station is fixed at a certain position and continuously tracks satellite signals. It generates differential correction parameters and sends the data information to the rover station in real - time. The rover station is the station that moves continuously, and its position is the position to be determined. For example, in construction sites, engineers often hold a measuring rod for surveying and positioning, which is usually the rover station. The rover station is usually paired with an electronic field book. Engineers can obtain and record the precise position of the rover station by operating the electronic field book.
Positioning Accuracy of RTK
RTK has extremely high positioning accuracy. Through the synchronous observation of the reference station and the rover station, the error can be reduced to less than 1 cm. For instance, in the agricultural plant protection scenario, the traditional GPS has a deviation of 2 - 3 meters, resulting in a 15% re - spraying rate. However, drones equipped with RTK can improve the route accuracy to 2.5 cm, and the pesticide utilization rate can be increased by 40%.
Network RTK Technology
The more innovative Network RTK technology constructs virtual reference stations through multiple base stations, expanding the operating radius to hundreds of kilometers. It also supports the joint solution of GPS/Beidou/Galileo systems, increasing the number of visible satellites in urban canyons from 8 to 30 and improving the positioning availability to 98%.
How does GPS Navigation Work?
GPS (Global Positioning System) was developed by the United States in the 1970s and has penetrated into all aspects of our daily lives. In essence, it provides absolute position coordinates through satellites. As the core part of GNSS, GPS relies on 24 medium - orbit satellites to transmit signals. The receiver measures the propagation time of the ranging codes from at least 4 satellites to obtain the three - dimensional spatial information (X, Y, Z) of the target, achieving three - dimensional positioning.
Since the signal transmission passes through the atmosphere and is not a complete straight - line propagation, using only four positioning satellites may not obtain accurate position information of the target, or the position information may have a relatively large error (usually about 10 meters).
Comparison with Beidou Positioning Technology
Compared with China's Beidou positioning technology, GPS uses a pure passive positioning mode, which only receives satellite broadcast signals and calculates the position. Beidou innovatively uses a dual - mode system of "active positioning + passive positioning". That is, the user terminal needs to send a positioning request to the satellite, and then the ground control center calculates the user's position through the response signals of two geostationary satellites and sends back the coordinate data.
Comparison between RTK and GPS
GPS is mainly for basic - level positioning, while RTK is for professional - level positioning.
Technical Architecture
Compared with the one - way ranging system of GPS, RTK constructs a new technical ecosystem. An ordinary GPS receiver can complete positioning independently, and its system architecture includes three major modules: the antenna unit, the radio - frequency front - end, and the base - band processor. It obtains the absolute position through pseudo - range calculation. In contrast, the RTK system must build a coordinated network of the reference station and the rover station and is equipped with high - precision hardware. The reference station subsystem also integrates a UHF radio or a 4G data transmission link, and the time delay is strictly controlled within 200 milliseconds.
Application Example
This complex architecture brings a significant performance improvement. For example, in the construction of the Wuhan Yangtze River Tunnel, RTK successfully achieved millimeter - level control of the shield machine's attitude, creating an engineering miracle of excavating 28 rings per day.
Technological Innovation of RTK
Currently, RTK technology is evolving towards multi - system integration. The new - generation receivers support the joint solution of GPS/BDS/Galileo/GLONASS systems, increasing the number of visible satellites from 8 - 10 in a single system to more than 30. Even in a three - dimensional mountain city like Chongqing, the positioning availability remains as high as 98%.
The integration of 5G communication and low - orbit satellites has extended the traditional 20 - kilometer operating radius to hundreds of kilometers. The satellite - based augmentation system put into use in 2024 has achieved wide - area centimeter - level positioning in the Western Pacific Ocean.
From the precise mapping of urban underground pipe networks to the unmanned harvesters in the fields, RTK technology is rewriting the future of outdoor positioning. When autonomous vehicles maintain centimeter - level lane deviation in heavy rain and drones shuttle freely among buildings, these scenarios silently illustrate that in this digital world that requires absolute accuracy, RTK technology has become the origin of the spatial coordinates connecting the virtual and the real.
Related Recommendation
Ebyte's GNSS series modules include single - Beidou series, single - frequency GNSS series, dual - frequency GNSS series, etc. They can be widely used in wearable devices, mobile phones, IoT devices, drones, intelligent driving, precision agriculture, precision measurement, and power communication equipment.
Outdoor positioning technologies play a crucial role in various fields. Among them, RTK and GPS are two commonly used positioning technologies. This article will introduce the concepts, principles, and differences between RTK and GPS, and also showcase the application potential of RTK technology.
What is RTK Technology?
RTK (Real - Time Kinematic) is a high - precision differential positioning technology based on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Through real - time differential data processing, it can improve the positioning accuracy from the meter - level of traditional satellite positioning to the centimeter - level (1 - 10 cm).
Key Components of RTK System
There are two important devices in the RTK system: the reference station (base station) and the rover station. The key to RTK technology lies in the coordinated work of these two stations.
Basic Principle of RTK Technology
The reference station is fixed at a certain position and continuously tracks satellite signals. It generates differential correction parameters and sends the data information to the rover station in real - time. The rover station is the station that moves continuously, and its position is the position to be determined. For example, in construction sites, engineers often hold a measuring rod for surveying and positioning, which is usually the rover station. The rover station is usually paired with an electronic field book. Engineers can obtain and record the precise position of the rover station by operating the electronic field book.
Positioning Accuracy of RTK
RTK has extremely high positioning accuracy. Through the synchronous observation of the reference station and the rover station, the error can be reduced to less than 1 cm. For instance, in the agricultural plant protection scenario, the traditional GPS has a deviation of 2 - 3 meters, resulting in a 15% re - spraying rate. However, drones equipped with RTK can improve the route accuracy to 2.5 cm, and the pesticide utilization rate can be increased by 40%.
Network RTK Technology
The more innovative Network RTK technology constructs virtual reference stations through multiple base stations, expanding the operating radius to hundreds of kilometers. It also supports the joint solution of GPS/Beidou/Galileo systems, increasing the number of visible satellites in urban canyons from 8 to 30 and improving the positioning availability to 98%.
How does GPS Navigation Work?
GPS (Global Positioning System) was developed by the United States in the 1970s and has penetrated into all aspects of our daily lives. In essence, it provides absolute position coordinates through satellites. As the core part of GNSS, GPS relies on 24 medium - orbit satellites to transmit signals. The receiver measures the propagation time of the ranging codes from at least 4 satellites to obtain the three - dimensional spatial information (X, Y, Z) of the target, achieving three - dimensional positioning.
Since the signal transmission passes through the atmosphere and is not a complete straight - line propagation, using only four positioning satellites may not obtain accurate position information of the target, or the position information may have a relatively large error (usually about 10 meters).
Comparison with Beidou Positioning Technology
Compared with China's Beidou positioning technology, GPS uses a pure passive positioning mode, which only receives satellite broadcast signals and calculates the position. Beidou innovatively uses a dual - mode system of "active positioning + passive positioning". That is, the user terminal needs to send a positioning request to the satellite, and then the ground control center calculates the user's position through the response signals of two geostationary satellites and sends back the coordinate data.
Comparison between RTK and GPS
GPS is mainly for basic - level positioning, while RTK is for professional - level positioning.
Technical Architecture
Compared with the one - way ranging system of GPS, RTK constructs a new technical ecosystem. An ordinary GPS receiver can complete positioning independently, and its system architecture includes three major modules: the antenna unit, the radio - frequency front - end, and the base - band processor. It obtains the absolute position through pseudo - range calculation. In contrast, the RTK system must build a coordinated network of the reference station and the rover station and is equipped with high - precision hardware. The reference station subsystem also integrates a UHF radio or a 4G data transmission link, and the time delay is strictly controlled within 200 milliseconds.
Application Example
This complex architecture brings a significant performance improvement. For example, in the construction of the Wuhan Yangtze River Tunnel, RTK successfully achieved millimeter - level control of the shield machine's attitude, creating an engineering miracle of excavating 28 rings per day.
Technological Innovation of RTK
Currently, RTK technology is evolving towards multi - system integration. The new - generation receivers support the joint solution of GPS/BDS/Galileo/GLONASS systems, increasing the number of visible satellites from 8 - 10 in a single system to more than 30. Even in a three - dimensional mountain city like Chongqing, the positioning availability remains as high as 98%.
The integration of 5G communication and low - orbit satellites has extended the traditional 20 - kilometer operating radius to hundreds of kilometers. The satellite - based augmentation system put into use in 2024 has achieved wide - area centimeter - level positioning in the Western Pacific Ocean.
From the precise mapping of urban underground pipe networks to the unmanned harvesters in the fields, RTK technology is rewriting the future of outdoor positioning. When autonomous vehicles maintain centimeter - level lane deviation in heavy rain and drones shuttle freely among buildings, these scenarios silently illustrate that in this digital world that requires absolute accuracy, RTK technology has become the origin of the spatial coordinates connecting the virtual and the real.
Related Recommendation
Ebyte's GNSS series modules include single - Beidou series, single - frequency GNSS series, dual - frequency GNSS series, etc. They can be widely used in wearable devices, mobile phones, IoT devices, drones, intelligent driving, precision agriculture, precision measurement, and power communication equipment.
