Embedded GPS

for aircraft

Honeywell inertial navigation systems are most commonly known for their rugged housing and superior reliability to navigate millions of passengers each year, ranging from commercial airlines to defense aircraft. And while they’re still used for air travel especially in areas like urban air mobility, our customers from around the world rely on Honeywell inertial navigation systems for autonomous vehicles, drones, robotics and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used for surveying and mapping. An inertial navigation system (INS) is comprised of an IMU, a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver and sensor fusion software. These components work together to calculate position, orientation, and velocity to deliver critical navigation information in GNSS-denied areas like urban canyons, bridges, tunnels, mountains, parking garages and dense forests. Inertial navigation systems are autonomous after initialization, do not rely on satellite connectivity and can convey more granular data than a GPS device used alone. Moreover, they are resistant to radar jamming and deception, as they are self-contained. You can read more about when it makes sense to use an inertial navigation system vs. GPS here. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) use gyroscopes and accelerometers to sense rotation and acceleration. They can be used in any application where it’s important to accurately measure and compensate for vibration and motion under the most challenging conditions. In addition to helping stabilize antennas and cameras, IMUs are also used on robots, autonomous vehicles and drones that require navigation in the absence of external aiding signals.