Study on the Ambiguity and Non-Solution of 4-Station TDOA Space Location Systems

This paper extends the theory of 3-station 2D TDOA location,in order to apply it in space 4-station TDOA location system to deal with its possible ambiguity and non-solution phenomena.With the help of simulation results,the relation between the distribution of ambiguity and measure stations is found,and the methods to eliminate part of the ambiguity are also presented.Meanwhile,the reasons to produce non-solution are analyzed,and the next-to-best location method under non-solution conditions is discussed.Because of its complexity,space TDOA location tends to produce ambiguity more easily compared with 2D TDOA location.Therefore,in the design of the distribution of stations within such a system,the controllable area must be set out of the area of ambiguity and non-solution,according to analysis and discussion in this paper.