- Docente: Giovanni Battista Palmerini
- Credits: 6
- SSD: ING-IND/05
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Forli
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Aerospace Engineering (cod. 0207)
Learning outcomes
Knowledge of working principles of the instruments and plants used in the air navigation Capability to identify the air navigation techniques most suitable in different flight phases, depending on the performances expected and on the aircraft characteristics.
Course contents
- Cartography and geodesy basics. The problem of navigation.
Autonomous navigation (deduced reckoning) and navigation based on
external markers (fixing). Angular and distance measures. Lines of
position. Traditional navigation techniques based on natural
markers: visual navigation, magnetic navigation, astronomical
navigation, barometric navigation.
- Radionavigation. Electromagnetic waves propagation basics.
Radionavigation with ground-based markers. Radiogoniometers.
Short-medium range techniques and instrumentation (VOR, DME, TACAN,
VORTAC). Landing systems (ILS). Medium-long range techniques and
instrumentation. Hyperbolic systems (LORAN-C and Omega).
Slots/airways-based route navigation and area navigation (RNAV).
- Satellite Navigation. Systems architecture: space segment, user
segment, control segment. Knowledge and understanding of the radio
sources positions along their orbits. Solution of the navigation
problem with four or more observables (pseudoranges). Pseudoranges
measurements by means of a correlation with locally generated
signal replica. System performances. Errors as a product of ranging
and geometry errors. Dilution of Precision parameters (DOPs).
Differential navigation. Augmented systems (LAAS, WAAS, EGNOS).
- Inertial navigation. Inertial sensors: accelerometers and gyros.
Gimballed vs. Strap-down systems. Gravity loop. Vertical
instability.
Readings/Bibliography
Lectures notes are distributed during the lectures.
Suggested readings for a deeper comprehension include:
- V.Nastro "Navigazione Inerziale e Integrata", Alfredo Guida Editore, Napoli, 2004.
- V.Nastro, G. Messina "Sistemi di Navigazione Aerea a Lungo Raggio", Hoepli, Milano, 2003.
- D.Titterton, J.Weston "Strapdown Inertial Navigation Technology", IEE, Stevenage (UK), 2004 (2nd ed.)
Teaching methods
Lectures are developed in order to highlight the connections among different navigation techniques. An historical perspective of the development in the field is also provided to make easier to understand the changes in requirements dictated by air traffic increase and the following improvement in performances obtained by a sequence of techniques. Interdisciplinary connections with other aerospace engineering disciplines are sought, as well as physics background is repeatedly used in explaining the instruments working principles. Numerical examples as well as real hardware characteristics are introduced, to provide the students with a picture of current use instrumentation, and to learn the relations between aircraft characteristics and available performances.
Assessment methods
Three indicative, partial tests are foreseen during the course in
order to assess the understanding of the subjects presented
during the lectures and the progress in the knowldge
acquisition.
Final assessment is given by a test (oral) at the end of the
course, covering all the program.
Teaching tools
Exercises and simulations are usually presented during lectures
using PCs.
Links to further information
http://w3.uniroma1.it/palmerini
Office hours
See the website of Giovanni Battista Palmerini