A precision navigation system for autonomous undersea vehicles

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc. (HBOI) and Kearfott Guidance and Navigation (KGN) Corporation have teamed to develop a low-cost inertial navigation system for autonomous undersea vehicles. The navigation system will be ideally suited for mine countermeasures missions as well as other scientific and commercial missions. HBOI has acquired the software development hardware, VX Works software and a Kearfott T-16B ring laser gyro based inertial measurement unit. The Kearfott T-16B ring laser gyro system was selected partially due to the up-coming large production runs of up to 100,000 units (over the next 10 years) and partially due to its performance capability. The completion of this program will result in an at-sea demonstration of a precision inertial navigation system, at a mere fraction of the anticipated development cost of a purpose-built system. The navigation system will be compatible with both the FAU Ocean Explorer and the MIT Odyssey and could be integrated aboard either vehicle class.