Impact of RTK Augmentation and INS Integration on GNSS Positioning Accuracy and Continuity: A Benchmarking Study on Inland Waterways
Why GPS fails under bridges and how to fix it for river boats
When ships navigate under bridges on inland waterways, GPS signals drop out and positioning errors can jump by over a meter. Adding inertial sensors helps briefly, but combining them with correction signals provides the most reliable positioning—though each approach has trade-offs that depend on local conditions.
Autonomous and remote-operated river vessels depend on precise positioning to navigate safely through congested waterways. This study shows which sensor combinations work best in real conditions, helping engineers design systems that won't lose track of a boat during a critical bridge passage—potentially preventing collisions and enabling more vessels to operate without a human captain on board.