Low cost high accuracy integrated GPS-inertial navigator for reconnaissance missions

The authors affirm that the ability to deliver a reconnaisance payload over 300 miles from a launch point to better than 35 m can be achieved by using a tightly integrated GPS (global positioning system)-inertial system. This system provides navigation, guidance, airframe and payload management functions for an unmanned air vehicle (UAV). High accuracy is achieved by the integration of a 22-state Kalman filter for two low-cost sensors: a single-channel GPS receiver and a multisensor inertial measurement unit. The authors discusses various aspects of the UAV navigator functions and the hardware that will be used. The simulations run for a typical mission scenario, exclusive of satellite errors, demonstrated results well within specified accuracy