INS/GPS Technology Trends

This paper focuses on accuracy and other technology trends for inertial sensors, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and integrated Inertial Navigation System (INS)/GPS systems, including considerations of interference, that will lead to better than 1 meter accuracy navigation systems of the future. For inertial sensors, trend-setting sensor technologies will be described. A vision of the inertial sensor instrument field and strapdown inertial systems for the future is given. Planned accuracy improvements for GPS are described. The trend towards deep integration of INS/GPS is described, and the synergistic benefits are explored. Some examples of the effects of interference are described, and expected technology trends to improve system robustness are presented. 1.0 INTRODUCTION Inertial navigation systems have progressed from the crude electromechanical devices that guided the early V-2 rockets (Figure 1a) to the current solid-state devices that are in many modern vehicles. The impetus for this significant progress came during the ballistic missile programs of the 1960s, in which the need for high accuracy at ranges of thousands of kilometers using autonomous navigation systems was apparent. By “autonomous” it is meant that no man-made signals from outside the vehicle are required to perform navigation. If no external man-made signals are required, then an enemy cannot jam them. One of the early leaders in inertial navigation was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Instrumentation Laboratory (now Draper Laboratory), which was asked by the Air Force to develop inertial systems for the Thor and Titan missiles and by the Navy to develop an inertial system for the Polaris missile. This request was made after the Laboratory had demonstrated in 1953 the feasibility of autonomous allinertial navigation for aircraft in a series of flight tests with a system called SPIRE (Space Inertial Reference Equipment), Figure 1b. This system had gimbals, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 2700 pounds. The notable success of those early programs led to further application in aircraft, ships, missiles, and spacecraft such that inertial systems are now almost standard equipment in military and civilian navigation applications. Report Documentation Page Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington VA 22202-4302. Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to a penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. 1. REPORT DATE MAR 2010 2. REPORT TYPE N/A 3. DATES COVERED 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE INS/GPS Technology Trends 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER