Antenna Positioner Latency Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing antenna positioning systems for vehicles face challenges in accurately correlating timing between Initial Navigation System (INS) and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) output data due to latency issues caused by dynamics, signal latency, and alignment differences, which affect the precision of antenna pointing, especially in large platforms where manual adjustment is impractical.
Innovation Solution
A controller implements a Fibonacci sequence sampling algorithm to adjust for timing latency between INS and IMU output data, using lowpass filters to synchronize and filter out vibration noise, ensuring accurate alignment of the antenna positioner based on INS and IMU data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment of timing latency is performed using a motion table, then timing alignment between INS and IMU can be adjusted, but the system becomes complex and impractical for large platforms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical motion table system with a computational solution. Instead of physically moving the IMU on a motion table to adjust timing, the system uses a controller to calculate and apply timing latency compensation algorithms to the IMU output data, thereby synchronizing it with INS data through software processing rather than mechanical adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration by using the controller to automatically determine and compensate for timing latency between INS and IMU. The controller processes the data from both systems and applies corrections without requiring external manual intervention or complex adjustment mechanisms, enabling the system to self-correct timing misalignment
2Adaptability or versatility
If INS and IMU are positioned at different locations on the vehicle platform, then the antenna can be positioned relative to the platform, but timing latency increases due to dynamics and signal transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously receives data from both INS and IMU, compares their timing, and applies real-time compensation adjustments to the IMU output data. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain synchronization despite the physical separation and dynamic conditions of the vehicle platform
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timing parameter of the IMU data through computational adjustment. By applying timing latency compensation algorithms, the controller modifies the time parameter of IMU output data to align it with INS data, effectively compensating for the physical distance and dynamic conditions between the two sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a vehicle platform, an antenna, and an antenna positioner configured to position the antenna relative to the vehicle platform. An inertial navigation system (INS) is associated with the vehicle platform and configured to generate INS output data. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is associated with the antenna positioner and configured to generate IMU output data having a timing latency difference relative to the INS output data. A controller may be configured to control the antenna positioner based upon the INS output data and the IMU output data adjusted for the timing latency therebetween.