Multifunctional Target Instrumentation And Ground Test Results

Paul Bocovich, Ho S. Han, Dave Muskat, Chun Yang

Abstract:	Emulation of future threats physical and dynamic characteristics using full size or scale model target drones plays an indispensable role in functionality validation and performance evaluation of advanced weapon systems. However, current target instrumentation makes use of a mixture of devices for safe separation, range safety, vector scoring, drone recovery among others. A telemetered integrated GPS/IMU system with proper configuration and processing power has the potential to provide all necessary information with the required accuracy. This functional consolidation is also compatible with the initiative to develop a target common digital architecture to standardize onboard target control, sensor, and payload electrical interfaces and data formats. Following up on our previous papers (also presented at the ION meetings) which have covered successively the conceptual design and simulation, and hardware/software implementation and functional testing, this paper details the results of newly completed performance tests. The ground test model consists of a low-cost tactical grade IMU and GPS OEM receivers. This paper first describes the overall system configuration and data acquisition systems. It then presents two types of ground truth: a set of surveyed points nailed down along the test roads and a pair of high-performance survey-grade differential GPS receivers. Next, the GPS and IMU computation algorithms and GPS/INS integration Kalman filtering are described with the emphasis on test runs and processing results. Of particular technical interest is the problem of solving timing errors and reconstructing the local time base associated with the particular GPS OEM receivers used in our study. Finally, an ambiguity uncovered in one output data file of the high-performance survey-grade differential GPS receivers is reported, and its clarification may help other users to avoid erroneous interpretation.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 12th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1999) September 14 - 17, 1999 Nashville, TN
Pages:	2227 - 2236
Cite this article:	Bocovich, Paul, Han, Ho S., Muskat, Dave, Yang, Chun, "Multifunctional Target Instrumentation And Ground Test Results," Proceedings of the 12th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1999), Nashville, TN, September 1999, pp. 2227-2236.
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