inertial guidance
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The ST-124 inertial guidance platform used by the
Saturn V rocket
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A type of guidance system used by airplanes, ships, submarines, space vehicles,
and guided missiles, effected by
means of mechanisms that automatically adjust the vehicles heading to follow
a given flight path. These mechanisms measure inertial
forces during periods of acceleration, integrate the data obtained with
already known position and velocity, and signal the controls to effect the
desired direction, altitude, etc. Accelerometers
are mounted on gyrostabilized platforms to isolate them from the vehicle's
angular motion; by measuring the forces needed to keep a suspended mass
stationary with respect to the moving vehicle, they sense changes in its
motion and gravitational fields. The orientation of the accelerometers are
found from reference directions provided by gyroscopes.
A computer calculates velocities or directions from the instrument signals
and can compare these with stored data. The accuracy of the system is improved
by a method of feedback called Schuler tuning.
Related category
• SPACECRAFT
NAVIGATION AND CONTROL
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