Microwave Radiometric Sensing for Air Navigation

This paper discusses the results of an analytic study of the feasibility of using microwave radiometry as a technique for navigation data sensing in Army aircraft. The study included a review of Army aircraft characteristics and navigation requirements. Various means of sensing passively aircraft velocity, altitude, and velocity-altitude ratio were considered. While there appears to be no practical method for direct measurement of either velocity or altitude separately, it does appear possible to measure velocity-altitude ratio by comparing radiometric signals received from the terrain along the aircraft ground track. When combined with a radar altimeter, such a sensor could yield navigation data compatible with Army aircraft requirements. Microwave radiometry may also be the basis for direction sensing (to known landmarks) in high-flying aircraft or satellites.     

On-line Vehicle Motion Estimation from Visual Terrain Information Part II: Ground Velocity and Position Estimation

An algorithm, combining velocity/height estimates, obtained from an airborne body fixed image shift estimator with auxiliary on-board measurements and sparsely stored terrain profile information constitutes an entirely passive autonomous navigation system suitable for moderate-g flight missions. Two versions are addressed. The "naive estimator," in which altitude estimates are multiplied by velocity/height estimaters, yields ground velocity. Position, obtained by integration, diverges with time. The "extended Kalman filter" (EKF) version, in which velocity and position are defined as state space components, locks on the stored terrain profile and does not diverge with time. It degenerates into the "naive estimator" if the terrain is completely flat. Numerical examples indicate excellent performance potential of the EKF estimator.     

An Automatic System for the Control of Multiple Drone Aircraft

A conceptual system is proposed and described for the control of a multiplicity of drone aircraft. Each target (drone) aircraft is controlled, during a given mission, over a separate preprogrammed path comprised of straight line and circular arc segments. Full control of each target's altitude, plan position, and velocity is available. Position measurement can be obtained by use of either a radar or a bilateration method where altitude is measured in either case by each aircraft and telemetered to a central control point. Velocity is obtained by smoothing position data in a central computer, which also controls the entire mission complex.     

Small UAV Automation Using MEMS

This paper presents a framework for the automation of a small UAV using a low cost sensor suite, MNAV, and an embedded computing platform, Stargate, which together provide a complete avionics package for aerial robotic applications. In order to provide a complete INS solution (i.e., attitude, velocity, position, and biases), an extended Kalman filter algorithm is developed and implemented in real-time. A devised control strategy utilizes multiple PID loops with a hierarchy enabling simple attitude stabilization to full waypoint navigation. The developed ground station unit, a laptop computer, communicates with the avionics package via 802.11b WiFi, displays the aircraft critical information, provides in-flight PID gain tunings, and uploads waypoints through a simple GUI. The system is installed in an off-the-shelf delta-wing R/C aircraft and demonstrates its performance for aerial robotic applications     

Aircraft flight parameter estimation using acoustic multipath delays

The signal emitted by an airborne acoustic source arrives at a stationary sensor located above a flat ground via a direct path and a ground-reflected path. The difference in the times of arrival of the direct path and ground-reflected path signal components, referred to as the multipath delay, provides an instantaneous estimate of the elevation angle of the source. A model is developed to predict the variation with time of the multipath delay for a jet aircraft or other broadband acoustic source in level flight with constant velocity over a hard ground. Based on this model, two methods are formulated to estimate the speed and altitude of the aircraft Both methods require the estimation of the multipath delay as a function of time. The methods differ only in the way the multipath delay is estimated; the first method uses the autocorrelation function, and the second uses the cepstrum, of the sensor output over a short time interval. The performances of both methods are evaluated and compared using real acoustic data. The second method provides the most precise aircraft speed and altitude estimates as compared with the first and two other existing methods.     

Drag derived altitude aided navigation method

The navigation problem of the lifting reentry vehicles has attracted much research interest in the past decade.This paper researches the navigation in the blackout zone during the reentry phase of the aircraft,when the communication signals are attenuated and even interrupted by the blackout zone.However,when calculating altitude,a pure classic inertial navigation algorithm appears imprecise and divergent.In order to obtain a more precise aircraft altitude,this paper applies an integrated navigation method based on inertial navigation algorithms,which uses drag derived altitude to aid the inertial navigation during the blackout zone.This method can overcome the shortcomings of the inertial navigation system and improve the navigation accuracy.To further improve the navigation accuracy,the applicable condition and the main error factors,such as the atmospheric coefficient error and drag coefficient error are analyzed in detail.Then the damping circuit design of the navigation control system and the damping coefficients determination is introduced.The feasibility of the method is verified by the typical reentry trajectory simulation,and the influence of the iterative times on the accuracy is analyzed.Simulation results show that iterative three times achieves the best effect.     

Application of nonlinear filtering to navigation system designusing passive sensors

The problem of navigation system design for autonomous aircraft landing is addressed. New nonlinear filter structures are introduced to estimate the position and velocity of an aircraft with respect to a possibly moving landing site, such as a naval vessel, based on measurements provided by airborne vision and inertial sensors. By exploring the geometry of the navigation problem, the navigation filter dynamics are cast in the framework of linear parametrically varying systems (LPVs). Using this set-up, filter performance and stability are studied in an H_∞ setting by resorting to the theory of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The design of nonlinear, regionally stable filters to meet adequate H_∞ performance measures is thus converted into that of determining the feasibility of a related set of LMIs and finding a solution to them, if it exists. This is done by using-widely available numerical tools that borrow from convex optimization techniques. The mathematical framework that is required for integrated vision/inertial navigation system design is developed and a design example for an air vehicle landing on an aircraft carrier is detailed     

Road profile recognition for autonomous car navigation and Navstar GPS support

We discuss autonomous car navigation based on updating dead reckoning (DR) by road profile recognition (RPR). The navigation system requires sensors to detect changes in altitude and driving direction which are installed in modern cars for different purposes (e.g. ABS sensors). The layout of the navigation system is discussed and simulations are carried out over driving distances of approximately 150 km on the basis of realistic road data and ordinary sensor accuracies. Positioning errors of lower than 10 m (standard deviation) are observed. To achieve this accuracy the synchronization error between measured and mapped data must be continually estimated. The introduced navigation method is ideal to complete present commercial car navigation systems using Navstar GPS.     

飞机导航数据仿真系统设计

某型航空相机系统为了清晰地获取目标图像,需要机载导航设备实时提供飞机的姿态和运动信息。某型相机飞机导航数据仿真系统提供了相机需要的ARINC429总线及ARINC407总线数据,满足相机研制和调试的要求。试验证明,系统运行稳定,数据接收准确,可靠性高。     

Synthetic Vision-a view in the fog

A program called the Synthetic Vision Technology Demonstration Program, which is aimed at evaluating and demonstrating technologies permitting aircraft to land in very low visibilities over a wide range of airports, is described. The idea is to provide an electronic image of the runway to the pilot on a head-up display with an overlay on the display of symbology providing all the navigation and performance information needed to fly and land the aircraft. Millimeter-wave radar, infrared sensor, head-up display, and airborne computer processing technologies are being tested. The theoretical performance of the system concept at 35 GHz is compared to the actual performance of the 35-GHz experimental demonstration system for typical approach and runway intrusion detection conditions     

On the optimum cruise speed of a hypersonic aircraft

Some preliminary results that have been obtained in the frame of the SANGER system studies are presented. SANGER is a West German study project and technology reference system for a future advanced space transportation system. The first stage of this vehicle is a hypersonic aircraft from which a passenger version could be derived. The analyses indicate that a speed of Mach 4.4 will lead to maximum seat mileage per day as well as to minimum propellant consumption. The speed-related cruise altitude of 24500 m or 80000 ft is above the most sensitive ozone layer and high enough to produce only one-third of the noise ground pressure which is considered as the acceptable limit (1 lb/ft²) over populated areas. The aircraft surface temperatures at these conditions can still be managed by a conventional titanium alloy structure with special provisions only at the leading edge and the engine inlets. The potential route structure and economics of such an aircraft are discussed     

空天飞行器星敏感器安装误差在线标定方法

空天飞行器高动态、长航时的运动特性可能导致一体化安装的惯性/天文组合导航系统中星敏感器与惯导间产生安装误差角。设计了一种星敏感器安装误差角动态辨识方法,建立了星敏感器安装误差角模型,设计了基于天文角度观测的星敏感器安装误差角动态辨识方案,分析了不同机动飞行方式下星敏感器安装误差角的可观测度。仿真结果表明,所设计的基于卡尔曼滤波的动态辨识方法能够在飞行器机动过程中快速地对星敏感器安装误差角进行在线标定,对安装误差角的标定值可以达到实际误差值的85%以上,有效地提高了组合导航系统的精度。     

Doppler Radar Error Equations for Damped Inertial Navigation System Analysis

The use of Doppler radar measurements to provide velocity damping for an aircraft inertial navigation system is considered. Three different Doppler antenna configurations are examined: two-axis stabilized, azimuth stabilized, and data stabilized antennas. A general reference velocity error equation is presented and appropriately evaluated for each of the Doppler configurations. Specific elements of the error equations are examined and physically interpreted for both local-level and space-stable inertial systems. Detailed examination of the interaction of Doppler radar and inertial navigation velocity error mechanisms is provided.     

飞机着陆时的容错导航

研究了飞机在微波着陆环境中的传感器容错系统。该系统的主要目的是检测辅助导航设备和机载传感器的故障,并在这些传感器可能发生故障时提供可靠的飞机状态估计值。自动导航和控制系统利用这些状态估计控制和引导飞机按预定路线降落。     

基于Starlink机会信号/INS的组合导航方法

针对全球卫星导航系统(GNSS)因频点单一、落地功率低、易受电磁干扰以及存在覆盖较差区域等潜在的被拒止或被干扰导致的导航系统性能降低甚至失效的问题,提出了一种基于星链(Starlink)机会信号融合惯性导航系统(INS)的飞行器动态组合导航方法。首先分析了星链信号体制,建立了基于星链星座卫星下行机会信号的瞬时多普勒定位观测模型,设计了一种基于频率细分的快速最大似然多普勒频率估计方法,然后建立了基于扩展卡尔曼滤波(EKF)的Starlink机会信号/INS的组合导航模型,并对该导航方法进行了实验及分析。结果表明,该方法可为飞行器提供长航时、连续、高精度的导航。动态飞行情况下,该方法可实现平均优于25 m的三维定位精度和平均优于0.1 m/s的速度估计精度,比相同观测时间下的惯导精度提高了1～2个数量级,显著提高了飞行器的导航精度,可为战略导航提供方法和技术支撑。     

Broadcasting of a Digitally Coded List of Transponder Equipped Aircraft Scanned by FAA Ground Radars as a Means of Collision Avoidance, Navigation, Air Traffic Structuring, and Airfield Approach

An air traffic control system is proposed in which 1) all aircraft are equipped wit transponders, 2) FAA radar sites broadcast a digitally coded list of the identity, altitude, and coordinates of aircraft scanned, 3) each aircraft on receiving this list converts it into a PPI display with the blip of that aircraft branded and blips of off-altitude aircraft blanked, and 4) superimposed on this display are projected maps of airways appropriate to the particular radar and the aircraft altitude. This system could provide a fairly complete capability for air traffic control, structuring, navigation, and collision avoidance at a cost of about 3000 dollars per aircraft. It would replace most navigational and communication equipment now in use and could be operational in several years.     

空天飞行器星敏感器安装误差在线标定方法

空天飞行器高动态、长航时的运动特性可能导致一体化安装的惯性/天文组合导航系统中星敏感器与惯导间产生安装误差角。设计了一种星敏感器安装误差角动态辨识方法,建立了星敏感器安装误差角模型,设计了基于天文角度观测的星敏感器安装误差角动态辨识方案,分析了不同机动飞行方式下星敏感器安装误差角的可观测度。仿真结果表明,所设计的基于卡尔曼滤波的动态辨识方法能够在飞行器机动过程中快速地对星敏感器安装误差角进行在线标定,对安装误差角的标定值可以达到实际误差值的85%以上,有效地提高了组合导航系统的精度。     

一种改进的地形轮廓预测匹配辅助导航算法

传统的地形轮廓匹配 (TERCOM )辅助导航系统 ,由于其实时性差 ,已不能满足飞行器超低空高速的导航需要。本文引入预测控制的思想 ,提出了一种基于高度特征的地形轮廓预测匹配方法 ,减少了计算量 ,提高了导航系统的实时性和机动性。     

Systematic methods for knowledge acquisition and expert systemdevelopment [for combat aircraft]

Nine cooperating rule-based systems, collectively called AUTOCREW which were designed to automate functions and decisions associated with a combat aircraft's subsystems, are discussed. The organization of tasks within each system is described; performance metrics were developed to evaluate the workload of each rule base and to assess the cooperation between the rule bases. Simulation and comparative workload results for two mission scenarios are given. The scenarios are inbound surface-to-air-missile attack on the aircraft and pilot incapacitation. The methodology used to develop the AUTOCREW knowledge bases is summarized. Issues involved in designing the navigation sensor selection expert in AUTOCREW's NAVIGATOR knowledge base are discussed in detail. The performance of seven navigation systems aiding a medium-accuracy inertial navigation system (INS) was investigated using Kalman filter covariance analyses. A navigation sensor management (NSM) expert system was formulated from covariance simulation data using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) method and the ID3 algorithm     

APU舱引射排液出口速度的估算方法

APU舱引射排液是一种复杂的气液两相流混合过程。通过假设,获得了一种APU舱引射排液装置出口液体排放速度的一维估算方法,并根据该方法计算了地面和空中典型姿态下APU舱排液管出口的液体排放速度,这些计算结果可作为全机级APU舱排液路径数值模拟的输入条件。计算结果表明,引射排液可以有效增加排液管出口液体排放速度,而且APU舱排液管出口液体排放速度与飞行高度成反比。