Virtual Laser- Kinematic Relative GPS-Based Navigation and Covert Communication (KREGNACC) System for Terminal Guidance

The U.S. Navy has identified a need to develop a passive precision target location and terminal guidance from Spotter to Projectile capability which can deliver 1 meter CEP relative navigation-to-the-target accuracy. The targeting sensor, referred to as Virtual Laser, should be able to range to a moving target and provide the target coordinates in real-time to a projectile/vehicle. The objective of this SBIR Phase I Study is to analyze the feasibility of the proposed GPS/INS-based targeting, relative navigation and communication data link system which can meet the accuracy goal, be packaged in a small size, and produced at low-cost, thereby eliminating the requirements of a terminal seeker in most precision guided munition applications. The Phase I study will analyze various sensor-target scenarios, model their error sources and evaluate their relative navigation performance using Mayflower novel dual-stage carrier phase processing algorithm and inertial error calibration techniques. An important focus of the Phase I research is to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed data link to provide the communications connectivity. The Phase II effort will develop a brassboard data link, integrate it with a miniature GPS/INS package, and validate the Virtual Laser concept with a hardware-in-the-loop simulation incorporating the projectile GN&C algorithms.