Navigation Systems

Abstract

The Surface Support RDT&E funding will be used for the research, design, development, integration testing, and documentation of a new Inertial Navigation System (INS) for all Navy platforms. The program will implement systems engineering processes to investigate major navigation system error sources, define new functions, research new technologies, algorithms, and techniques to improve system performance, conduct analyses of alternatives, create preliminary and final design concepts, develop new hardware components and associated software, and conduct land based and shipboard testing. The INS-R consists of an Inertial Sensor Module (ISM) and a Navigation Processing Module (NPM). The ISM is planned to be designed, developed, and procured through an open competition. The NPM is a Government design. A Request for Information (RFI) was issued in 22 Aug 2013 for initial concepts and market availability of the ISM. The results of the RFI changed the FY16 and out requirements to complete development of all INS-R configurations (surface/amphib, submarine, and carrier). The Navy's current INS is the AN/WSN-7(V) Ring Laser Gyro Navigator (RLGN), a legacy 1980's design that was first installed in 1998 and is now obsolete. This is a proprietary design. The RLGN is reaching its limit with respect to providing the high-accuracy navigation solution required to meet known and emerging mission requirements. Navigator of the Navy's Vision 2025 identified emergent requirements with respect to improved navigation in a GPS denied environment, littoral warfare, mine countermeasures, and manned and unmanned vehicle operations that cannot be met with existing systems. The RLGN employs an Inertial Measuring Unit (IMU) with three single-axis ring laser gyros that allow the system to provide continuous and automatic data outputs of the ship's geographic position (latitude, longitude), horizontal and vertical linear velocity (Ve, Vn, Vv), attitude (heading, roll, and pitch) and attitude rates. The INS provides mission critical ship's position and attitude data to shipboard sensors (such as radars), combat systems, gun, and missile systems. The INS uses data from the Global Positioning System (GPS) to periodically update (i.e., reset) its position and internal clock. The INS is the ship's primary position source in absence of GPS. In addition to INS-R, this funding will be used for the research, development, integration testing, and documentation of other navigation wholeness initiatives, including Phase I Cybersecurity Enclave Boundary Defense Capability, MK27 Gyrocompass Replacement, Own Ship Speed (OSS) and Course Repeater Replacement, submarine Time Frequency Distribution System (TFDS) Replacement, and new submarine speed sensors. These efforts will provide replacement designs and architectures to address legacy obsolescence, capability gaps, and performance shortfalls that impact the quality, reliability, and total ownership costs of the overall navigation suite.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2016
• Source ID: 3311_0204228N_7_1319_PB_2016

Tags

Readers

• Inertial Navigation Systems.
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Cyber
• Directed Energy
• Space