Abstract: A system for determining high accuracy relative position solutions between two moving platforms is disclosed. This system is particularly suited for aircraft carrier approach and landing operations. More specifically, a system is disclosed that modifies existing Kinematic Carrier Phase Tracking (KCPT) solutions, which are useful for solutions between a moving platform and a fixed ground based platform, to provide an acceptable relative solution vector in aircraft carrier approach and landing operations, or other environments involving multiple moving platforms. The system disclosed provides a relative KCPT (RKCPT) process that achieves significant advantages over old KCPT process technology. To do so, the system utilizes multiple independent Kalman filters linked to multiple independent numerical ambiguity estimators to provide multiple sets of floating and fixed ambiguities for an accurate solution vector determination.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the velocity of a platform includes a GPS receiver and inertial measurement unit (IMU) located at the platform. The GPS receiver provides GPS navigation data using a plurality of GPS satellites while the inertial measurement unit provides inertial navigation data. Acceleration computed from the GPS navigation data is combined with the inertial acceleration generated from the IMU using a Kalman filter to generate a substantially IMU-bias free acceleration of the platform. The resultant acceleration measurement and the GPS navigation data are used to calculate the velocity of the platform in conjunction with a second Kalman filter for removing GPS systematic errors that are normally removed by use of a ground reference station.