Vector - Attitude Determination

Geodetics offers two vector products:

• Free Vector for absolute heading and attitude determination
  
  
• Fixed Vector for autonomous heading and attitude determination, coupled with precise Epoch-by-Epoch™ relative positioning

Utilizing three GPS receivers, these products can be used to solve for attitude (e.g. yaw, pitch, roll) in real-time.

Free Vector applications include airborne and marine navigation, and buoy attitude determination.

Fixed Vector applications include precise approach and landing systems (aircraft, harbor navigation) and automated highways.

RTD-Vector Screen Shot

RTD-Vector Brochure

Characteristics of Vector Stations

• Multiple antennas (usually 2-3) coupled to a rigid structure
• May be static or moving (translating, rotating)
• May have a dedicated local computer system
• Can be used for attitude determination
• Can serve as a Vector Reference Station
  

Attitude Determination

• Determines attitude of any rigid structure to which it is attached
• Completely autonomous - no external reference is needed
• Angular precision depends on antenna spacing
• Given 2.5 meter spacing, precision ~ 0.01 degrees
• Complements inertial guidance systems in that there are no long term drifts
• Vector arrangement can also generate a self-correcting virtual station for positioning relative to external systems
• Relative orientation of two vector stations can be found
  

Attitude determination applications include correcting for angular deflections of a platform engaged in sonar sounding, radar imaging, optical imaging, pointing, docking, etc.