Abstract: An external method for addressing the trainer-unique functions in a flight training system allows a Control Display Navigation Unit (CDNU), loaded with an actual Operational Flight Program (OFP), to function properly in a Flight Simulator environment of a trainer system without sacrificing the trainer-unique functions. A CDNU Trainer Interface Unit (CTIU) is defined to realize the external method. The CTIU is installed between the CDNU and the trainer system. The communication between the CDNU with an OFP and the trainer system is thus controlled by the CTIU. The trainer-unique functions are controlled externally by the CTIU, thus eliminating an OTP in the CDNU. The CTIU connects the CDNU and the trainer system. It communicates with both the trainer system and the CDNU/OFP using two sets of MIL-STD-1553B Buses. To the CDNU/OFP, it acts like the real navigation and communication systems. To the trainer system, it acts like a CDNU OTP.

Abstract: An integrated Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) method and MicroSystem is disclosed, wherein data from an IMU, a MEMS IMU preferred, a GPS chipset, and an earth magnetic field detector are mixed in a mixed GPS/IMU/Magnetic Data microprocessor to achieve a low cost, micro size, and low power consumption mixed GPS/IMU/magnetic position, velocity, and attitude solution. Furthermore, to deal with sensitivity of the MEMS inertial sensors to environment temperature, a temperature based scheduler, error estimator, and a current acting error estimator are co-operated to minimize the mismatching between the filter system modules and the actual ones due to change of environment temperature, so that the system of the present invention can provide high performance and stable navigation solution over a wide range of environment temperature.

Abstract: A positioning and proximity warning method for vehicle includes the steps of outputting global positioning system signals to an integrated positioning/ground proximity warning system processor; outputting an inertial navigation solution to an integrated positioning/ground proximity warning processor; measuring air pressure, and computing barometric measurements which is output to the integrated positioning/ground proximity warning processor; measuring time delay between transmission and reception a radio signal from a terrain surface, and computing radio altitude measurement which is output to the integrated positioning/ground proximity warning processor; accessing a terrain database for obtaining current vehicle position and surrounding terrain height data which is output to the integrated positioning/ground proximity warning processor; and receiving the position, velocity and time information or said pseudorange and delta range measurements of said global positioning system, the inertial navigation solution

Abstract: A vehicle self-carried positioning system, carried in a vehicle, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of a vehicle on land and in water, and the vehicle position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the vehicle position information.

Abstract: A processing method for motion measurement, which is adapted to apply to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of a carrier, respectively from rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is more suitable for emerging MEMS rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, the processing method utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control and compensation, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks the size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.

Abstract: A system and method for precision operational control of automated machines includes a motion element, an IMU (Inital Measuring Unit) installed at an end effector of the motion element for sensing and providing a motion measurement of the motion element, a central control processor receiving output of the IMU and producing commands, and a motion actuator receiving the commands from the central control processor to control the movement of the end effector of the motion element, so as to enable autonomous/intelligent control of the automated machine's end effector by incorporating the IMU to permit direct servo-control of the end effector's acceleration, velocity, angular rate. and angle—this closed-loop system minimizes effects of such disturbances like mechanical flexing and bending due to loading and nonlinear torques due to hydraulic components.

Abstract: A positioning method and system for water and land vehicles is disclosed for highly accurate and self-contained operation. In which, an inertial navigation system (INS) is built on the micro MEMS (MicroElectroMechanicalSystem) IMU that is the core of the position determination system. To compensate the error of the INS, multiple navigation sensors are integrated into the system. The magnetic sensor is used as a magnetic field sensor to measure the heading of the vehicle. The odometer is used to measure the distance when the vehicle is on land. An automated Zero velocity updating method is used to calibrate the ever increasing INS errors. When the vehicle is in the water, a velocimeter is used to measure water speed for the INS aiding.

Abstract: A positioning system is disclosed for measuring a position of a vehicle on land, air, and space, using measurements from a global positioning system receiver and an inertial measurement unit. In the present invention, an integrated Kalman filter processes the all-available measurements of the global positioning system: pseudorange, delta range, carrier phase, and the solution of an inertial navigation system. The integrated Kalman filter is a multi-mode, robust kalman filter, in which optimal integrated mode is selected based on the measurement availability and filter stability.

Abstract: A processing method for motion measurement, which is adapted to be applied to output signals proportional to rotation and translational motion of the carrier, respectively from angular rate sensors and acceleration sensors, is more suitable for emerging MEMS (MicroElectronicMechanicalSystem) angular rate and acceleration sensors. Compared with a conventional IMU, the present invention utilizes a feedforward open-loop signal processing scheme to obtain highly accurate motion measurements by means of signal digitizing, temperature control and compensation, sensor error and misalignment calibrations, attitude updating, and damping control loops, and dramatically shrinks the size of mechanical and electronic hardware and power consumption, meanwhile, obtains highly accurate motion measurements.

Abstract: An improved positioning and data integrating process and system can substantially solve the problems encountered in system integration for personal hand-held applications, air, land, and water vehicles, wherein an integrated global positioning system/inertial measurement unit, enhanced with optional other devices to derive user position, velocity, attitude, and body acceleration and rotation information, and distributes these data to other onboard systems, for example, in case of aircraft application, flight management system, flight control system, automatic dependent surveillance, cockpit display, enhanced ground proximity warning system, weather radar, and satellite communication system.

Abstract: A fully-coupled vehicle positioning method and system with differential GPS substantially solves problems encountered in either the global positioning system-only or the inertial novigation system-only, such as loss of global positioning satellite signal, sensitivity to jamming and spoofing, and an inertial solution's drift over time, in which the velocity and acceleration from an inertial navigation processor of the integrated GPS/INS system are used to aid the code and carrier phase tracking of the global positioning system satellite signals, so as to enhance the performance of the global positioning and inertial integration system, even in heavy jamming and high dynamic environments. To improve the accuracy of the integrated GPS/INS navigation system, phase measurements are used and the idea of the differential GPS is employed. A master-slave relative positioning scheme is invented and is effective for high accuracy formation driving and flight.

Abstract: An interruption-free hand-held positioning method and system, carried by a person, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, a positioning assistant, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, the positioning assistant, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of the person. The user's position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the person position information.

Abstract: An enhanced global positioning system and map navigation process, which incorporates the GPS position data and geospatial map data. This enhanced navigation process includes GPS-based efficient geospatial database access and query and a time-space filtering method to fully fuse the GPS position data and the geospatial map data to obtain enhanced navigation performance. The system features both portability and ease-of-use. It also accommodates mission specific database creation and value-adding techniques. The system includes personal navigation, land vehicle navigation, marine navigation, etc.

Abstract: An autonomous navigation, guidance, and control process for docking and formation flying by utilizing the laser dynamic range imager (LDRI) and key technologies, including fuzzy logic based guidance and control, optical flow calculation (including cross-correlation, phase-correlation, and image differential), software design and implementation, and verification methods. The autonomous navigation, guidance, and control process includes the steps of providing an expected reference position relative to a target; generating a carrier position and attitude relative to said target by a Range and Intensity Images Provider; producing a relative position and attitude error; and producing control commands from said relative position and attitude error for relative motion dynamics.

Abstract: A filtering mechanization method is provided for integrating a Global positioning System receiver with an Inertial Measurement Unit to produce highly accurate and highly reliable mixed GPS/IMU position, velocity, and attitude information of a carrier. The GPS filtered position and velocity data are first individually used as measurements of the two local filters to produce estimates of two sets of the local state vector. Then, the estimates of the two sets of local state vectors are mixed by a master filter device to produce global optimal estimates of master state vector including INS (Inertial Navigation System) navigation parameter errors, inertial sensor errors, and GPS correlated position and velocity errors. The estimates of the two sets of local state vector and master state vector are analyzed by a GPS failure detection/isolation logic module to prevent the mixed GPS/IMU position, velocity, and attitude information from becoming contaminated by undetected GPS failures.

Abstract: An angular rate producer is provided for measuring vehicle angular rate, wherein high performance dither drive signal generation and angular sensing signal extracting means are provided for hands-on vibrating type angular rate detecting units, including tuning forks and vibrating strings to obtain highly accurate angular rate signals.

Abstract: A positioning method and a system are disclosed for measuring a position of a vehicle on land, air, and space, using measurements from a global positioning system receiver and an inertial measurement unit. In the present invention, an integrated Kalman filter processes the all-available measurements of the global positioning system: pseudorange, delta range, carrier phase, and the solution of an inertial navigation system. The integrated Kalman filter is a multi-mode, robust kalman filter, in which optimal integrated mode is selected based on the measurement availability and filter stability.

Abstract: A positioning method and a system are disclosed for measuring a position of a vehicle on land, air, and space, using measurements from a global positioning system receiver and an inertial measurement unit. In the present invention, an integrated Kalman filter processes the all-available measurements of the global positioning system: pseudorange, delta range, carrier phase, and the solution of an inertial navigation system. The integrated Kalman filter is a multi-mode, robust kalman filter, in which optimal integrated mode is selected based on the measurement availability and filter stability.

Abstract: A real-time IMU simulator for an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) of an installed avionics system of a vehicle includes a 6DOF flight simulator; an IMU computer; and a 6DOF(Degree of Freedom) interface. The 6 DOF interface is connected between the 6DOF flight simulator and the IMU computer for transferring flight trajectory data from the 6DOF flight simulator to the IMU computer. The IMU computer is adapted for receiving flight state data and calculating IMU simulation data and outputting the IMU simulation data to an IMU signal generation board. The IMU signal generation board is adapted for receiving the IMU simulation data and generating IMU signals and injecting the IMU signals to the installed avionics system.