The paper discusses some achievements in the development of satellite multi-antenna systems which implement the interferometric principle of determining an object attitude. The existing systems are considered, and the authors’ vision of the development trend of these systems in terms of their use in the conditions of poor reception of complete outage of signals from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) is presented. Information about a new system being developed is given; it is conventionally called a GNSS compass and represents a combination of a measuring unit based on fiber-optic gyroscopes of tactical accuracy grade and a multi-antenna GNSS receiver, installed on a rotary base and representing an integrated system of orientation and navigation with a single structure and information functions. The distinctive features of the GNSS compass, which overcome its disadvantages in case of poor GNSS signal, are described against the existing developments. A potential niche for GNSS compass application is also discussed.

The paper presents a method for correcting the results of factory calibration of inertial measurement units for measurement systems. It was developed to study the spin of free-flying aircraft models in a vertical wind tunnel. Calibration is performed immediately before the test cycle. The method is based on the use of a special manual rotary calibration rig which provides correction of errors in the output signals of triads of inertial MEMS sensors and a magnetometer triad.

The paper discusses the errors of the most widespread mechanical ship-based lateral inclinometers installed on the ship bridge. There errors are caused by the effect of translational accelerations at the device installation point during pitching/rolling, and can reach significant values. To eliminate this problem, a new electronic inclinometer has been developed. Its operation algorithms, simulation and bench-test results are presented to confirm that the pitch/roll angles can be measured with the accuracy meeting the requirements of the Russian Maritime Registry of Shipping. The importance of measuring the heel of small fishing vessels to ensure their safe operation is emphasized. The accuracy of this parameter measurements taken with the new device is estimated.

The paper describes the measuring aids (magnetometers and light sensors) and attitude determination algorithms of SamSat-ION nanosatellite. The Kalman filter based on magnetometer measurements only is used as a basic algorithm, and the auxiliary QUEST algorithm provides a priori estimation of the quaternion input to the Kalman filter. The two-step algorithm simulation has been performed, and its efficiency has been verified.

Using a satellite cluster design to reduce mission costs, mission request complexity, and single satellite utilization limits has grown in popularity in recent years. This paper presents two-satellite formation designs based on the pseudo-ranging model (GPS-based distance model). The Newton-Raphson Method (NRM) and the Global Positioning System (GPS) are used to create a novel approach to satellite relative navigation architecture. The Adaptive Extended Kalman filter (AEKF) with measurement noise covariance scaling is used to estimate the relative locations of the target and tracker satellites using the NRM technique. The relative location and velocity of the satellites are computed using the Hill-Clohessy-Wiltshire (HCW) equations. Within the scope of the advancement of studies with EKF in the literature, the focus of this research is to improve relative estimations with the adaptive filter by accounting for measurement or dynamic model problems.

A method for designing acoustic positioning systems with ultrashort baseline (USBL APS) for underwater robots is proposed. The possibility of their application for navigation support of underwater robots is shown. Estimation of the antennas and navigation signals used to determine their potential accuracy is presented. It is noted that high accuracy of angle measurements is attainable in the case of sparse antenna arrays. A mathematical model for calculation of the random error component for various multielement antennas is described. The sources of systematic errors in real antennas are analyzed. The procedures and techniques for calibration of the USBL APS accuracy based on accurate range measurement, as well as on the data of the onboard navigation system of an underwater robot and ship navigation equipment are discussed. An example of processing real data obtained during the system operation in deep sea is given. A conclusion is made about the feasibility of designing high-accurate USBL APS using circular axisymmetric antennas with a small number of elements and statistical methods of signal processing.

A model of a control moment gyro operation is presented, based on a system of equations that describes the moments and forces acting on the rotor elements and on the thermal balance of the gyro rotor in vacuum environment (no convective heat transfer). The dependence of the rotor elements temperature dynamics on the nonstationary heating process with positive feedback between the heat source (bearing) and the heated elements of the rotor (shaft) is proved.