Angular Misalignment Calibration for Dual-Antenna GNSS/IMU Navigation Sensor

We address the angular misalignment calibration problem, which arises when a multi-antenna GNSS serves as a source of aiding information for inertial sensors in an integrated navigation system. Antennas usually occupy some outside structure of the moving carrier object, whilst an inertial measuremen...

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Main Authors: Alexander Kozlov, Fedor Kapralov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-12-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/1/77
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author Alexander Kozlov
Fedor Kapralov
author_facet Alexander Kozlov
Fedor Kapralov
author_sort Alexander Kozlov
collection DOAJ
description We address the angular misalignment calibration problem, which arises when a multi-antenna GNSS serves as a source of aiding information for inertial sensors in an integrated navigation system. Antennas usually occupy some outside structure of the moving carrier object, whilst an inertial measurement unit typically remains inside. Especially when using low- or mid-grade MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers, it is either impossible or impractical to physically align IMU-sensitive axes and GNSS antenna baselines within some 1–3 degrees due to the micromechanical nature of the inertial sensors: they are just too small to have any physical reference features to align to. However, in some applications, it is desirable to line up all sensors within a fraction-of-a-degree level of accuracy. One may imagine solving this problem via the long-term averaging of sensor signals in different positions to ensure observability and then using angle differences for analytical compensation. We suggest faster calibration in special rotations using sensor fusion. Apart from quicker convergence, this method also accounts for run-to-run inertial sensor bias instability. In addition, it allows further on-the-fly finer calibration in the background when the navigation system performs its regular operation, and carrier objects may undergo gradual deformations of its structure over the years.
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spelling doaj.art-f32f41fd3e464c30931806c5e9e4daae2023-12-02T00:53:05ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-12-012317710.3390/s23010077Angular Misalignment Calibration for Dual-Antenna GNSS/IMU Navigation SensorAlexander Kozlov0Fedor Kapralov1Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, RussiaFaculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, RussiaWe address the angular misalignment calibration problem, which arises when a multi-antenna GNSS serves as a source of aiding information for inertial sensors in an integrated navigation system. Antennas usually occupy some outside structure of the moving carrier object, whilst an inertial measurement unit typically remains inside. Especially when using low- or mid-grade MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers, it is either impossible or impractical to physically align IMU-sensitive axes and GNSS antenna baselines within some 1–3 degrees due to the micromechanical nature of the inertial sensors: they are just too small to have any physical reference features to align to. However, in some applications, it is desirable to line up all sensors within a fraction-of-a-degree level of accuracy. One may imagine solving this problem via the long-term averaging of sensor signals in different positions to ensure observability and then using angle differences for analytical compensation. We suggest faster calibration in special rotations using sensor fusion. Apart from quicker convergence, this method also accounts for run-to-run inertial sensor bias instability. In addition, it allows further on-the-fly finer calibration in the background when the navigation system performs its regular operation, and carrier objects may undergo gradual deformations of its structure over the years.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/1/77inertial sensorsmulti-antenna GNSSangular misalignmentcalibration
spellingShingle Alexander Kozlov
Fedor Kapralov
Angular Misalignment Calibration for Dual-Antenna GNSS/IMU Navigation Sensor
Sensors
inertial sensors
multi-antenna GNSS
angular misalignment
calibration
title Angular Misalignment Calibration for Dual-Antenna GNSS/IMU Navigation Sensor
title_full Angular Misalignment Calibration for Dual-Antenna GNSS/IMU Navigation Sensor
title_fullStr Angular Misalignment Calibration for Dual-Antenna GNSS/IMU Navigation Sensor
title_full_unstemmed Angular Misalignment Calibration for Dual-Antenna GNSS/IMU Navigation Sensor
title_short Angular Misalignment Calibration for Dual-Antenna GNSS/IMU Navigation Sensor
title_sort angular misalignment calibration for dual antenna gnss imu navigation sensor
topic inertial sensors
multi-antenna GNSS
angular misalignment
calibration
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/1/77
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AT fedorkapralov angularmisalignmentcalibrationfordualantennagnssimunavigationsensor