Systems and methods are disclosed herein for blind frequency synchronization. In one embodiment, a synthetic inertial measurement unit (IMU) is disclosed, comprising: a plurality of nodes wirelessly coupled to each other, each The method may further comprise: a wireless transceiver at a particular node for providing wireless communications with at least one other node of the plurality of nodes, configured to receive I and Q radio samples from the other node, and to determine a frequency offset of the other node based on the received I and Q radio samples, and to synchronize a clock at the particular node, a frequency offset synchronization module at the particular node coupled to the wireless transceiver, at the particular node, and an IMU sensor for determining rotation, acceleration, and speed of the particular node; and an IMU location estimation module for using time of arrival information assuming that the clock may be synchronized at the node, the determined distance, and the rotation, acceleration, and speed of the particular node received from the IMU sensor to determine the location of the nodes, thereby providing enhanced determination of location of the plurality of nodes.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for blind frequency synchronization. In one embodiment, a synthetic inertial measurement unit (IMU) is disclosed, comprising: a plurality of nodes wirelessly coupled to each other, each The method may further comprise: a wireless transceiver at a particular node for providing wireless communications with at least one other node of the plurality of nodes, configured to receive I and Q radio samples from the other node, and to determine a frequency offset of the other node based on the received I and Q radio samples, and to synchronize a clock at the particular node, a frequency offset synchronization module at the particular node coupled to the wireless transceiver, at the particular node, and an IMU sensor for determining rotation, acceleration, and speed of the particular node; and an IMU location estimation module for using time of arrival information assuming that the clock may be synchronized at the node, the determined distance, and the rotation, acceleration, and speed of the particular node received from the IMU sensor to determine the location of the nodes, thereby providing enhanced determination of location of the plurality of nodes.

A gyrocompass device is provided for determining a heading relative to a surface of a rotating planetary body. The gyrocompass device includes one or more MEMS gyroscopes that are each fixed in an orientation on a substrate that is parallel to a first plane and that each provide three or more sense axes that lie within the first plane and are each offset from one another by an offset angle. Moreover, a heading determiner receives rotation rates from the three sense axes and determines the heading of the gyrocompass device relative to the surface of the rotating planetary body by fitting a sine or cosine function to the received rotation rates from the one or more MEMS gyroscopes.

A gyrocompass device is provided for determining a heading relative to a surface of a rotating planetary body. The gyrocompass device includes one or more MEMS gyroscopes that are each fixed in an orientation on a substrate that is parallel to a first plane and that each provide three or more sense axes that lie within the first plane and are each offset from one another by an offset angle. Moreover, a heading determiner receives rotation rates from the three sense axes and determines the heading of the gyrocompass device relative to the surface of the rotating planetary body by fitting a sine or cosine function to the received rotation rates from the one or more MEMS gyroscopes.

Methods, apparatuses and computer programs are disclosed for estimating, or at least for generating information usable to estimate, the heading of at least one axis of interest of a rigid body. Rigid body is equipped with an antenna of a navigation satellite system (NSS) receiver, and with sensor equipment comprising sensors such as a gyroscope, an angle sensor, and accelerometers, depending on the form of the invention. Rigid body is subject to a known motion comprising causing a point's horizontal position to change, the point being referred to as “point B”, while keeping another point's position, the point being referred to as “point A”, fixed relative to the Earth. Considering the motion constraint, an estimation of the heading is generated using sensor equipment data and NSS receiver data. The estimation of the heading may for example be used to estimate the position of any point of rigid body.

Methods, apparatuses and computer programs are disclosed for estimating, or at least for generating information usable to estimate, the heading of at least one axis of interest of a rigid body. Rigid body is equipped with an antenna of a navigation satellite system (NSS) receiver, and with sensor equipment comprising sensors such as a gyroscope, an angle sensor, and accelerometers, depending on the form of the invention. Rigid body is subject to a known motion comprising causing a point's horizontal position to change, the point being referred to as “point B”, while keeping another point's position, the point being referred to as “point A”, fixed relative to the Earth. Considering the motion constraint, an estimation of the heading is generated using sensor equipment data and NSS receiver data. The estimation of the heading may for example be used to estimate the position of any point of rigid body.

In one example, a vehicle includes a platform and a yaw sensor mounted on the platform. The yaw sensor provides an indication of a yaw rate of rotation of the yaw sensor. The vehicle also includes an actuator that rotates the platform. The vehicle also includes a controller coupled to the yaw sensor and the actuator. The controller receives the indication of the yaw rate from the yaw sensor. The controller also causes the actuator to rotate the platform (i) along a direction of rotation opposite to a direction of the rotation of the yaw sensor and (ii) at a rate of rotation based on the yaw rate of the yaw sensor. The controller also estimates a direction of motion of the vehicle in an environment of the vehicle based on at least the rate of rotation of the platform.

In one example, a vehicle includes a platform and a yaw sensor mounted on the platform. The yaw sensor provides an indication of a yaw rate of rotation of the yaw sensor. The vehicle also includes an actuator that rotates the platform. The vehicle also includes a controller coupled to the yaw sensor and the actuator. The controller receives the indication of the yaw rate from the yaw sensor. The controller also causes the actuator to rotate the platform (i) along a direction of rotation opposite to a direction of the rotation of the yaw sensor and (ii) at a rate of rotation based on the yaw rate of the yaw sensor. The controller also estimates a direction of motion of the vehicle in an environment of the vehicle based on at least the rate of rotation of the platform.

A gyroscope, an electronic device and a method of detecting an angular velocity. The gyroscope includes: a photoelectric detector and a light source, wherein the light source is movable relative to the photoelectric detector, and light emitted by the light source is able to be irradiated onto the photoelectric detector.

A gyroscope, an electronic device and a method of detecting an angular velocity. The gyroscope includes: a photoelectric detector and a light source, wherein the light source is movable relative to the photoelectric detector, and light emitted by the light source is able to be irradiated onto the photoelectric detector.