Application of Magnetic Sensors for Navigation Systems

With respect to the previous paragraphs the main goal of the dissertation thesis is to develop an accurate tilt compensated electronic compass based on measurement of Earth’s magnetic field. The goal of this dissertation thesis consists of partial points that have to be provided in step by step order.

1. To develop compact electronic compass with magnetometers and accelerometers for tilt compensation. The output of the compass should provide components of measured Earth’s magnetic field and field of gravity. Compass module will be equipped with computer interface.

2. To estimate basic parameters of the sensors and A/D chain (temperature offset stability, noise, linearity).

3. To develop (or use already developed) calibration procedures to calibrate sensors sensitivities, offsets, and real angles between sensors. Verify the possibility of using compass module as a scalar magnetometer. To estimate final error in calculated total magnetic field value |F| and total field of gravity value |G|.

4. To develop PC software that could calculate and display values of azimuth, pitch, roll, total magnetic field value and total field of gravity value. PC software will also be used for calibration of the compass module.

5. Discuss the results of sensor placement imperfections, their influence to the azimuth, pitch and roll accuracy.

6. To develop calibration procedures to calibrate angles between sensors and compass case. Perform these calibration procedures for developed compass and for commercially produced magnetometer module Honeywell HMR2300. Compare results and discuss potential influence of these improvements.

7. Verify the proposed calibration methods for other systems such as fluxgate vector gradiometer.

Each of these points and also their order is very important to obtain the compass module with high accuracy in azimuth, pitch and roll reading.