Analysis and evaluation of MEMS INS/GNSS hybridization for commercial aircraft and business jets

Abstract

The rapid evolution of inertial Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensors offers the opportunity to replace expensive conventional Air Data Inertial Reference Units (ADIRU) in future aircraft navigation systems. Particularly with the advent of modernized GNSS and multi-constellation systems, the expected performances of future GNSS-aided Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (G-AHRS) are supposed to satisfy the current requirements. Since MEMS exhibit limitations in their accuracy nowadays, detailed investigations are needed to evaluate the possibility of using them within G-AHRS and also for navigation in the short, mid or long term. This papers deals with the usability of MEMS sensors with current and expected future performance. This evaluation was done based on real flight test data and simulation of future MEMS sensors. While current MEMS cannot completely fulfill all needed requirements, future sensors are expected to satisfy them.