Analysis of DGPS/INS and MLS/INS Final Approach Navigation Errors and Control Performance Data

Richard M. Hueschen and Cary R. Spitzer

Abstract:	Flight tests were conducted jointly by NASA Langley Research Center and Honeywell, Inc., on a B-737 research aircraft to record a data base for evaluating the performance of a differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)/inertial navigation system (INS) which used GPS Course/Acquisition (C/A) code receivers. Estimates from the DGPS/INS and a Microwave Landing System (MLS)/INS, and various aircraft parameter data were recorded in real time aboard the aircraft while flying along the final approach path to landing. Autonomous GPS signals output from the GPS airborne code receiver were also recorded, but not presented in this paper. Aircraft position data measured by a laser tracking system were also recorded simultaneously on the ground to merge with airborne data for post flight analysis. This paper presents the mean and standard deviation of the DGPS/INS and MLS/INS navigation position errors computed relative to the laser tracker system and of the difference between the DGPS/INS and MLS/INS velocity estimates. RMS errors are presented for DGPS/INS and MLS/INS guidance errors (localizer and glideslope). The mean navigation position errors and standard deviation of the x position coordinate of the DGPS/INS and MLS/INS systems were found to be of similar magnitude while the standard deviation of the y and z position coordinate errors were significantly larger for DGPS/INS compared to MLS/INS.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1992 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 27 - 29, 1992 Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	67 - 77
Cite this article:	Hueschen, Richard M., Spitzer, Cary R., "Analysis of DGPS/INS and MLS/INS Final Approach Navigation Errors and Control Performance Data," Proceedings of the 1992 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, CA, January 1992, pp. 67-77.
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