Accession Number:

ADA090649

Title:

Astroinertial Navigation for Cruise Applications

Descriptive Note:

Corporate Author:

NORTHROP CORP HAWTHORNE CA ELECTRONICS DIV

Personal Author(s):

• Whitman, Robert B.

Report Date:

1980-09-01

Pagination or Media Count:

7.0

Abstract:

Astroinertial navigation systems provide the greatest accuracy and a bounded position error over an extended use-time and distance. These systems are autonomous, passive, non-jammable and automatic. The key element of the system, the astroinertial instrument, is a three gimbal stable inertial platform with an integral two degree of freedom day-night star tracker that operates automatically world wide. The system provides navigation, guidance, and control with the best accuracy available in any self-contained navigation system, from subsonic through hypersonic speeds. The present operational system described in this paper, NAS-26, provides bounded cruise navigational performance--better than 1,000 ft. CEP--throughout flights of short or long duration specific performance classified.

Descriptors:

• *INERTIAL NAVIGATION
• ACCURACY
• CRUISE MISSILES
• INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNITS
• STAR TRACKERS
• CIRCULAR ERROR PROBABLE
• CORRECTIONS
• GYRO STABILIZERS
• STABILIZED PLATFORMS
• FLIGHT TESTING
• DIGITAL COMPUTERS

Subject Categories:

• Guided Missiles
• Space Navigation and Guidance

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE