Head orientation sensing system

Appareo Systems, LLC, proposes to develop a functional prototype head-mounted position and orientation system (HPOS). The HPOS will be capable of operating in electromagnetic fields of up to 200 volts/meter and will provide at least one degree of accuracy and at least one degree of resolution at a 60 Hz update rate while providing 3 degree of freedom (DOF) information on head orientation, including azimuth from 0 to 360 degrees, elevation from +90 to -90 degrees, and roll orientation from +180 to -180 degrees. The completed HPOS system will include the development of a degradation-resistant GPS solution, which is seen as the key to the success of this project. The term degradation-resistant refers to the device’s ability to switch operation modes, which is needed to create an optimal solution. Inasmuch as it is highly desirable that the HPOS continues to operate with ever increasing denial of sensor data, the performance of the sensor will be designed to degrade gracefully, dropping into reduced functionality modes that are still, none-the-less, capable of producing attitude and position solutions. Techniques including the use of ultra-short baselines and multiple GPS receivers and antennas will be explored to create the GPS reliability needed. Aided, non-GPS solutions simply cannot stand up in the variety of environments in which the HPOS must be deployed. It is believed that a GPS-dependent solution, although not without its own weaknesses, can be successfully implemented using the approach defined herein.