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Avionics - Satellite Radio Navigation & Inertial Navigation Quiz(MCQ)
A)
Distance from the Earth
B)
Power source in satellite
C)
Total number of satellites in the sky
D)
Position and acceleration of satellite

Correct Answer :   Position and acceleration of satellite


Explanation : All of the satellite navigation equations have either satellite position or velocity as a variable. The linear independence of the equations, which dictate the observability of the navigation solution, is a function of the relative position of the satellites in orbit. Thus the position and the velocity of satellites is of primary importance.

A)
Line of nodes
B)
Critical point
C)
Differential line
D)
Intersection plane

Correct Answer :   Line of nodes


Explanation : The line of nodes is the intersection of the orbital plane with the Earth’s equatorial plane. The ascending node and the descending node are the points where the satellite crosses the equatorial plane.

A)
5
B)
6
C)
7
D)
8

Correct Answer :   6


Explanation : Six independent constants are needed to specify the nominal orbit. These can be the three components of position and velocity at any instant of time and are used in the orbital mechanics equations.

A)
Overhead line
B)
Differential line
C)
Line of apsides
D)
Line of maximum reception

Correct Answer :   Line of apsides


Explanation : The points where the satellite is closest and farthest from the Earth is called the perigee and apogee respectively. The line connecting the apogee and the perigee is called the line of apsides.

A)
Air drag
B)
Solar activity
C)
Motion of a passing comet
D)
Asymmetrical components of Earth’s gravitational field

Correct Answer :   Motion of a passing comet


Explanation : Perturbations cause the orbital plane to oscillate and rotate and vary the satellite from its elliptical orbital path. These forces include spherical asymmetrical components of Earth’s gravitational field, Lunisolar perturbations, air drag, magnetic and static electric forces.

A)
Reduces velocity
B)
Refracts the signal
C)
Reflects the signals
D)
Bit inversion occurs

Correct Answer :   Reduces velocity


Explanation : The major sources of errors are when the signal pass through the atmosphere. The troposphere causes the propagation velocity of the signal to be slowed, compressing the signal wavelength.

A)
Solar flares
B)
Rotation of the Earth
C)
Radiation from distant stars
D)
Ultraviolet radiation from sun

Correct Answer :   Ultraviolet radiation from sun


Explanation : The ionosphere owes its existence to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The photons possess a certain amount of energy which is enough to break down electrons from their parent atom. The result is a large number of free, negatively charged, electrons and positively charged atoms and molecules called ions.

A)
Pressure
B)
Frequency
C)
Temperature
D)
Partial pressure of water vapour

Correct Answer :   Frequency

A)
It causes signal fading
B)
Occurs mostly at day
C)
Occurs at the equatorial and polar regions
D)
Occurs when high solar activity is present

Correct Answer :   Occurs mostly at day


Explanation : Ionospheric scintillation causes signal fading and effects in the equatorial and the Polar Regions. Strong scintillation effects are rare localized at certain times during the night, and usually occurs during periods of high solar activity.

A)
True
B)
False
C)
Can Not Say
D)
None of the above

Correct Answer :   True


Explanation : TEC or the total electron content in the ionosphere is a function of solar radiation. As more radiation falls on Earth, more number of molecules are ionized and hence TEC is more in the daytime than at the night.

A)
Signal advance
B)
Velocity advance
C)
Phase advance
D)
Differential velocity

Correct Answer :   Phase advance


Explanation : The result of satellite signal travelling through ionosphere is that a particular phase of the signal arrives at the receiver earlier than it would have had if the signal travelled in a complete vacuum. This early arrival is termed as phase advance.

A)
Velocity increases
B)
Velocity decreases
C)
Frequency reduces
D)
Signal strength increases

Correct Answer :   Velocity increases


Explanation : The velocity of the carrier, the pure sinusoidal wave, is increased in the presence of electrons. Thus the greater the density of electrons in the ionosphere greater the velocity of the signal.

A)
All weather system
B)
Continuous system
C)
Space based system
D)
Active system

Correct Answer :   Active system


Explanation : The GPS is an all weather global navigational system. It is passive, survivable, continuous, space based system that provides any suitable equipped user with highly accurate three dimensional position, velocity, and time information anywhere on or near the Earth.

A)
11 minutes
B)
45 minutes
C)
5 hours
D)
12 hours

Correct Answer :   12 hours


Explanation : The GPS satellites are in approximately 12 hour orbits( 11 hours, 57 minutes, 57.27 seconds) at an altitude of approximately 11,000 nmi. At any point on Earth, 4 satellites are visible at all times.

A)
Multiplexing
B)
Redundancy
C)
Reducing traffic
D)
Ionosphere refraction corrections

Correct Answer :   Ionosphere refraction corrections


Explanation : Each GPS satellite transmits signals at two frequencies in the L-band to permit ionospheric refraction corrections by properly equipped users. These signals are in sync with the pseudorandom noise that is unique to each satellite to provide instant ranging capabilities.

A)
Phase modulation
B)
Binary phase shift keying
C)
Frequency shift keying
D)
Amplitude modulation

Correct Answer :   Binary phase shift keying


Explanation : The L1 consists of two components: a precise and a coarse PRN code. The PRN codes and data are modulated onto the carriers using binary phase shift keying.

A)
I
B)
II
C)
IIF
D)
IA

Correct Answer :   IIF


Explanation : The IIF block of the GPS is the latest launched till date. The twelfth and final IIF launch was February 5, 2016. The third generation GPS satellites are scheduled to be launched by SpaceX in 2018.

A)
Yagi antenna
B)
Loop antenna
C)
Helical array antenna
D)
Parabolic antenna

Correct Answer :   Helical array antenna


Explanation : The GPS antenna array is formed by an inner quad helices encircled by a ring of eight outer helices that provide near equal power to all terrestrial users. The helical antenna is optimum since circular polarization is least affected by weather and atmosphere.

A)
Precise position service
B)
Ultimate position service
C)
Doppler position service
D)
Standard position service

Correct Answer :   Precise position service


Explanation : GPS provides two position services, The precise position service and the standard position service. The PPS can be denied to unauthorized users while SPS is free to everyone. Users need crypto keys to access the PPS. These are generally military users.

A)
Signal jamming
B)
Distributed GPD
C)
Selective degradation
D)
Selective availability

Correct Answer :   Selective availability


Explanation : The intentional degradation of GPS signal is meant to deny accuracy to unfriendly forces. It is known as selective availability. SA also denies accuracy to unauthorized users who are friendly, which is the entire civil community.

A)
TDM
B)
FDMA
C)
WDM
D)
CDMA

Correct Answer :   FDMA


Explanation : GLONASS satellites are distinguished and differentiated by radio frequency channel rather than spread spectrum code as in GPS. They use FDMA whereas GPS uses CDMA.

A)
Helical
B)
Beam antenna
C)
Loop antenna
D)
Parabolic antenna

Correct Answer :   Beam antenna


Explanation : A uniform power density is required for using GLONASS. A shaped beam antenna is used to produce uniform power spectral density on the ground.

A)
2MHz
B)
50kHz
C)
562.5kHz
D)
1240MHz

Correct Answer :   562.5kHz


Explanation : The unique frequency for L1 signal in the GLONASS system is given by the formula f= 1602.0 +0.5625i MHz where I=0,1,2,….,24. The separation between each of these satellites is 562.5 kHz.

A)
i=-7 to +4
B)
i=-2 to +7
C)
i=-7 to +12
D)
i=+5 to +12

Correct Answer :   i=-7 to +4


Explanation : The GLONASS use i= -7 to +4 frequency channels for normal operation. This was done so that the signal does not interfere with the radio astronomy ground station which uses the same frequency band.

A)
Political issue
B)
Less power requirements
C)
Avoid future MSS interference
D)
Reduce atmospheric interference

Correct Answer :   Avoid future MSS interference


Explanation : The Frequency of the GLONASS channel was shifted down in 2005. This shift down in frequency is to avoid interference from future Mobile Satellite Services.

A)
UTC(USNO)
B)
UTC(Beijing)
C)
UTC(London)
D)
UTC(Moscow)

Correct Answer :   UTC(USNO)


Explanation : The GPS segment provides correlations so that GPS time can be related to UTC(USNO) modulo 1sec to within 90nsec, whereas the GLONASS control segment provides correlations so that GLONASS time can be related to UTC(Moscow) to within 1μsec.

A)
2MHz
B)
437.5kHz
C)
562.5kHz
D)
1240MHz

Correct Answer :   437.5kHz


Explanation : The unique frequency for L2 signal in the GLONASS system is given by the formula f= 1246.0 +0.4375i MHz where I=0,1,2,….,24. The separation between each of these satellites is 437.5kHz.

A)
ECI coordinates
B)
Directional cosines
C)
Geodetic spherical coordinates
D)
ECEF coordinates

Correct Answer :   ECEF coordinates


Explanation : The GLONASS ephemeris data are broadcast as ECEF or Earth Center Earth Fixed coordinate system cartesian coordinates in position and velocity with lunar and solar acceleration perturbations parameters that are valid about 0.5 hour.

A)
Mass
B)
Velocity
C)
Distance
D)
Acceleration

Correct Answer :   Acceleration


Explanation : The accelerometer is a type of inertial instrument that measures the acceleration in any given axes. The measured acceleration can be integrated over time to obtain velocity and distance.

A)
8g
B)
6.5g
C)
6g
D)
5g

Correct Answer :   8g


Explanation : Accelerometer is used to measure acceleration of the vehicle and thus must be corrected for the Earth’s gravitational effect. If the accelerometer is being accelerated upward with an acceleration of 7g, then (a-G) = 7g – (-1g), and the instrument reads 8g.

A)
MEMS accelerometer
B)
Mechanical accelerometer
C)
Flexure pivot accelerometer
D)
Vibrating beam accelerometer

Correct Answer :   Flexure pivot accelerometer


Explanation : The flexure pivot accelerometer is the most commonly used in aircraft systems. The sensitive element consists of a pendulum with a torquer coil and a pick off supported by torsional spring or flexure.

A)
Pressure
B)
Thermal characters
C)
Density
D)
State of fluid

Correct Answer :   Thermal characters


Explanation : Accelerometers that include fluid damping exhibit reduced bandwidth and additional thermal sensitivity due to changes in fluid characteristics. Thus flexure pivoted accelerometers are better than floated instruments.

A)
Current forcing
B)
Charge forcing
C)
Potential forcing
D)
Voltage forcing

Correct Answer :   Voltage forcing


Explanation : In potential forcing, a potential is applied to the pendulum and to one or both the electrodes. The voltage establishes electric fields that induce the charge of the nonconducting pendulum. This causes a net force to act on the proof mass.

A)
Pivot
B)
Flexure
C)
Metalised wafers
D)
Single crystal silicon frame

Correct Answer :   Metalised wafers


Explanation : The frame, proof mass and hinges are made with single crystal silicon. Metalised wafers are used to enclose this and also serve as electrodes for sensing proof mass and rebalancing.

A)
Heating
B)
Low current
C)
Low voltage
D)
High voltage

Correct Answer :   Heating


Explanation : Heating of torquer coil due to rebalance current can lead to rectification of vibration inputs and must often be compensated. A pulse rebalance torquer maintains constant heating.

A)
Unbalanced accelerometer type
B)
Torquer coil current measures the acceleration
C)
Flexure must provide maximum resistance in the direction of input axis
D)
Flexure must provide maximum resistance in the direction other than input axis

Correct Answer :   Flexure must provide maximum resistance in the direction of input axis


Explanation : The pivot or flexure supporting the pendulum must provide minimal restraint for the pendulum in the direction of the input axis while exhibiting high stiffness in the other two directions. The spring constant of the flexure or pivot generates a restoring force that reduces the gain of the electronic restoring loop.

A)
Calculate velocity
B)
Angle of rotation
C)
Measure rotation rate
D)
Space-stabilize the accelerometer

Correct Answer :   Space-stabilize the accelerometer


Explanation : The purpose of gyroscope or gyro in an inertial navigation system is to space stabilize the accelerometers. In gimballed platforms, the gyros measure the rotation of the platform, which is angularly isolated from the vehicle’s motion.

A)
Low drift rate
B)
High drift rate
C)
Weight restrictions
D)
Power restrictions

Correct Answer :   High drift rate


Explanation : Gyroscopes are used as heading references. The spinning wheel, large angle, unfloated instruments with ball bearings that have drift rates on the order of 50deg/hr . and hence are useless for navigation.

A)
Used in launch vehicles
B)
Three gimbals are used
C)
Wheel is floated at neutral buoyancy
D)
Magnetic pickoff used to sense rotation

Correct Answer :   Three gimbals are used


Explanation : In SDF floated gyros or single degree of freedom floated gyros, a spinning wheels were mounted inside a single gimbal that was floated at neutral buoyancy. A magnetic pickoff was used to sense rotation and they were primarily used in space launch vehicles.

A)
Floated SDF gyro
B)
Floated TDF gyro
C)
Unfloated ball bearing gyro
D)
Electrostatically suspended TDF gyro

Correct Answer :   Electrostatically suspended TDF gyro


Explanation : In electrostatically suspended TDF gyro, the spinning wheel is suspended electrostatically hence reducing friction and achieving 0.001 deg/hr accuracy but at costs orders of magnitude higher than the floated TDF gyros.

A)
Low run up time
B)
Mechanically complex
C)
High probability of failure
D)
High power consumption

Correct Answer :   Low run up time


Explanation : The major disadvantage of spinning wheel or spinning rotor gyros is that they are mechanically complex and have a high probability of failure due to the moving components. They also require high powers and have high run up time. Run up time is the time taken for the gyro to start spinning at the required RPM after engine start.

A)
Sagnag effect
B)
Mass conservation
C)
Coriolis effect
D)
Angular momentum conservation

Correct Answer :   Coriolis effect


Explanation : MEMS Micro Electro Mechanical System gyro exploit the effects of Coriolis force. Coriolis force is experienced when a vibrating mass is subjected to a rate of rotation about an axis in the plane of vibration.

A)
Low cost
B)
Low failure rate
C)
High maintenance
D)
Less power consumption

Correct Answer :   High maintenance


Explanation : Micro machined vibrating mass rate gyros exploit semiconductor manufacturing technology for mass production. They are extremely reliable and rugged devices with low power consumption and offer the major advantage of relatively low cost. They also do not require the very high maintenance that spinning rotor gyros require.

A)
Legs
B)
Halteres
C)
Wings
D)
Thorax

Correct Answer :   Halteres


Explanation : Every flying object needs to maintain its orientation and insects that fly use halteres. Halteres work in the same principle as MEMS gyro, the vibrate and use Coriolis force to know their orientation.

A)
Missile guidance
B)
Car stability systems
C)
Flight control systems
D)
Space launch vehicles

Correct Answer :   Space launch vehicles


Explanation : MEMS gyros are being exploited not only in avionic applications such as flight control, standby attitude and heading reference systems, and missile mid-course guidance but also in the automobile industry in car stability enhancement systems. Space launch vehicles use ring laser gyros which are more accurate.

A)
Reduce base motion
B)
Low run up time
C)
Easy to manufacture
D)
Low power consumption

Correct Answer :   Reduce base motion


Explanation : The vibrating mass rate gyro is a simple instrument suffers from the unacceptable characteristic that the smallest linear motions applied to its base cause unacceptably large errors. To overcome the effect of base motion, it is necessary to use balanced oscillations in which the oscillations of one mass are counter-balanced by equal and opposite motion of a second equal mass as in the case of tuning fork gyro.

A)
MEMS gyro
B)
Ring laser gyro
C)
Floated gyro
D)
Dry tuned gyro

Correct Answer :   Ring laser gyro


Explanation : Optical gyroscopes such as the ring laser gyro and the fibre optic gyro measure angular rate of rotation by sensing the resulting difference in the transit times for laser light waves travelling around a closed path in opposite directions.

A)
Coriolis effect
B)
Mass conservation
C)
Sagnac effect
D)
Conservation of momentum

Correct Answer :   Sagnac effect


Explanation : The Sagnac effect is a relativistic phenomena of light in a rotating reference system. When laser beams circulate in a closed path that is rotating in an inertial space, the optical length seen by the co-rotating beam appears longer than that seen by counter rotating beam.

A)
Floated gyro
B)
Ring laser gyro
C)
Dry tuned gyro
D)
Optical fiber gyro

Correct Answer :   Ring laser gyro


Explanation : In a Ring laser gyro, the counterpropagating beams form resonant nodes within the gyro cavity and create an electromagnetic standing wave that remains fixed with inertial space. When the housing of the gyro rotates, a detector can count nodes of the standing waves, each of which represents an angle.

A)
Rate biasing
B)
Intensity control
C)
Random rate fixing
D)
Using mechanical dither

Correct Answer :   Rate biasing


Explanation : The method of rate biasing employs a turntable that applies a constant rotation to the gyro. An angular encoder measures the relative angle between the instrument and its base.

A)
Backscatter
B)
Low intensity
C)
High intensity
D)
Low standing wave ratio

Correct Answer :   Backscatter


Explanation : Lock-in phenomenon leads makes the RLG insensitive to low angular rates. The cause of the lock-in phenomenon is backscatter within the cavity, usually resulting from imperfections in or particulates in the mirror surfaces.

A)
Laser emission
B)
Laser discharge
C)
Spontaneous discharge
D)
Spontaneous emission

Correct Answer :   Spontaneous emission


Explanation : The gas medium that supplies the gain for the laser also occasionally emits photons which are unrelated to the laser signal. This is known as spontaneous emissions are leads to noise and random walk in the RLG angle output.

A)
Resonance
B)
Intensity difference
C)
Interference intensity
D)
Wavelength difference

Correct Answer :   Interference intensity


Explanation : In a fiber optic gyro, The counterpropagating beams are launched into an optical path and are recombined as they exit. The interference generated by the recombination depends on the optical phase difference between the two beams and therefore provides a measure of rotation.

A)
Void system
B)
Fixed system
C)
Gimballed system
D)
Strapdown system

Correct Answer :   Strapdown system


Explanation : In a strapdown navigator, Gyroscopes and accelerometers are rigidly mounted to a sensor assembly that is usually mounted to the vehicle on a set of strap mounts. The gyroscopes track the rotation of the body and compute the orientation of the body.

A)
Null sensors
B)
Angular rate sensors
C)
Angle indicators
D)
Orientation indicators

Correct Answer :   Angular rate sensors


Explanation : In a strapdown system, the gyros do not act as null sensors as in a gimballed system but act as inertial angular rate sensors. Angle and orientation are computed from the measured angular rates by the algorithms that calculate heading and orientation.

A)
Calculate vehicle’s attitude
B)
Provide inputs to air data computer
C)
Perform dead-reckoning computations
D)
Transform accelerometer measurements into navigational coordinates

Correct Answer :   Provide inputs to air data computer


Explanation : The purpose of strapdown computations are to calculate the vehicle’s attitude relative to the navigational coordinates using the gyro measurements, to transform the accelerometer measurements from vehicle axes into navigational coordinates, and to perform the dead-reckoning computations. Air data computer is independent of inertial navigation system.

A)
Quaternion
B)
Triternion
C)
Directional sines
D)
Directional cosines

Correct Answer :   Quaternion


Explanation : Describing rotation motion in the strapdown system employ more than the minimum three parameters. A quaternion is a four element entity ting of a scalar part and a vector part. It defines the instantaneous axis of rotation.

A)
Integral constraints
B)
Differential constraint
C)
Normalization constraint
D)
Linearization constraint

Correct Answer :   Normalization constraint


Explanation : Quaternion integration algorithms usually make use of the normalization constraint to control error growth in the computations. The sum of the squares of the quaternion elements are subtracted from unity to yield the normalization error.

A)
Linear motion of the vehicle
B)
Accuracy of gyro torquer
C)
Drift rate of the reference gyro
D)
Orthogonality of the components on the platform

Correct Answer :   Linear motion of the vehicle


Explanation : The ability of stable element to remain non-rotating relative to a space or Earth coordinate frame depends on drift rate of the reference gyros, accuracy of gyro torquers, linear motion of the vehicle, orthogonality of the components on the platform.

A)
Inner gimbal approaches 0°
B)
Inner gimbal approaches 90°
C)
Outer gimbal approaches 90°
D)
Middle gimbal approaches 90°

Correct Answer :   Middle gimbal approaches 90°


Explanation : The condition in which the middle gimbal angle approaches 90° is called gimbal lock. In this condition, the innermost and outermost axis coincide, thus depriving the platform one of its degrees of freedom.

A)
Protect the instruments from large angular motion
B)
Euler angles are not easily readable from the gimbals
C)
Protection from vibration, temperature and magnetic effects
D)
Orients the accelerometers into a coordinate frame relative to Earth

Correct Answer :   Euler angles are not easily readable from the gimbals


Explanation : One of the main purposes of gimballed system is to provide a convenient readout of vehicle attitude by reading each of the gimbals angles separately, thereby yielding convenient Euler angle outputs.

A)
Resolution algorithm
B)
Coning algorithm
C)
Differential algorithm
D)
Error control algorithm

Correct Answer :   Coning algorithm


Explanation : Pre-processing the gyro data at a higher rate than the quaternion iteration improves the approximation in the vector change in angle in order to follow the actual motion of the rotation axis closely. The pre-processing algorithm is also called as coning algorithms.

A)
Reduce drift error
B)
Impact protection
C)
Limit vibration errors
D)
Prevent voltage surges

Correct Answer :   Limit vibration errors


Explanation : The gyros and accelerometers are rigidly mounted on a block with temperature sensors. The block is usually shock mounted to the vehicle to control the bandwidth of the motion sensed at the instruments. Shock mounting limits vibration rectification errors within the errors themselves.