Applications of global positioning system velocity-based attitude information

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.