The Texas Instruments/Honeywell GPS Guidance Package

Abstract

The authors describe the Texas Instruments/Honeywell Phase 1 Global Positioning System (GPS) Guidance Package (GGP) architecture and performance characteristics. The GGP is a tightly coupled, integrated miniature GPS receiver (MGR) and miniature inertial measurement unit (MIMU) capable of performing precision navigation, time coordination, mission management, and flight control for a broad class of Department of Defense platforms. These include strike weapons, unmanned airborne vehicles, and avionics platforms. The MGR architecture contains a highly integrated six-channel (expandable to eight channels) L1/L2 P(Y) code precise positioning service receiver/processor packaged on a single wiring board. The MGR design features a low-power GaAs integrated front end. The MIMU contains three interferometric fiber-optic gyros and three solid-state accelerometers in an inertial sensor assembly plus associated electronics and a microprocessor. The remaining GGP architecture consists of a data processor/data bus unit (DP/DBU) and an adaptable interface unit (AIU). The DP/DBU performs the tightly coupled, integrated navigation function. It has reserve memory and throughput cavity to perform mission management and flight control functions. The AIU supports numerous standard interfaces.<>