Inertial navigation basics

Inertial navigation is the way of position and motion parameters determination based on acceleration measurements. The key advantage of Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) is autonomous determination of navigation parameters – the INS does not require any external data, such as data from satellite navigation system or radio beacon data.

The development of inertial navigation technique and inertial navigation systems was one of the key factors, which enabled space flights, long-term underwater missions and nonstop flights. Inertial Navigation System (INS) is a vital element of control systems of airplanes, helicopters, missiles and marine vehicles.

Inertial Navigation - components

The key elements of Inertial Navigation System are inertial sensors (accelerometers and gyros) and data processing device to run the navigation algorithm. The accuracy of output navigation data depends on the quality of the inertial sensors, thus the better the sensors are the better is the performance of the whole inertial system. Inertial Navigation System is a complicated high-priced electromechanical system.

Modern Inertial Navigation Systems

The development of the electronics made a revolution in all branches of the industry and the inertial navigation was not an exception. The digital data processing devices made the system hardware more compact and reliable and the miniaturization with maintaining optimal performance characteristics started to be sensor development trend. Modern INS is not more a heavy box, now for many applications compact systems with reasonable accuracy and good price-to-performance ratio can be found. The most common type of inertial sensors in use is MEMS.

The area of Inertial navigation systems application is expanding now. The full-function inertial navigation system is no more a privilege of a military aircraft, airliners and marine vehicles, modern inertial navigation systems are used in robotics applications, unmanned aerial vehicles and general aviation.