Passive Magnetic Navigation via Earth Field Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation technologies face challenges in determining position and velocity without relying on precise timing signals or maps, particularly in environments prone to interference and within structures, and existing passive navigation methods suffer from errors and cost burdens.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a sensing element to detect compound velocity signals induced by both translational and tangential movement, processing these signals to determine velocity, and integrating them to determine position, allowing navigation without RF reference signals or maps, using a spinning disk or circulation type sensing elements to detect changes in the Earth's magnetic field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS and satellite navigation systems are used to determine position and velocity, then navigation accuracy is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to interference and spoofing, and loses functionality in buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the Earth's magnetic field as an intermediary reference system that is independent of RF signals. By using magnetic field sensors to detect variations in the magnetic field caused by the platform's motion through the field, the system achieves navigation without relying on GPS or other RF-based systems that are susceptible to interference and spoofing.
2Reliability
If active sensors such as terrain following radar are used to improve navigation reliability, then navigation accuracy is improved, but cost and power consumption increase severely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs passive magnetic sensing that utilizes the Earth's magnetic field as a natural reference system. The sensing element detects velocity signals induced by the interaction between the platform's motion and the magnetic field, eliminating the need for active radar or other energy-intensive active sensors. This self-service approach uses freely available magnetic field information to achieve navigation functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If inertial measurement units are used to estimate position through double integration, then navigation can be performed without external references, but measurement precision deteriorates due to fast growing unbounded errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic field sensors to provide feedback about the platform's velocity and position relative to the Earth's magnetic field. This feedback mechanism allows the system to continuously correct and refine position estimates, preventing the unbounded error growth that occurs with pure inertial navigation. The magnetic field measurements serve as an external reference that constrains the accumulation of integration errors.
4Reliability
If image recognition is used for passive navigation, then navigation can be performed without RF signals, but adaptability is limited due to dependency on visibility of mapped topography
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs magnetic field sensing that operates universally across different environmental conditions. Unlike image recognition that requires visible terrain features, the magnetic field-based system functions equally well in urban canyons, underwater environments, and other settings where visual references are unavailable. The Earth's magnetic field serves as a universal reference system that provides navigation capability regardless of optical visibility conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable and cost-effective navigation by determining position and velocity with respect to the Earth's magnetic field, normalizing for field strength variations, and registering position changes, thereby improving navigation accuracy and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
providing a sensing element for producing a tangential velocity of a charge during translational movement of the platform. detecting compound velocity signals induced in the sensing element from a combination of the tangential velocity and a translational velocity of the charge caused by the translational movement of the platform
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods are disclosed for determining position and controlling navigation by sensing movement through the Earth's magnetic field. Change in position is determined by integrating velocity which has been normalized for spatial and temporal field variation. Position is registered with respect to starting point and/or subsequently detected environmental feature. Signals are provided to actuator for guidance, navigation and control.