Global Positioning Systems, Inertial Navigation, and Integration

Chapter 9.2.2: INERTIAL SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES: Computer Technology

9.2.2 Computer Technology

9.2.2.1 Early Computers Computers in 1950 used vacuum-tube technology, and they tended to be expensive, large, heavy, and power-hungry. Computers

5One of these systems did not use gimbal rings, but had the INS stabilized platform mounted on a spherical bearing [129].

of that era occupied large rooms or whole buildings [160], they were extremely slow by today s standards, and the cost of each bit of memory was in the order of a U.S. dollar in today s money.

9.2.2.2 The Silicon Revolution Silicon transistors and integrated circuits began to revolutionize computer technology in the 1950s. Some early digital inertial navigation systems of that era used specialized digital differential analyzer circuitry to doubly integrate acceleration. Later in the 1950s, INS computers used magnetic core or magnetic drum memories. The Apollo moon missions (1969-1972) used onboard computers with magnetic core memories, and magnetic memory technology would dominate until the 1970s. The cost per bit would drop as low as a few cents before semiconductor memories came along. Memory prices fell by several orders of magnitude in the next few decades.

9.2.2.3 Impact on INS Technology Faster, cheaper computers enabled the development of strapdown inertial technology. Many vehicles (e.g., torpedos) had been using strapdown gyroscopes for steering control since the early twentieth century, but now they could be integrated with accelerometers to make a strapdown INS. This eliminated the need for expensive gimbals, but it also required considerable progress in attitude estimation algorithms [23]. Computers also enabled "modern" estimation and control, based on state space models. This would have a profound effect on sensor integration capabilities for INS.

UNLIMITED FREE
ACCESS
TO THE WORLD'S BEST IDEAS

SUBMIT
Already a GlobalSpec user? Log in.

This is embarrasing...

An error occurred while processing the form. Please try again in a few minutes.

Customize Your GlobalSpec Experience

Category: Accelerometers
Finish!
Privacy Policy

This is embarrasing...

An error occurred while processing the form. Please try again in a few minutes.