A Novel Monitoring Navigation Method for Cold Atom Interference Gyroscope

Area of Science:

• Atomic physics
• Navigation systems
• Inertial navigation

Background:

• Typical three-pulse cold atom interference gyroscopes (CAIGs) face limitations in data rate and high dynamic measurement.
• Existing navigation systems struggle with long-term positioning accuracy, especially in GPS-denied environments like underwater.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel monitoring navigation system for CAIGs integrated with an intermediate-grade inertial measurement unit (IMU).
• To overcome the limitations of CAIGs and achieve long-term positioning without relying on GPS signals.

Main Methods:

• A hybrid navigation system combining a CAIG and an IMU was designed.
• A filtering technique was employed to estimate IMU bias and the misalignment angle between the CAIG and IMU frames.
• The CAIG was utilized as an external reference gyro.

Main Results:

• The proposed system demonstrated improved long-term positioning accuracy in Inertial Navigation System (INS) simulations.
• Field tests validated the enhanced positioning capabilities of the integrated CAIG-IMU system.
• The filtering technique successfully estimated critical parameters like IMU bias and frame misalignment.

Conclusions:

• The novel CAIG-IMU monitoring navigation system effectively addresses the limitations of traditional CAIGs.
• This system offers a viable solution for long-term, GPS-independent positioning, particularly for underwater vehicles.
• Integration of CAIGs with IMUs via advanced filtering significantly enhances INS performance.