An Autonomous Navigation Algorithm Using Geomagnetic Sensor and Star Sensor

Abstract

Aiming at the limitations of the orbital dynamic equations based star sensor navigation method, a star sensor /geomagnetic information utilized aircraft autonomous navigation method is proposed. Dynamic equations applicable to general aircrafts are established. System observation equations are deduced. The angle between geomagnetic and starlight vector is used as observation in the algorithm. Extended Kalman filter is used to estimate position and velocity of aircraft in the algorithm. Singular value decomposition method is used to analyze observability of the system. Simulation results show that the algorithm has many advantages including high precision, good filtering convergence and stability, and non-accumulated error. The algorithm can be used as aided navigation of inertial navigation or in occasions, which only require a general navigation precision.