Compared with modern orientation methods such as inertial and satellite navigation,the bioinspired polarization orientation method is based on the principle of insect navigation.Not only does it possess strong autonomy,good concealment,large working range,and long working time,but its error also does not accumulated over time.The bioinspired polariztion compass is temporarily unavailable under complex environmental conditions such as encountering obstacles from clouds,tunnels,and buildings,although the directional signals originate from natural polarization and are generally not affected by modern information warfare.Therefore,this book takes the application background as six rotor small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) performing low altitude unmanned missions (Fig.1.1),and carries out research on the challenges faced by the autonomous orientation technology for small UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).The research on the bioinspired polarization compass/inertial navigation system integrated orientation technique displays great significance in exploiting the natural polarization orientation principle and multi-source information fusion algorithm for fulfill the autonomous orientation requirements of small UAVs and promote their combat capabilities.
Fig.1.1 UAV performs low-altitude unmanned missions
As a new type of highly autonomous navigation method,the integrated orientation of the bioinspired polarization compass/inertial navigation system has turned into an important direction for the development of navigation technology.Owing to great guiding significance for solving the scientific problems of autonomous navigation in complex and unfamiliar environments.The following summarizes current research and analyzes their development trends at home and abroad from three aspects:the bioinspired polarization orientation method,the error processing method utilizing bioinspired polarization compass orientation,and the integrated orientation method of the bioinspired polarizationt compass/inertial navigation system.