United States Navy Applications of a GPS Attitue and Position Measurement System

James A. Mercer, Ronald R. Ryan and Harold A. Kolve

Abstract:	Both surface ships and submarines periodically undergo a rigorous set of tests to ensure that their suite of sensors are properly aligned and calibrated. For surface ships this procedure involves a costly and time consuming process of applying radar and optical devices to accurately measure ship’s position and heading. Furthermore, this procedure must be accomplished on a specially instrumented tracking range. The application of a GPS receiver that accurately measures both position and heading potentially mitigates the issues stated above and potentially offers additional advantages. The tests and calibrations could be completed away from a tracking range, would not be restricted to times of good visibility, and operations conducted at night would be much easier. To evaluate the GPS feasibility an Ashtech model 3DFrr”r GPS was installed on board the Guided Missile Frigate, USS John H. Sides. The set of 4 antennas that are used with this system formed a long baseline from the stern of the ship to the bow as well as a shorter baseline across the beam. Although our application focuses on accurate heading data, this system also provides pitch. roll, and position information. In order to obtain accurate position data a surveyed shore station was set up to provide information for a differential GPS. Over 500 optical tracking points were taken while the ship was underway. In this paper comparisons are made of the GPS data with the optically derived heading and position data of the ship. Preliminary analysis of the heading data, the most important data for this application, indicates an accuracy of about 0.02 degrees.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 5th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1992) September 16 - 18, 1992 Albuquerque, NM
Pages:	783 - 791
Cite this article:	Mercer, James A., Ryan, Ronald R., Kolve, Harold A., "United States Navy Applications of a GPS Attitue and Position Measurement System," Proceedings of the 5th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 1992), Albuquerque, NM, September 1992, pp. 783-791.
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