Integrated THz Relative Positioning: Navigation Algorithm and Simulation

John Scott Parker and Jason Rife

Peer Reviewed

Abstract: This paper presents a complete navigation algorithm for a novel terahertz (THz) frequency relative positioning system and demonstrates its capabilities in a unified simulation. THz signals have unique propagation properties that provide stealth and anti-jamming advantages for military aircraft flying in formation. Here, we focus on the precision airdrop application, where aircraft flying in formation must meet the relatively tight cross-track positioning requirement of ~50 m, two-sigma. A hardware design for a THz interferometric positioning system has been presented in past work. In this paper we develop a navigation algorithm to fuse together the measurements from this system. We then demonstrate in a unified simulation of the various system components that the algorithm is capable of achieving cross-track errors of 11 m, two-sigma, easily meeting the 50 m cross-track requirement for precision airdrop applications, and potentially opening the door to more demanding applications like drag reduction or aerial refueling.
Published in: Proceedings of the 2020 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation
January 21 - 24, 2020
Hyatt Regency Mission Bay
San Diego, California
Pages: 849 - 866
Cite this article: Parker, John Scott, Rife, Jason, "Integrated THz Relative Positioning: Navigation Algorithm and Simulation," Proceedings of the 2020 International Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, California, January 2020, pp. 849-866. https://doi.org/10.33012/2020.17181
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