Integrated GNSS antenna with an embedded inertial measurement unit

Abstract

When constructing inertial/GNSS navigation systems, it is necessary to determine coordinates of a GNSS antenna relative to an inertial measurement unit. It is proposed to solve this problem by integrating of the inertial unit and GNSS antenna’s element into a common structure called an integrated antenna. This approach allows to determine the required coordinates in factory conditions, during a manufacturing of the integrated antenna. Operation principles of design modules of the integrated antenna and ways to use this antenna in the inertial/GNSS navigation systems have been described. Design features of a half-duplex digital data exchange between the antenna and a data processor have been indicated. Approaches to use this exchange to solve some service tasks of the navigation system have been proposed. It is noted that the integrated antenna has its own measuring basis. Methods of accounting of the attitude of this basis in practical applications of the integrated antennas in the single- and multi-antenna inertial/GNSS navigation systems have been described.