[QUOTE=mikeo80;60117]
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmySGT.
Inertial Location system. These do not need GPS or Loran. Input where it is manually or start from an unknown. An inertial system can tell you your exact route, exact speed, and direction of travel (in degrees) so you can exactly retrace a route. An inertial system can tell you distance and degrees from any known point (forward observer) or from a stored waypoint. A ring laser gyro inside keeps it on track.
I always thought that is what the AutoNav was for. It was programed with the exact location of the bolt hole and the supply caches. Yes the road maps and water locations are probably WRONG, but THAT mountain over there has not moved in unknown MILLIONS of years.
My $0.02
Mike
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You are correct, Mike. The Autonav is described as an inertial navigation system. That would make the Autonav an inertial location system as well, since they operate identically. The gyros inside monitor all the acceleration forces on the Autonav, and obviously the vehicle it is attached to, and uses that information to update the current location from a known starting point. One thing to remember is that these systems do have a little drift over time and need to be reset every so often for accurate navigation. This is why one of the uses for Landsat-01 in Operation Lonestar is to "pinpoint their location on the ground, a good check for the autonav systems." This need to correct the accumulated errors in the autonav is important and fairly easy for the team initially. The autonav knows where the caches are. Visit one and update to say you are there. Harder to do if you are taking an extended road trip where known landmarks may be harder to find or just plain gone.