General Dynamics

Navigation Filter and Transfer Alignment Framework for a Drone Dropped Airframe

This project focused on the development of a navigation filter for an airframe deployed from a carrier drone, addressing the need for reliable autonomous operation after separation. The system was designed to estimate the airframe’s position, velocity, and orientation using onboard sensors such as magnetometers, gyroscopes, and accelerometers, with optional GPS input and the ability to continue operating when GPS measurements were unreliable or unavailable. The design also included transfer alignment from the drone’s navigation system so the airframe could receive initial state data before deployment. The student team used modeling, simulation, bench testing, and system-level testing to evaluate sensor fusion, filter stability, tunability, and performance under varying flight conditions, with supporting documentation and software intended to make the navigation capability usable and configurable.