Improved Attitude/Orientation Measurement capability

The determination of the angular orientation of a radar or electro-optic assembly almost always involves the use of gyros. Except for very crude applications, gyros are always used in conjunction with accelerometers, their combination being referred to as an Inertial Measurement Unit or IMU. Gyro performance is typically related to cost. However the deterministic errors that lower gyro performance, can be estimated by fusing data from an IMU with data (principally velocity) from GPS. Once the errors are estimated they can be compensated for, resulting in enhanced gyro performance. Thus substantial cost reductions can be achieved because lower cost/performance gyros can be used instead of what would typically be required for a given level of performance.