Navigation System Stationary to In-Motion Alignment Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional inertial navigation systems face significant time consumption and accuracy issues when a vehicle moves before alignment is completed in stationary alignment mode, as the alignment process is interrupted and requires restarting, leading to corrupted estimates during the delay between actual motion and detection.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a stationary alignment Kalman filter (SAKF) for generating state estimates and a continuous alignment filter (CAF) that provides an uncorrupted secondary solution, which is used by an in-motion alignment filter to complete alignment efficiently and accurately, accounting for uncertainty and corrections during the delay period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the system uses conventional stationary alignment mode, then alignment accuracy is achieved when stationary, but alignment time increases extensively when motion occurs before alignment completion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment accuracyVSAvoidalignment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically transitions from stationary alignment mode to in-motion alignment mode based on real-time motion detection. The alignment filter adapts its operation mode to match the current operational state, allowing the system to maintain accuracy while reducing time loss when motion occurs during alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the alignment filter by switching between stationary and in-motion alignment modes. This parameter change allows the filter to process data appropriately for the current state, preventing time loss without compromising the accuracy that would be achieved through proper stationary alignment when available.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the system restarts stationary alignment after motion detection, then alignment accuracy can be maintained, but productivity decreases due to extensive time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment qualityVSAvoidalignment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous alignment processing by transitioning to in-motion alignment mode rather than restarting stationary alignment. This continuous action preserves alignment progress and maintains quality while significantly improving productivity by avoiding repeated restarts and extensive time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary stationary alignment when the vehicle is stationary, establishing an initial accurate baseline. When motion is detected, it seamlessly transitions to in-motion mode rather than restarting, thereby maintaining the benefits of preliminary accurate alignment while improving overall efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If the system detects motion with delay, then stationary alignment can continue briefly, but measurement precision deteriorates due to corrupted estimates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection delay toleranceVSAvoidestimate accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches from stationary to in-motion alignment mode upon motion detection, allowing it to tolerate detection delays without corrupting estimates. The dynamic mode change ensures that data processing remains appropriate for the current state, preserving measurement precision even when motion is not detected instantaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The in-motion alignment mode serves as an intermediary state that bridges the gap between stationary alignment and full operational mode. This intermediary mode allows the system to handle the transition period caused by detection delays without corrupting estimates, maintaining measurement precision throughout the transition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3081905B1Transitioning from stationary alignment mode to in-motion alignment mode
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP3081905B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3081905B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3081905B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A navigation system to transition from a stationary alignment filter to an in-motion alignment filter is provided. The system comprises a processing unit configured to implement a stationary alignment Kalman filter (SAKF) in gyrocompass alignment mode to generate state estimates and provide corrections when the object is stationary, and to implement an algorithm to compute a covariance for the SAKF that accounts for uncertainty in the SAKF estimates; wherein the processing unit is further configured to implement a continuous alignment filter (CAF) that generates a secondary solution which remains unaffected by the SAKF corrections during a delay period accommodating a delay between the time of actual motion to the time of detected motion, and to implement an algorithm to compute a covariance for CAF that accounts for the uncertainty in CAF during delay period; and wherein outputs of the CAF and its covariance are communicated to an in-motion alignment filter.