Strapdown Heading Sensor Structural Isolation and Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heading sensors, particularly strapdown systems, face accuracy limitations due to environmental conditions and component variations, as well as on-axis, intra-axis, and intra-sensor errors, which affect their reliability in applications such as vehicles and towed arrays.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves structurally isolating the compass module within the housing of the strapdown heading sensor to prevent bending and flexing from disturbing the alignment of magnetic and gravitational sensors, and employing methods to calibrate raw sensor data using test conditions and reference data to compute compensation coefficients, ensuring accurate orientation measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the compass module is structurally isolated from the housing, then the alignment between sensors is maintained and measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional isolation structures
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into an outer housing and an inner housing, with the compass module positioned within the inner housing. This segmentation creates a structurally isolated environment that protects sensor alignment from external bending and flexing forces, thereby maintaining measurement precision while managing device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The inner housing acts as an intermediary structure between the outer housing and the compass module. It absorbs and isolates mechanical stresses from the sensors, serving as a mediator that protects the precise alignment of sensors while allowing the outer housing to maintain structural integrity
2Measurement precision
If calibration and compensation methods are applied to correct sensor errors, then measurement precision is improved, but the loss of time increases due to additional calibration procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by determining compensation coefficients during initial setup or manufacturing. These coefficients are stored and automatically applied during operation, allowing precise heading measurements without requiring time-consuming calibration procedures during each use
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically applies compensation coefficients to correct sensor data without requiring manual intervention. The microprocessor continuously processes raw sensor data, applies the predetermined compensation coefficients, and generates corrected heading information autonomously, eliminating the need for repeated manual calibration
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
This approach enhances the accuracy and reliability of strapdown heading sensors by compensating for errors in both the instrument and apparatus frames, maintaining alignment and reducing the impact of environmental factors, thereby improving the overall performance of the sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the Earth
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor configured to detect a gravitational force of the Earth
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of calibrating strapdown heading sensors and strapdown heading sensors are provided. The methods include compensating raw sensor data generated by sensors of an uncalibrated strapdown heading sensor to compensate for errors in an instrument frame of the strapdown heading sensor. The strapdown heading sensor is put in a target apparatus and output data is compensated to compensate for errors in an apparatus frame relative to the instrument frame. The strapdown heading sensors include a housing and a compass module having a first sensor configured to detect a magnetic field of the Earth and a second sensor configured to detect a gravitational force of the Earth. The first sensor and the second sensor are each passively isolated from bending and/or flexing of the housing such that an alignment between the first sensor and the second sensor is not disturbed due to the bending and/or flexing.