GPS-Based Attitude and Guidance Displays for General Aviation

Abs t rac t GPS was used with a short basel ine (1 and 2 wave lengths ) tr iple antenna conf igurat ion t o obta in a t t i tude in conjunct ion wi th so l id s ta te ra te g y r o s . The sys t em was used to provide an i n e x p e n s i v e Attitude-Heading Reference Sys tem (AHRS) for use by smal l Genera l Aviat ion a ircraf t . T h e g y r o s e n a b l e d a h i g h b a n d w i d t h output whi l e t h e G P S w a s u s e d t o e s t i m a t e t h e g y r o drift rate. The resu l t ing a t t i tude in format ion was used , a long w i t h G P S b a s e d p o s i t i o n , b y a g r a p h i c a l “ o u t t h e w i n d o w ” v i e w w i t h t u n n e l s indicat ing the desired path in the s k y for the current phase o f f l i g h t . Accuracy and ease o f f l y i n g are enhanced by the s y s t e m .