Strapdown Sculling Velocity Algorithms Using Novel Input Combinations

Sculling motion is a standard input to evaluate the performance of the velocity algorithm in a highly dynamic environment. Conventional sculling algorithms usually adopt incremental angle/specific force increments or angular rate/specific force as algorithm inputs. However modern inertial sensors have different output types now, which do not correspond to the inputs of those traditional algorithms. For example, some inertial sensors have the integrated angular rate (incremental angle)/specific force outputs or angular rate/specific force increments outputs. Hence the conventional sculling algorithms cannot be easily applied to these situations. A novel sculling algorithm using incremental angle/specific force inputs or angular rate/specific force increments inputs is developed in this paper. The advantage of the novel algorithm is that it can calculate the carrier velocity directly without converting the dimension of inertial sensor outputs values. Theoretical analysis, digital simulations, and a trial study are carried out to verify our algorithm. The results demonstrate that for corresponding types of strapdown inertial navigation systems (SINS) the novel sculling algorithm exhibits better performance than the conventional sculling velocity algorithms.