GPS/INS technology trends for military systems

摘要

We discuss technology trends for inertial sensors, GPS accuracies, and integrated GPS/INS systems (including considerations of jamming) for military platforms and weapons, that will lead to 1-m accuracy global navigation systems of the future. ^For inertial sensors, trend-setting sensor technologies applicable to military systems are described. ^They are fiber-optic gyros, silicon micromechanical gyros, resonating beam accelerometers, and silicon micromechanical accelerometers. ^A vision of the inertial sensor instrument field, and inertial systems for military applications for the next few decades, is given. ^GPS specified and observed current accuracies are described, as well as planned accuracy improvements due to various stages of the Wide Area GPS Enhancements implementation, intersatellite ranging, and 'all-in-view' tracking. ^Uses of relative and differential GPS are discussed. ^The trend towards tightly coupled GPS/INS, where both code and carrier tracking loops are aided with inertial sensor information, are described and the synergistic benefits explored. ^(Author)