Applications of aircraft attitude information obtained from single-antenna
global positioning system (GPS) receiver measurements are discussed. A rece
ntly introduced framework to synthesize attitude information from GPS veloc
ity vector measurements is reviewed. The framework combines the benefits of
high-quality GPS velocity measurements with a novel velocity-vector-based
flight control paradigm to provide a means for the human operator or autopi
lot to close the aircraft flight control loop. Three possible applications
of this novel concept are discussed. A single-antenna GPS-based backup atti
tude indicator is evaluated in flight and compared to the traditional attit
ude indicator. In addition, single-antenna GPS-based autopilot and tunnel-i
n-the-sky trajectory guidance systems are demonstrated in flight. Unlike tr
aditional attitude indicators and autopilot and trajectory guidance systems
, these applications rely solely on the information obtained from a single-
antenna GPS receiver. This concept thus has significant system integration
and cost advantages and makes a number of glass-cockpit capabilities afford
able to the General Aviation aircraft community.