METHOD TO DETERMINE HEADING BY USING AND AUTOMATICALLY CALIBRATING A 3-AXIS MAGNETOMETER RIGIDLY FITTED IN AN AIRCRAFT

摘要

A method for the determining route angle and for automatically calibrating course accuracy with a three-axis magnetometer fixed to an aircraft despite the presence of interfering vehicle magnetic fields and instrumentation errors. The method is accomplished in flight and includes numerous computations to compensate the magnetometer's principal error sources. A calibration flight includes specified flight maneuvers (without change of position). The method is particularly suitable for helicopters equipped with three-axis magnetometers.