Mathematical Problems in Engineering
Volume 2009 (2009), Article ID 140963, 12 pages
doi:10.1155/2009/140963
Research Article

A Discussion Related to Orbit Determination Using Nonlinear Sigma Point Kalman Filter

1INPE (National Institute for Space Research), DMC, Avenue dos Astronautas, 1.758. Jd. Granja, CEP 12227-010, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
2UNESP (Univ Estadual Paulista), Guaratinguetá, CEP 12516-410, SP, Brazil

Received 30 July 2009; Accepted 9 November 2009

Academic Editor: Tadashi Yokoyama

Copyright © 2009 Paula Cristiane Pinto Mesquita Pardal et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Herein, the purpose is to present a Kalman filter based on the sigma point unscented transformation development, aiming at real-time satellite orbit determination using GPS measurements. First, a brief review of the extended Kalman filter will be done. After, the sigma point Kalman filter will be introduced as well as the basic idea of the unscented transformation, in which this filter is based. Following, the unscented Kalman filter applied to orbit determination will be explained. Such explanation encloses formulations about the orbit determination through GPS; the dynamic model; the observation model; the unmodeled acceleration estimation; also an application of this new filter approaches on orbit determination using GPS measurements discussion.