Compact Pointing Instrument with Internal Star Camera, Plate Solver, and Inertial Measurement Unit 45 views

This work presents the design of a compact pointing instrument integrating a star camera with plate solving, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for instantaneous determination of position and orientation. This is performed by computing Euler angles given measured angular velocity, acceleration, and magnetic field with an IMU, and combining such with precise location and UTC time synchronization given by the GPS. An attached star camera with a built-in plate solver independently determines celestial coordinates for validation. Performance is evaluated using stationary and controlled motion trials. Stationary results show stable Euler angles, near-zero angular velocity bias, and correctly normalized gravitational and magnetic field vectors. Dynamic trials confirm accurate capture and detection of rotational motion with consistent time synchronization across all sensors, while preserving vector normalization. The results discussed demonstrate reliable attitude and pointing determination suitable for future ground based and airborne astronomical applications.

BS (Bachelor of Science)

Pointing; IMU; GPS; Star Camera; Attitude; Plate Solving

English

All rights reserved by the author (no additional license for public reuse)

2026-05-09