Development and performance analysis of a new navigation algorithm by combining gravity gradient and terrain data as well as EKF and profile matching

As an alternative navigation system for the non-GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) environment, a new type of DBRN (DataBase Referenced Navigation) which applies both gravity gradient and terrain, and combines filter-based algorithm with profile matching was suggested. To improve the stability of the performance compared to the previous study, both centralized and decentralized EKF (Extended Kalman Filter) were constructed based on gravity gradient and terrain data, and one of filters was selected in a timely manner. Then, the final position of a moving vehicle was determined by combining a position from the filter with the one from a profile matching. In the simulation test, it was found that the overall performance was improved to the 19.957m by combining centralized and decentralized EKF compared to the centralized EKF that of 20.779m. Especially, the divergence of centralized EKF in two trajectories located in the plain area disappeared. In addition, the average horizontal error decreased to the 16.704m by re-determining the final position using both filter-based and profile matching solutions. Of course, not all trajectories generated improved performance but there is not a large difference in terms of their horizontal errors. Among nine trajectories, eights show smaller than 20m and only one has 21.654m error. Thus, it would be concluded that the endemic problem of performance inconsistency in the single geophysical DB or algorithm-based DBRN was resolved because the combination of geophysical data and algorithms determined the position with a consistent level of error.