Determining Inertial Orientation of a Spinning Body With Body-Fixed Sensors

Abstract

A methodology for determining absolute inertial angular orientation of a spinning body via independent angular measurements from two arbitrary body-fixed sensor systems is demonstrated. A particular application is denoted that uses Army Research Laboratory solar likeness indicating transducers and magneto-resistive sensors that provide body-fixed, independent angular measurements with regard to their respective local fields. Knowledge of the local field orientations and a coordinate transformation provides the inertial orientation angles, commonly called y and q, which are useful for evaluating and developing advanced flight bodies and as a navigational aid for brilliant munitions. The combination of a dual field sensor system and the orientation determination methodology is called POINTER (Projectile Orientation In Navigation TERms). Typical sensor data and reduction processes are reviewed for a spinning body containing optical and magnetic sensors, and alternate field measurements are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA386883

Entities

People

  • David J. Hepner
  • Thomas E. Harkins

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Automatic Gain Control
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Detectors
  • Fixed Sensors
  • Inertial Measurement Units
  • Magnetic Detectors
  • Measurement
  • Microelectromechanical Systems
  • Military Research
  • Munitions
  • Navigation
  • Optical Detectors
  • Orientation (Direction)
  • Projectiles
  • Three Dimensional
  • Weapons

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Control Systems Engineering.
  • Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.