172
J. GUIDANCE AND CONTROL
VOL. 3, NO. 2
ARTICLE NO. 78-1307R
Optimizing the Gains of the
Baro-Inertial Vertical Channel
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
William S. Widnall*
and
Prasun K. Sinhat
Intermetrics, Inc., Cambridge, Mass.
The selection of the three gains in the baro-inertial vertical channel has been formulated as a stochastic op-
timal control problem, where the objective is to minimize the mean-square error of the indicated vertical
velocity. The optimal set of gains is surprisingly different from a conventional set of gains, and it provides a
significant performance improvement. Sensitivity of the results to the statistical assumptions is explored. Ap-
proximate analytical formulas are presented giving the optimal gains and pole locations as a function of the
assumed statistics of the sources of error. A time domain simulation also exhibits the performance improvement.
Introduction
THE
first aircraft
inertial navigation systems were
primarily two-channel systems that provided horizontal
navigation data.J-3 Inertial navigators instrumenting three
channels were introduced for missile navigation and guidance.
In addition, the value of inertially derived vertical velocity
was recognized in aircraft applications involving flight path
angle determination and precision weapon delivery. It is well
known that the altitude channel of a pure inertial navigation
mechanization, in which gravity magnitude is computed as a
function of the indicated altitude, is unstable.4-6 Near the
surface of the Earth, the time constant of this exponential
instability
is about 10 min. Hence, for typical cruise
navigation durations, the vertical channel of a terrestrial
inertial navigator must be stabilized by some external altitude
reference.
The most commonly used external altitude reference in
aircraft is a barometric altimeter. The optimal time-varying
combination of the inertial and barometric data may be
obtained using a Kalman filter.7 However, in applications not
demanding the minimum navigation errors or in which the
computer capacity is severely limited, a simple mechanization
is commonly used in which the difference between the in-
dicated and barometric altitude is fed back through constant
gains or simple transfer functions to stabilize the altitude
navigation variables.8 A typical set of constant-gain baro-
inertial mechanization equations, which is analyzed in detail
in this paper, is
vz=fz-g(h,L) + Coriolis terms-fc2 (/*-/*,,) -da
ba=k3(h-hb)
(Ib)
(Ic)
Received June 26, 1978; presented as Paper 78-1307 at the AIAA
Guidance and Control Conference, Palo Alto, Calif., Aug. 7-9, 1978;
revision received July 3, 1979. Copyright © 1979 by W.S. Widnall
and P.K. Sinha. Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics
and Astronautics with permission. Reprints of this article may be
ordered from AIAA Special Publications, 1290 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, N.Y. 10019. Order by Article No. at top of
page. Member price $2.00 each, nonmember, $3.00 each. Remittance
must accompany order.
Index category: Guidance and Control.
*Associate Professor, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Associate Fellow AIAA.
tSenior Engineer, Navigation and Analysis Dept.
where h is^the indicated altitude, vz is the indicated vertical
velocity, 6cr is the computed vertical acceleration error, fz is
the measured vertical specific force, g is the magnitude of
gravity computed as a function of indicated altitude and
latitude, and klt k2, k3 are the loop gains. This third-order
vertical channel mechanization is superior to a second-order
mechanization, which omits the £a equation, because it has
zero vertical velocity error due to any bias vertical ac-
celeration error such as accelerometer bias or gravity com-
putation error.
The Litton CAINS (Carrier Aircraft Inertial Navigation
System) implements such a third-order baro-inertial vertical
channel. In the CAINS, the three gains have been chosen so
that the characteristic equation of the errors has a triple pole
at the complex frequency s= - 1/r, where T is the desired time
constant. For such a triple pole placement, it can be shown
one chooses the gains to be
A:, =3/7
k3=l/r3
k2=3/T2+2g/R
(2)
where R is the geocentric radius. In the CAINS, the time
constant has been chosen to be T = 100 s. We have no literature
explaining the designer's choice of the triple pole and its
location. Perhaps the triple pole configuration was arbitrarily
selected to reduce the gain-setting problem from
parameters (kl9 k2> k3) to one parameter (T). Speculating
further, perhaps the time constant of 100 s was an order-of-
magnitude choice, selected so as to be faster than the 571 s
time constant of the pure-inertial vertical-channel instability
yet slower than the typical barometric error fluctuations
associated with short-term aircraft maneuvers. This choice
would be expected to both stabilize the vertical channel and
provide some smoothing of the barometric altimeter errors.
Regardless of the reasoning, the CAINS has peformed well in
its intended applications. We shall refer to the CAINS set of
three
gains, given by Eq. (2) with r = 100 s, as the baseline set.
Some applications have more demanding vertical velocity
requirements than the CAINS requirements. In such ap-
plications it may be necessary to optimize the vertical channel
gains to reduce the vertical velocity errors. One such ap-
plication was the use of the Magnavox X-set GPS navigator in
the demonstration of pinpoint bombing on a target whose
absolute coordinates were known. The X-set GPS navigator
includes a barometric-inertial navigation subsystem and a
GPS X-set receiver whose outputs are combined by a Kalman
filter. An error analysis by Ausman9 predicted that the two
largest contributions to bomb miss distance would be due to
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MARCH-APRIL 1980
OPTIMUM GAINS FOR A BARO-INERTIAL VERTICAL CHANNEL
173
the altitude navigation error and the vertical velocity
navigation error at bomb release. Flying at 450 knots, at 5000-
ft altitude above ground level, with a level release, and using
low-drag bombs, Ausman indicated that the anticipated
altitude and vertical velocity navigation errors of 19 m and
downrange bomb miss distance. The absolute altitude error of
the integrated navigation system is caused by the bias-like
0.75 m/s would contribute 24 m and 17 m, respectively, to
wal
Fig. 1 Baro-inertial vertical channel error model.
wbl
errors in the GPS measurements. The choice of baro-inertial
gains has little or no effect on the absolute altitude accuracy.
However, the absolute vertical velocity errors are a noticeable
function of both the GPS measurement errors and the baro-
inertial errors. The integrated system vertical velocity errors
can be reduced if first the baro-inertial vertical velocity errors
are minimized.
There is no reason to assume that the triple pole gain set
provides the best performance. Other pole placements might
provide superior performance. To obtain new insights into the
effect of the gains, we have formulated the vertical channel
gain setting problem as a parameter optimization problem for
the control of a stationary stochastic process. This paper
presents
the optimization problem
putational results, analysis of the results, and a time-domain
simulation of the performance with the recommended gains.
formulation, com-
Before proceeding, we comment that any constant gain set
(including our optimized set) will be less optimal than ap-
propriate time-varying gains that take into account the
nonstationary nature of the inertial and barometric altimeter
errors. The optimal time-varying combination of the inertial
and barometric data may be obtained using a Kalman filter.
Of course it is also possible to select effective time-varying
gains with non-Kalman approaches. One example of the use
of time-varying gains is provided by Whalley.10 Whalley
points out the large error in barometric altitude when a
supersonic aircraft passes through Mach 1 due to shock waves
moving past the static pressure port. Whalley suggests
eliminating this source of error by switching out the air data
automatically from say Mach 0.95 to Mach 1.1. This could be
mechanized by programming klt k2, k3 to be zero in this
Mach interval.
Another example of the use of time-varying gains is
provided by Ausman and associates.11'12 They note that in
-subsonic flight the largest source of barometric altimeter error
is often the scale factor error due to the atmosphere not
having the standard-day temperature-vs-altitude profile. In
climbs and dives the scale factor error induces significant
vertical velocity error into a constant gain baro-inertial
vertical channel. Ausman and associates designed and im-
plemented vertical channel mechanizations that reduce the
gains during climbs and dives, while observing the baro-bias
shift due to scale factor error. The estimated baro-bias shift is
automatically subtracted from the baro-inertial error feed-
back so that loop transients due to the scale factor error are
minimized.
Also before proceeding, we comment that additional ex-
ternal data may be useful in reducing the effect of non-
standard-day temperature. Blanchard13 proposes using in-
flight measured temperature data, in place of the standard-
day lapse-rate assumption, to relate more accurately pressure
changes to altitude changes.
Formulation of the Gain-Optimization Problem
The error model for the vertical channel is shown in Fig. 1.
The positive feedback with gain 2g/R is the destabilizing
effect of normal gravity being calculated at the closed-loop
altitude, which is in error by dh. The error state da is a random
walk modeling any bias or slowly varying error in the vertical
acceleration due to accelerometer bias, gravity anomaly, or
error in the Coriolis terms. The white noise wa2 into the in-
tegration provides the random walk. The white noise wal
models short correlation time acceleration error, such as the
effect during a short maneuver of vertical accelerometer scale
factor error and input axis misalignment. The error state db is
a random walk modeling any bias or slowly varying error in
the altitude indicated by the barometric altimeter. Physical
error sources include zero setting error, static pressure
measurement error, variation in the height of a constant
pressure surface, and scale factor error due to nonstandard
day temperature. The white noise wb2 into the integrator
provides the random walk. The white noise ww models short
correlation time altimeter error, such as due to changes in the
angle of attack or sideslip angle during a maneuver, or due to
altimeter quantization or other noise.
It is difficult to suggest appropriate values for the spectral
densities of the four
independent white noises in this
stochastic model. Nevertheless, it must be done for the
analysis to proceed. Table 1 shows the nominal values of the
noise spectral densities that have been selected. These
somewhat arbitrary numerical values have been arrived at by
the following considerations .
For the short correlation time acceleration error, a typical
amplitude could be 200 fig. This error could be caused by a
vertical accelerometer input axis misalignment of 200 ^ rad
(41 arc-sec) together with a horizontal maneuver acceleration
of one g. The typical duration of a horizontal maneuver is
assumed to be of the order of 60 s. For a repeated series of
random aircraft maneuvers, the autocorrelation function of
the acceleration error would have area approximately
/ = (200xlO-6xlOms-2)2x(60s) =
-3 (3)
The area of the autocorrelation function equals the low-
frequency value of the spectral density. For the white noise,
whose autocorrelation function is a Dirac delta function with
area Qah the spectral density Qal applies at all frequencies. Of
interest is the response of the vertical channel at frequencies
lower than the higher frequencies of the short-correlation
acceleration error. So the low-frequency density of Eq. (3) is
used for the spectral density of the white noise.
Table 1 Nominal values of noise spectral densities
White noise for
Short correlation time
acceleration error
Acceleration error
random walk
Short correlation time
altimeter error
Altimeter error random walk
Noise density
symbol
0.1
Qa2
Qb,
Qu
Noise density
value
2 . 4 x l O -4m2s
1.0xlO-9m2s
-3
-5
100m2 s
100m2 s'1
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174
W.S. WIDNALL AND P.K. SINHA
J. GUIDANCE AND CONTROL
The acceleration error random walk models the slowly
varying error due to accelerometer bias shifts, changes in the
gravity anomaly, and changes in the error in the Coriolis
terms. If over a period of 1000 s, the accelerometer bias were
expected to shift 100 fig, the appropriate noise spectral density
for the random walk is
Qa2 = (lOOx 10~6 x 10ms -2)2/(1000s) = l.Ox 10~9 m2s ~5
(4)
For the short correlation time altimeter error, it is assumed
that repeated random fluctuations of the order of 10 m may
be present in the baro-indicated altitude, and that these errors
persist for correlation times of the order of 1 s. To match the
low-frequency spectral density of this error, the white noise
error model should have density
ew=(10m)2x(ls)=100m2s
(5)
The altimeter error random walk models the slowly varying
error due to: changes in the static pressure measurement error
(due to speed changes), variations in the height of a constant
pressure surface (the weather pattern of highs and lows), and
scale factor error (related to nonstandard-day temperature
and nonzero aircraft climb or descent rate). For an at-
mospheric scale factor error of 3% and an aircraft climb or
descent rate of 33 m/s (6500 ft/min), the error rate of the
baro-indicated altitude is 1.0 m/s. If the climb or descent
continues for 100 s, the change in altimeter error will be 100
m. Assume that the aircraft trajectory is characterized by a
random sequence of such climbs and descents. The ap-
propriate noise spectral density for the random walk is then
where near the surface of the Earth c=2g/R = 3.07 x
10~6 s ~2. For the steady-state solution to exist and be equal to
Eq. (9), the set of loop gains must yield a stable system.
Therefore, the permissible values of the gains are in the
regions defined by
kj>0, k2-c>0, k3>0, k1(k2-c)-k3>0
(10)
The explicit computation of the mean-squared vertical
velocity error is used in a computer program that seeks a set of
gain values that minimizes the mean-squared error. The
pattern search algorithm of Hooke and Jeeves15 has been
utilized. The algorithm does not require explicit gradient
information.
The natural frequencies (poles) of the closed-loop portion
of the baro-inertial vertical channel are the three roots of the
characteristic equation
s3 + kjs2 + (k2 -c)s+k3 = 0
(11)
the locations of the three poles plt p2, p3. In such a case, the
roots of the cubic Eq. (11) are computed according to the
known formulas for those roots. When the time constant of a
pole is mentioned, it is defined to be the inverse of the real
part of the complex frequency of the pole.
Optimization Results
To provide a baseline design and performance against
which to compare the optimized performance, the mean-
squared velocity error is evaluated for the set of gains, Eq. (2),
which place a triple pole at T = 100 s
For a candidate set of gains, it is often of interest to inspect
ew=(100m)2/(100s)=100m2s-1
(6)
A:7=3.0xlO~2s
k2 = 3.0307 x 10 -4s
The mean-squared error of the indicated vertical velocity
has been selected as an appropriate performance index. Note
that with the random walk error models for acceleration error
and for altimeter error, only the vertical velocity error has a
stationary and finite mean-square value. All other error states
have mean-square values that grow unbounded with time.
Referring to Fig 1, 60 tracks 5a+ (2g/R)5h as this sum
wanders off, and dh tracks db as it wanders off.
The mean-squared vertical velocity error may be computed
as an explicit function of the input noise spectral densities and
of the loop gains. One first calculates four transfer functions
Hf(s)
independent white noise input. The power spectrum of the
vertical velocity error is then
relating the vertical velocity error response to each
The mean-squared velocity error, with the nominal (Table
1) values of noise spectral densities, is found to be
(6v)2 =0.818 m2s ~2 = (0.904 m/s)2
(12)
(13)
Using the Hooke and Jeeves pattern search procedure, the
gains that minimize the mean-square velocity error, with the
nominal noise densities , are found to be
7 = 1.003s-1
A:2=4.17xlO-3s-2
(14)
The corresponding value of the mean-square velocity error is
(7)
where Q, is the spectral density of the rth white noise. The
mean-square value of the vertical velocity error is the integral
of the power spectrum
wr2=E^-.
(8)
The four integrals are evaluated using an appropriate table of
integrals.14 The result is
2[kI(k2-c)-k}\
2[k1(k2-c)-k3]
+ (k3+ck1)2k1]Qb2
2k3[k1(k2-c)-k3]
(dv)2 =0.418 m2 s ~2 = (0.647 m/s)2
(15)
This is a significant performance improvement relative to the
baseline case. The rms velocity error is 30% lower.
The three poles associated with the gain set, Eq. (14), are
located at
Pj = -0.998s-1 p
,p
= -2.082xl0^3 ±/2.34x 10~4 S"1
They have time constants of
T7 = 1.002s
480.3s
(16)
(17)
The optimized gains and resulting pole placements (and time
constants) are radically different from the baseline triple pole
set. One time constant is a factor of 100 faster; the other two
time constants are a factor of 5 slower.
(9)
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3
MARCH-APRIL 1980
OPTIMUM GAINS FOR A BARO-INERTIAL VERTICAL CHANNEL
175
Table 2 Contributions to mean-square velocity error of
nominal noise densities
Mean-square velocity error , (m/s) 2
Triple pole,
r=100s
0.018
0.00175
0.00018
0.798
Optimized set
0.0291
0.0275
0.00087
0.361
Noise
density
Qa,
c£
Total
0.818 = (0.904)2
0.418 = (0.647)2
where
The individual contributions of the various white noises to
the mean-square velocity error are shown in Table 2, for the
nominal values of the white noise spectral densities. The data
of this table show that the mean-square velocity error is
dominated by the altimeter error random walk (Qb2), while
the contribution of short correlation time altimeter error
(Cw) is least.
To obtain further insight into the nature of the optimal
solution and to exhibit the sensitivity of the optimal solution
to obtain
to the noise density assumptions, the optimal solution has
been computed for various values of the noise spectral
densities. Table 3 shows the results for four cases in which one
of the noise densities is increased while holding the other three
densities at their nominal (Table 1) values.
With the optimized gains being so different from the
baseline gains, it is interesting to ask: for what set of input
noise densities are the "triple pole" gains optimal? From
Table 2, one notes that in the "triple pole" case, the con-
tributions of the altimeter error noises to the mean-square
velocity error would be more nearly equal if Qbl were 10 times
larger and Qb2 were 100 times smaller. The optimization
program has been rerun with these altered values for noise
density. The results are presented as the last case in Table 3.
These results demonstrate that the baseline triple pole set is
close to being an optimal set if the random walk component
of the altimeter error is significantly smaller and if the short
correlation time altimeter error is somewhat larger than the
nominal assumed values.
Analysis of Results
In all cases presented in the previous section (except the
greatly reduced Qb2 case) the dynamics of the optimal third-
order vertical channel are that of a fast first-order loop nested
inside a slower second-order system. From Table 3 it is clear
that the fast pole frequency is simply related to the first gain
Pi~-kt
(18)
With such a fast real pole, the characteristic equation of the
third-order vertical channel can be factored as
K j
(19)
(20)
This can be shown by multiplying the two factors in Eq. (19)
The correct characteristic equation of the third-order vertical
channel, Eq. (1 1), in terms of k'2 is
Comparing Eqs. (21) and (22), it is clear that sufficient
conditions for the factorization of Eq. (19) to be true are
(22)
k'2
176
W.S. WIDNALL AND P.K. SINHA
J. GUIDANCE AND CONTROL
and the assumed noise densities, two of which have equal
values. A dimensionally correct expression that also gives the
right numerical value is discovered to be
(26)
Similarly, using Eq. (27) in Eq. (28) and applying Eq. (30) one
obtains
k2/kt
(31)
The preceding formulas for the gain ratios are in excellent
agreement with the numerical results in Table 3, for all cases
that have the nested fast loop.
An approximate formula for the location of the slower
This formula is in excellent agreement with the numerical
results in Table 3 (except for the greatly reduced Qb2 case).
The formula appears valid under the same conditions that
give rise to the nested fast loop. A remarkable conclusion is
that the first gain is optimized based only on the relative
poles as a function of the noise densities may be derived by
assuming k2 « k2 and by using Eqs. (30) and (31) in Eq. (25).
strengths of the two noise densities in the assumed altimeter
error model.
One may derive additional useful formulas for the other
gains as a function of the noise densities as follows. The
explicit formula for the mean-square velocity error / as a
function of the noise densities was given in Eq. (9). Assume
that the nested fast loop conditions Eqs. (23) and (24) apply.
Also assume that k2>c. Note that the numerical results in-
dicated that the contribution of the term proportional to Qbl
was negligible. Assume that the gradient of this term with
respect to k2 and k3 is also negligible. Delete this term from
the analysis. An approximate formula for the cost (mean
square velocity error) is then
a2/Qb2] *
(32)
This formula also is in excellent agreement with the numerical
results.
An interesting observation supported by the computer
results is that when the nested fast loop is optimal, the op-
timal second and third gain ratios (k2/kj and k3/ k j) as well
as the optimal second and third pole locations are not a
function of the assumed density of the short-correlation-time
altimeter error. The computer results showed a factor of 5
increase in Qbl producing a shift in the optimal time constant
of less than 0.1%.
When the strength of the altimeter error random walk Qb2
is sufficiently large relative to the strength of the other sources
of error, that is when
Qai/Qb2<2c
Qa2/Qb2
MARCH-APRIL 1980
OPTIMUM GAINS FOR A BARO-INERTIAL VERTICAL CHANNEL
177
35
30
10
5
\
200
400
600
800 1000 1200
TIME (SECS)
Fig. 2 Trajectory altitude history.
n————i————i————i—
300
1800
1000
800
TIMECSEZCS)
1 0
800
600
800
TIMECSECS)
100®.
1800
Fig. 4 Performance with baseline gains.
1000
1200
200
400
800
600
TIME (SECS)
Fig. 3 Trajectory heading history.
P2,p3 « -Vc= - 1.75 x 10
r2,TJ«//Vc=571s
(36)
(37)
(38)
These limiting results are a function only of the destabilizing
gravity gradient c. Note that the nominal case, the increased
Qbl case, and especially the increased Qb2 case have computed
results (Table 3) approaching this limiting case. An important
conclusion is that even if the measured specific force is perfect
(zero Qal and Qa2), the feedback gain ratios k2lkl and k$lkl
must be maintained at certain nonzero values to stabilize the
vertical channel and to minimize the effect of the gravity
computation error. These required values correspond to an
upper limit on the optimal double pole time constant of 571 s.
When the strength of the acceleration short correlation
error Qa] is important in the sense that
al /Qb2 - Qal /Qb2 >2-Jc2 + Qa2
then the optimal gain ratio k 2lk l simplifies to
and Eq. (32) yields two real poles at
(39)
(40)
(41)
(42)
Fig. 5 Performance with optimized gains.
800
1000
'
1£00
These formulas approximate computed results obtained in the
increased Qal case (Table 3).
When the strength of the acceleration error random walk
Qa2 is important in the sense that
al /Qb2 <2^2 + Qa2/Qb2
then the optimal gain ratios are
(44)
(45)
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178
W.S. WIDNALL AND P.K. SINHA
J. GUIDANCE AND CONTROL
and the associated pole locations are
(Qa2/Qb2) *
(46)
These formulas approximate the computed residuals obtained
in the increased Qa2 case (Table 3).
Simulated Performance
The vertical channel gains obtained by the optimization
procedure have been evaluated using a time-domain three-
channel simulation that includes detailed models for the
sources of acceleration and altitude errors and that exhibits
the dependence of these sources of error on the aircraft
trajectory. Error sources included in the simulation are listed
in Table 4. The aircraft trajectory simulated represents a F4
tactical mission profile. Figure 2 shows the altitude vs time.
Figure 3 shows the heading vs time. This is a high dynamic
trajectory. During the first descent the aircraft executes a
"figure-eight" maneuver. During the remainder of the flight
while climbing and diving. In some of these maneuvers,
maximum bank angles of 70 deg are used, with associated
load factors of 3g. One pull-up has a load factor of 5g.
The vertical channel performance results with the baseline
gains, Eq. (12), and with the optimized gains, Eq. (14), are
exhibited in Figs. 4 and 5. The optimized gains do provide a
lower level of vertical velocity error. A noticeable con-
sequence of the fast (r =1 s) loop around the indicated
altitude is the increased noise content in the indicated altitude
due to the baro-error fluctuations. This may be a disad-
vantage of the optimized gain set in some applications.
the aircraft is performing rapid zigzag evasive maneuvers
Conclusions
The fundamental assumptions underlying the results of this
analysis are that the most important sources of error in the
third-order vertical channel may be adequately modeled by
random walks and white noises as presented earlier. If these
assumptions are correct, then the following conclusions are
obtained.
The most significant source of error in the vertical channel
is the fluctuation in the altimeter bias (such as due to altimeter
scale factor error and nonzero vertical velocity). The second
most significant source of error is the short-correlation time
acceleration error (such as due to specific force measurement
error during a maneuver). Altimeter noise at the assumed
level has negligible effect.
The optimal choice of the gain set is radically different
from the baseline gain set, which provides a triple pole at
of-magnitude larger than that in the baseline set. The optimal
value of kl is a function only of the relative strengths of the
altimeter bias fluctuation and the altimeter noise. For the
assumed relative strengths in the nominal case, the optimal
gain value recommended is kl = 1.0 s ~ *. The optimal values
for k2 and k3 are sensitive to the assumed numerical values
for the noise densities. However, the optimal gain ratios
/k
and k
are relatively //isensitive to the assumed
k
/k
noises. The gain ratios recommended by the nominal optimal
solution are k2/kt =4.2x 10~3 s ~l and k3/kj =4.4x10~6
s ~2. This choice of gains will place a fast pole at r = 1 s and a
double pole at r =480 s. This time constant of the optimal
double poles is slower than the time constant of the baseline
triple poles.
T = 100 s. The optimal gains include a kl that is two orders-
The optimal gains produce a significant performance
improvement compared with the baseline case. The rms
vertical velocity error is reduced 30%.
The recommended value for kt perhaps should be accepted
with some degree of skepticism. However, the recommended
values for the gain ratios k2/k1 and k3/kj can be adopted
with some confidence, because of their low sensitivity to the
assumed noise values. The low sensitivity is a result of the
gain ratios approaching a fundamental limit imposed by the
destabilizing feedback of the gravity computation error.
If the short-correlation time acceleration error
important than assumed in the nominal case, the optimal gain
ratio k2lkl increases and the optimal double pole splits into
two real poles. On the other hand, if the acceleration error
bias (such as due to accelerometer bias and gravity anomaly)
is shifting more than assumed in the nominal case, both
optimal gain ratios are increased and the optimal double pole
splits into a complex conjugate pole pair.
A detailed baro-inertial error simulation has exhibited the
reduced vertical velocity errors that can be obtained with the
optimized gains. It provides confidence that the fundamental
assumptions of the stochastic analysis are sound.
is more
Because of the very long settling time associated with the
recommended optimized gains, one should also implement a
faster set of gains for use in the ground alignment mode.
References
Draper, C.S., Wrigley, W., and Hovorka, J., Inertial Guidance,
Pergamon Press, New York, 1960.
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