Low-Cost Inertial Navigation

Recent advances in sensor technology have led to opportunities for the development of inertial-centric navigation systems, even for smaller Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms. In particular, the emergence of micro-machined electromechanical system (MEMS) inertial sensors, which are encroaching on performance levels heretofore the exclusive domain of larger more expensive devices, offers the potential of small, low-cost navigation grade inertial measurement units (IMU). This chapter seeks to present a self-contained introduction to the topic of inertial navigation, with an emphasis on application of MEMS inertial sensors, and a brief foray into the subject of aided inertial navigation.