Guidance, Navigation, & Control

As one of the world’s premier sources of guidance, navigation, and control (GN&C) expertise, Draper has the domain experience, advanced sensor technology, comprehensive algorithm and software design and development skills, and testing capabilities needed to tackle virtually any GN&C application. Whether the driving factor is high precision, small size, low cost, rugged environment, or complex GPS-denied terrain, Draper has the capability to produce state-of-the-art GN&C solutions that meet our sponsors’ most challenging needs.


Draper is a leader in high accuracy GN&C systems. Design agent for the U.S. Navy’s strategic missile guidance systems since the 1950s, Draper is developing advanced sensor technology, including silicon oscillating accelerometers and laser gyros integrated at the chip level. Continuing a role we have played since the Apollo Program, Draper provides important GN&C capability for space systems, including support and improvements to the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. Our GN&C technology is being applied to conventional and micro satellites, reusable launch vehicles, and rendezvous demonstration programs.

For the Missile Defense Agency, Draper supplies advanced GN&C technology development and support for interceptors, directed energy, space-based sensor pointing and tracking, inertial/Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation, homing guidance, gridlocking, and battle management.

Draper’s microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors and advanced miniature electronics packaging can be used to produce state-of-the-art, miniature tactical GN&C systems. Current Draper projects leveraging the small size and rugged operation enabled by MEMS-based navigators include guided projectiles, micro unmanned aerial vehicles, personal navigators for soldiers, and a low cost/mass/power radiation-hard stellar compass. MEMS instruments are being integrated into an inertial measurement unit that contains three gyros, three accelerometers, power, and processing in a two-cubic-inch volume.

Draper has developed new software that can directly improve GN&C performance with existing hardware. Draper has dramatically improved the navigation performance of a GPS receiver by modifying the receiver software to more fully exploit inertial sensor information directly in the GPS tracking loops. This Deep Integration Inertial Navigation System/GPS software also adds significant GPS jamming resistance that is additive to other antenna-masking and signal-filtering anti-jam technology.

Draper also has developed software to exploit mission payload sensors used to collect intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information to improve navigation system performance. This complementary sensor information is particularly important to enable operation in GPS-denied areas such as caves, building interiors, urban canyons, and under tree canopies. Additionally, Draper has developed software for a hand-held computer to provide small units an organic targeting capability. Miniature RF signal emitter detectors have also been designed to enable Signals Intelligence capabilities for small UAVs.

For unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous maneuverability is limited by guidance and control software implementation, not by the aerodynamics of the vehicles. Through application of innovative software algorithms, Draper has expanded the effective closed-loop operational flight envelope, thereby enabling higher speed, lower altitude flight in cluttered terrain.

Draper Laboratory has the experience, expertise, technology, and infrastructure to address the nation’s extensive range of guidance, navigation, and control challenges. Our comprehensive research and development activities are addressing the anticipated GN&C requirements of future systems.

Facilities

• Global Positioning System (GPS) Integration Laboratory
• Cockpit systems integration laboratory
• Vehicle simulation laboratory
• Hardware-in-the-loop simulation facilities
• Autonomous Vehicles Laboratory
• Inertial Measurement Unit Dynamic Test and Calibration Facility
• 32-foot centrifuge facility

Applications

• Strategic missile guidance
• Precision guided high-g projectiles
• Space Shuttle on-orbit control system
• International Space Station
• Advanced SEAL Delivery System
• Autonomous air, land, sea, and space robotics
• Multi-articulated robotic vehicle mobility and control
• Personal navigation and handheld target location devices

Technologies/Capabilities

• Deep fade GPS
• GPS-denied navigation
• Simultaneous localization and mapping
• Collaborative navigation over ad-hoc networks
• Obstacle avoidance
• Robust, adaptive, learning, nonlinear control
• Advanced integrated optics
• Solid-state inertial instruments