THEORY OF BLIND NAVIGATION BY DYNAMICAL MEASUREMENTS,

Abstract

This paper discusses the theory of blind navigation by means of dynamical measurements (measurements of forces or accelerations) made on a proof body in a reference frame internal to a vehicle. Instrumentally, such measurements are made by an accelerometer in a reference frame provided by gyroscopic or other means. The differential equation is considered which determines the position of a vehicle from dynamical measurements of the non-gravitational acceleration b made internally. Three linear approximations to the gravitational field g(r) of the earth, which lead to explicit solutions of this equation, are considered and their limitations are discussed. An interval-wise solution (linear continuation) for trajectories of extended range is described, which is based on such linear approximations and has definite advantages in this application. The theory is applied to the trajectory of the German A10 vehicle.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 29, 1949
Accession Number
AD0603844

Entities

People

  • I. K. Williams
  • J. J. Gilvarry
  • S. H. Browne

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accelerometers
  • Differential Equations
  • Equations
  • Gravitational Fields
  • Intervals
  • Mathematics
  • Measurement
  • Measuring Instruments
  • Navigation
  • Trajectories

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.