Navigation system of pilotless aircraft via GPS

The pilotless aircraft has wide applications in measuring earth, surveying mineral sources, fireproofing in the forest, observing floods and so on. In this paper, after briefly introducing positioning and navigation technologies for pilotless aircraft-a new kind of navigation system for pilotless aircraft using GPS (Global Positioning System) is presented. An overall plan of the navigation system is discussed, and its technology cruxes are analysed. Its hardware and software are designed and implemented, and experimental results are given. The navigation system not only has autonomous navigation capability, but can also achieve navigation aided by telecontrol system. It can supervise flying by telemetering system and displaying predetermined air line and flight path maps on the computer monitor. It can run in simple GPS receiver mode or in the differential GPS mode by means of available telecontrol channel. These are, no doubt, of great value for the navigation of pilotless aircraft.