Mixed Inertial Navigation Systems For Surface Effect Ships

Abstract

High speed marine vehicles such as Surface Effect Ships impose several unique constraints on navigation system design. Particularly significant is the current lack of a reliable and accurate velocity sensor during high speed cruise operation. This paper describes the accuracy performance of several mixed inertial navigation systems which do not involve the use of a velocity sensor. Specifically considered are NAVSATINERTIAL, OMEGA‐INERTIAL, and NAVSAT‐OMEGA‐INERTIAL systems. The accuracy performance information which is presented presumes the use of optimal (Kalman) processing of the available position data.

Observations of coastal water surface currents using an airborne inertial sighting system

“…Inertial navigation produces an extremely precise measurement of aircraft position and attitude but has associated with it a reasonably large drift error in position which, if uncorrected, would prove to be unacceptable for many remote-sensing applications. This characteristic drift can be compensated for in hybrid systems in which data from a less precise but drift free sensor are also used [Beck, 1971;Sangiovanni and Moryl, 1974]. The system described here uses a visual sight to make periodic fixes on landmarks of known position to correct the drift error, resulting in track recovery accurate to + 10 m. This system has been investigated for use in flight path recovery for airborne survey operations [Grasty et al, 1977].…”