Principles and Simulation of JTIDS Relative Navigation

The time-synchronous operation and high accuracy time-of arrival (TOA) measurement capability of Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) terminals makes possible a high performance relative nagivaton (RELNAV) function through addition of only software in the terminal's computer program. The principles of operation, the basic observation equations, and the system architecture for both absolute (geographic) and relative navigation are described. Sequential passive ranging by means of the TOA measurements, in conjunction with appropriate source selection logic and a recursive (e. g., Kalman) filter mechanization are employed to determine the user's position, velocity, and time bias. The filter algorithms and error sources, the software functional flow, and some simulation results are presented.