Inertsnäitmissüsteemid

Inertsnäitmissüsteemid, also known as inertial navigation systems (INS), are self-contained navigation systems that continuously track the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object without the need for external references. They achieve this by using a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes to detect and measure changes in motion. Accelerometers measure linear acceleration along three orthogonal axes, while gyroscopes measure angular velocity around three orthogonal axes.

The core principle of an INS is to integrate these measurements over time. By starting with a known initial position and velocity, the system can calculate the object's subsequent position and velocity by summing up the accelerations and angular rates experienced. This process is called dead reckoning. Despite their self-contained nature, INS are susceptible to accumulating errors over time due to inherent sensor inaccuracies and environmental factors. These errors can drift the calculated position away from the true position.

To mitigate these errors, INS are often coupled with other navigation systems, such as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS, or Doppler radar. This hybrid approach allows the INS to provide continuous and high-frequency motion data while the external system corrects for accumulated drift. Inertial navigation systems are crucial in applications where external signals are unreliable or unavailable, including submarines, spacecraft, missiles, and in some unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They are also used to enhance the accuracy of other navigation systems.