Existing opportunities in advanced interceptor technology and satellite guidance programs, requiring higher signal processing speeds and lower noise environments, are demanding Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) based Inertial Systems reduce initialization and operational data latency as well as correlated noise magnitudes. Existing signal processing algorithms are less than optimal when considering these requirements. Research of real-time adaptive signal processing algorithms for use in RLG based inertial systems will help to understand the trade-off in correlated noise magnitude, organizational complexity, computational efficiency, rate of convergence, and numerical stability. Adaptive filter structures selected will directly affect meeting inertial system performance requirements for data latency, residual noise budgets and real time processing throughput.

The primary goal of this research project is to develop adaptive noise cancellation algorithms for RLG based inertial systems in a variety of military and commercial space applications. Of particular significance is an attempt to identify an algorithm that will reduce the correlated noise components to the theoretical limit of the RLG sensor itself. This would support a variety of applications in the low noise space environments that the RLG based inertial systems are beginning to find promise for such as advanced military interceptor technology and commercial space satellite navigation, guidance and control systems.

Continuing research will explore the development and implementation of real-time adaptive filters including Least Mean Square (LMS) and Recursive Least Square (RLS) structures for the purpose of evaluating performance tradeoffs such as convergence rate, effectiveness of correlated noise cancellation, organizational complexity and computational efficiency. Development of such real-time adaptive filters for use in dithered ring laser gyro based inertial systems will insure an optimal selection of candidate structures for a wide variety of commercial and military applications.