A Versatile Solution for Testing GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems

Neal Fedora, Colin Ford, Peter Boulton

Abstract:	Spirent Communications is the World’s leading provider of Global Positioning System (GPS) test and simulation systems with a history of innovation stretching back over 20 years. Spirent has recently enhanced its high-quality GPS Radio Frequency (RF) signal and constellation simulation solutions to include inertial sensor emulation for a wide range of popular, industry standard Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). These enhanced integrated simulation solutions support comprehensive and coherent laboratory testing of dynamic scenarios for integrated and federated GPS/Inertial systems. This paper provides an overview of the architecture of a configurable laboratory test solution for GPS/Inertial navigation systems, based on Spirent simulators. The test solution provides simulated coherent GPS RF signals, inertial delta-velocity and delta-theta outputs, and emulated barometric altimeter data to drive GPS/Inertial systems under test. The paper stresses the importance and power of the test solution for evaluating the expected performance of GPS/Inertial systems across a wide range of operational scenarios. It describes the considerable benefits accrued by using the test solution throughout the product development lifecycle of GPS/Inertial systems. The test solution supports testing of integrated GPS/Inertial systems, which can generate high-fidelity GPS-only, Kalman filtered blended GPS/INS, and inertial-only navigation solutions. Testing of integrated Embedded GPS/INS (EGI) navigators, such as Honeywell H-764G based units and Northrop Grumman LN100/251/260 units, is supported by this test solution. This paper presents data gathered from simulation runs using actual EGI hardware and software to support the verification and the validation of the inertial test interfaces, timing and nominal GPS/Inertial navigation performance. The test solution also supports testing of federated GPS/Inertial systems, in which commercial or military GPS receivers are integrated separately with MEMSbased (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems), RLG-based (Ring Laser Gyro), or FOG-based (Fiber Optic Gyro) Inertial Measurement Units. Testing of Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Advanced Medium Range Air-to- Air Missile (AMRAAM) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Standard Agreement (STANAG) 4572 IMU interfaces is supported by this test solution. Supported Honeywell IMU interfaces include the HG- 1700, HG-1900 and Nav100™ based IMUs, such as the HG9900. Northrop Grumman’s LN-200 IMU is also supported. The paper presents the results of tests and analysis that verify accurate emulation of several IMU interfaces to support GPS/Inertial testing
Published in:	Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2008) September 16 - 19, 2008 Savannah International Convention Center Savannah, GA
Pages:	1227 - 1236
Cite this article:	Fedora, Neal, Ford, Colin, Boulton, Peter, "A Versatile Solution for Testing GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems," Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GNSS 2008), Savannah, GA, September 2008, pp. 1227-1236.
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