Passive Inertial Navigation System

"GPS-based inertial navigation systems provide a very accurate and cost-effective means of augmenting traditional inertial measurement units. However, the GPS signal is subject to jamming which can render the navigation system useless.The objective of this project is to design, fabricate, and test a navigation system for guided projectiles that does not rely on GPS. This system will provide accurate navigation data with minimum mass and cost. We will achieve this objective by combininginertial measurement unit and altimeter data with magnetometer measurements and a magnetic field map of the earth. The innovative sensor fusion algorithm is based on advanced optimal estimation techniques that will result in highly accurate navigationdata. These data will then be provided to the missile control system for projectile guidance.During the Phase I project, we will prove the feasibility of our innovation by performing a complete system study using computer simulation. During Phase II, we will design, fabricate, evaluate, and deliver a fully functional prototype passive inertialnavigation system. This technology will have application to both military and commercial aerospace vehicles. An accurate, inexpensive, and low mass passive navigation system has the potential to provide accurate navigation data to vehicles when GPS is not available (suchas in canyons, urban areas, mountainous terrain, or when the GPS system is not functioning prop