TDOA positioning accuracy analysis based on time difference direction‐finding in distributed high‐frequency surface wave radar

Abstract In the past few decades, the Time Difference of Arrival location technology in distributed high‐frequency surface wave radar has attracted wide attention due to its simple system, low cost, and higher positioning accuracy. Based on the time difference direction‐finding algorithm, this article presents new mathematical expressions of geometric dilution of precision in the Time Difference of Arrival positioning systems. The time difference direction‐finding reveals that the angle measurements are accurate for any length of baseline. Then the differences in geometric dilution of precision between the proposed algorithm and traditional method are analysed. Time difference direction‐finding algorithm can improve positioning accuracy without additional target information. Compared with the traditional method, the proposed algorithm can improve the positioning accuracy of partial observation areas under the same radar measurement system. The simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.