Real-Time Aerial Magnetic and Vision-Aided Navigation

Abstract

Aerial magnetic navigation has shown to be a viable alternative navigation method that has the potential for world-wide availability, to include over oceans. Obtaining GPS-level accuracy using magnetic navigation alone is challenging, but magnetic navigation can be combined with other alternative navigation methods that are more posed to obtaining GPS-level accuracy in their current state. This research presents an aerial navigation solution combining magnetic navigation and vision-aided navigation to aid an inertial navigation system (INS). The navigation solution was demonstrated in real-time playback using simulated magnetic field measurements and flight-test captured visual imagery. Additionally, the navigation solution was flight-tested on a USAF F-16 to demonstrate magnetic navigation in the challenging magnetic environment seen on operationally representative dynamic platforms.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 25, 2021
Accession Number
AD1144412

Entities

People

  • Daniel J. Clarke

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Advanced Electronics
  • Air Platforms
  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Engineering
  • Fish
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Inertial Measurement Units
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Kalman Filters
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement
  • Navigation
  • Three Dimensional
  • Two Dimensional

Readers

  • Computer Vision.
  • Inertial Navigation Systems.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics

Technology Areas

  • Space