Fusion of Onboard Sensors for Better Navigation

Abstract

This paper presents simulation results of navigation sensors such as integrated navigation system (INS), global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and TACAN sensors onboard an aircraft to find the navigation solutions. Mathematical models for INS, GNSS (GPS) satellite trajectories, GPS receiver and TACAN characteristics are simulated in Matlab. The INS simulation generates the output for position, velocity and attitude based on aerosond dynamic model. The GPS constellation is generated based on the YUMA almanac data. The GPS dilution of precession (DOP) parameters are calculated and the best combination of four satellites (minimum PDOP) is used for calculating the user position and velocity. The INS, GNSS, and TACAN solutions are integrated through loosely coupled extended Kalman filter for calculating the optimum navigation solution. The work is starting stone for providing aircraft based augmentation system for required navigation performance in terms of availability, accuracy, continuity and integrity.

Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(2), pp.145-152, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.4256