Evaluation of the Accuracy of Community Relative Navigation Organization Concepts

various organization and mechanization concepts for a self–contained community relative navigation system based on a TDMA communications network are defined and evaluated with respect to relative range and pointing accuracy. The results of the accuracy evaluation are obtained using a covariance simulator which is capable of modeling the navigation errors among four platforms, where each platform is assumed to integrate the TDMA derived range data with its onboard dead reckoning system via a Kalman filter. It is shown that mechanizations involving one member whose platform is used to define the community navigation coordinate frame (grid) generally afford the most precise relative navigation. Results are presented to show the instabilities that may arise with some mechanizations. Also discussed are the impacts of stationary references and a community which includes members having dissimilar dead reckoning systems.