A Novel, Biologically Inspired Integrative Architecture for Ultra Tightly Coupled GPS/INS

Orbital Research Inc. (ORI) working teaming with The Ohio State University (OSU) propose the development of a novel integrative architecture for ultra tight coupling of GPS/INS. Ultra tight coupled GPS/INS offer the potential to improve jamming tolerance of future guided munitions resulting in improved accuracy and performance. One of the challenges of ultra tight coupled GPS/INS is the inherent nonlinearity of the filtering problem. Traditional filter design methods are not well suited to systems like GPS/INS with these nonlinearties because the large number of inputs increase computational burdens beyond the reach of low-cost embedded systems. To address these shortfalls, ORI and OSU propose a computationally efficient stochastic filtering approach based on a biologically systems which integrate large streams of data from diverse sources into a coherent, meaningful image at high speeds and precision. During the Phase I program, ORI and OSU shall demonstrate the feasibility of this novel biologically inspired approach to ultra tight coupled GPS/INS in simulation and compare results to existing techniques. During the Phase II program, the ORI team will implement the ultra tight coupled architecture on actual hardware systems to validate the performance of the biologically inspired stochastic filtering first in the laboratory, then in a realistic operational environment bringing the resulting technology to a Technology Readiness Level of 7 at the conclusion of the Phase II. GPS devices augmented with a tightly coupled IMU can be used in a number of different applications for both military and civilian uses all of which have significant market potential. These markets will be investigated and probed by Orbital Research Inc., to determine which ones are most potentially lucrative and likely to result from work supported in this SBIR program.