Method of determining heading by turning an inertial device

1. A method of determining a heading by means of an inertial device ( 1 ) providing measurements by means of at least one vibratory gyro ( 3 ), the method comprising the steps of:

positioning the inertial device in such a manner that the gyro extends close to a plane that is substantially horizontal;

orienting the inertial device successively in a predetermined number of orientations about a vertical axis, the predetermined number being greater than one;

for each orientation, adjusting the electric angle of the vibratory gyro to a predetermined value, the predetermined value of the electric angle being the same for all of the orientations of the inertial device, and taking a measurement; and

determining the heading from the measurements and an angle between the orientations.

2. A method according to claim 1 , the inertial device having a single gyro, wherein the predetermined number of orientations is not less than two and is preferably not less than three.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the angle between the orientations is 120°.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the device has at least two gyros positioned so that both gyros extend in the vicinity of the horizontal plane, and the predetermined number of orientations is not less than two.

5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein the angle between the orientations is 180°.

6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the inertial device is moved between its orientations by means of a rotary platform ( 11 ) enabling it to be turned through a pre-adjusted angle.

7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the inertial device ( 1 ) used comprises at least one accelerometer in association with a gyro or at least two accelerometers in association with at least two gyros, the measurements from the accelerometer(s) being processed to determine a positioning error of the inertial device relative to the horizontal and also any interfering rotation of the system.

8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the electric angle is selected so as to have a drift value associated therewith that is as small as possible.

9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the heading is determined by calculating an average of the measurements.

10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the heading is determined by integrating the measurements in a navigation model and a Kalman filter.