Azimuth Calculation Device And Azimuth Calculation Method

Abstract

An azimuth calculation device includes: a first azimuth calculation unit that calculates a first azimuth based on a satellite signal or a detection result of an external sensor; a second azimuth calculation unit that calculates a second azimuth based on an angular velocity signal; a third azimuth calculation unit that calculates a third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth; a storage unit that stores temperature characteristic information of an angular velocity bias; a temperature characteristic estimation unit that estimates a temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth and updates the temperature characteristic information; and an angular velocity bias prediction unit that predicts the angular velocity bias based on the temperature and the temperature characteristic information. The second azimuth calculation unit calculates the second azimuth based on the angular velocity bias predicted.

Description

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JP Application Serial Number 2023-090752, filed Jun. 1, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an azimuth calculation device and an azimuth calculation method.

2. Related Art

JP-A-2009-192495 describes a navigation device in which temperature characteristic data of the angular velocity bias is obtained based on the temperature detection value and the detection value of the angular velocity when the moving body is stopped and, when the temperature characteristic data of the angular velocity bias is valid, the angular velocity bias and the angular velocity are estimated in real time by performing GSP/INS integrated calculation using the angular velocity bias obtained from the temperature and the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity sensor as an initial value, thereby calculating the azimuth of the moving body.

However, in the control device described in JP-A-2009-192495, it is necessary to accumulate the relationship between the temperature detection value and the detection value of the angular velocity when the moving body is stopped to obtain the temperature characteristic data of the angular velocity bias. For this reason, when the amount of data accumulated is not sufficient because the number of times the moving body stops is small or in a case in which the temperature when the moving body travels is different from the temperature when the moving body is stopped, the estimation accuracy of the angular velocity bias may decrease.

SUMMARY

An azimuth calculation device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first azimuth calculation unit that calculates a first azimuth based on a satellite signal received by a satellite signal receiver or a detection result of an external sensor; a second azimuth calculation unit that calculates a second azimuth based on an angular velocity signal output from an angular velocity sensor detecting an angular velocity; a third azimuth calculation unit that calculates a third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth; a storage unit that stores temperature characteristic information of an angular velocity bias; a temperature characteristic estimation unit that estimates, based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth, a temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias for a temperature detected by a temperature sensor and updates, based on the estimated temperature characteristic, the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit; and an angular velocity bias prediction unit that predicts the angular velocity bias based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit. The second azimuth calculation unit calculates, based on the angular velocity bias last time predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit, the second azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected.

An azimuth calculation method according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first azimuth calculation step of calculating a first azimuth based on a satellite signal received by a satellite signal receiver or a detection result of an external sensor; a second azimuth calculation step of calculating a second azimuth based on an angular velocity signal output from an angular velocity sensor detecting an angular velocity; a third azimuth calculation step of calculating a third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth; a temperature characteristic estimation step of estimating, based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth, a temperature characteristic of an angular velocity bias for a temperature detected by a temperature sensor and updating, based on the estimated temperature characteristic, temperature characteristic information of the angular velocity bias stored in a storage unit; and an angular velocity bias prediction step of predicting the angular velocity bias based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit. In the second azimuth calculation step, the second azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected is calculated based on the angular velocity bias last time predicted in the angular velocity bias prediction step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an azimuth calculation device according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of temperature characteristic information;

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating an example of a temperature characteristic of angular velocity bias;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the specific procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the specific procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an azimuth calculation device according to a third embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the specific procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to the third embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the specific procedure of the azimuth calculation method according to the third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below do not unduly limit the contents of the present disclosure described in the appended claims. In addition, all of the configurations described below are not necessarily essential components of the present disclosure.

1. First Embodiment

1-1. Azimuth Calculation Device

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an azimuth calculation device according to a first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, an azimuth calculation device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a first azimuth calculation unit 20, a second azimuth calculation unit 30, a third azimuth calculation unit 40, an angular velocity bias prediction unit 50, a temperature characteristic estimation unit 60, and a storage unit 70. The azimuth calculation device 1 may include a satellite signal receiver 11, a wheel speed sensor 12, an angular velocity sensor 13, a 6DoF sensor 14, and a temperature sensor 15. Dof is an abbreviation for degrees of freedom. The azimuth calculation device 1 may have a configuration in which some of the components in FIG. 1 are omitted or changed or other components are added.

The azimuth calculation device 1 is mounted on a moving body. A local coordinate system, which is a three-axis coordinate system including an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis, is defined in a moving body on which the azimuth calculation device 1 is mounted. The X-axis is an axis in which the traveling direction of the moving body is positive, the Y-axis is an axis in which a right direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the moving body is positive, and the Z-axis is an axis in which a downward direction perpendicular to a plane on which the moving body travels is positive. In addition, a global coordinate system is defined in a space in which the moving body moves. The global coordinate system is a coordinate system fixed to the earth. In the following description, it is assumed that the azimuth calculation device 1 is mounted on a vehicle which is a moving body.

The satellite signal receiver 11 receives, via an antenna (not shown), a satellite signal transmitted from a satellite. The satellite forms a part of a satellite positioning system. The satellite positioning system may be a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Examples of the GNSS include GPS (Global Positioning System), EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service), QZSS (Quasi Zenith Satellite System), GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System), GALILEO, and BeiDou (BeiDou Navigation Satellite System).

The wheel speed sensor 12 detects a rotational speed of a wheel of a vehicle, which is a moving body, and outputs a wheel speed signal.

The angular velocity sensor 13 detects an angular velocity and outputs an angular velocity signal. Specifically, the angular velocity sensor 13 has one detection axis and is mounted on the moving body such that the detection axis extends along the Z-axis. The angular sensor 13 detects an angular velocity around the Z-axis and outputs a Z-axis angular velocity signal. For example, the angular velocity sensor 13 may be a crystal gyro sensor that has a sensor element (not shown) made of crystal and detects an angular velocity with high accuracy.

The 6DoF sensor 14 detects angular velocities around three axes perpendicular to each other and accelerations in the directions of the three axes, and outputs three-axis angular velocity signals and three-axis accelerations signals. Specifically, the 6DoF sensor 14 has three detection axes perpendicular to each other, and is mounted on the moving body such that the three detection axes extend along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis, respectively. The 6DoF sensor 14 detects an angular velocity around the X-axis, an angular velocity around the Y-axis, and an angular velocity around the Z-axis and outputs three-axis angular velocity signals, and detects an acceleration in the X-axis direction, an acceleration in the Y-axis direction, and an acceleration in the Z-axis direction and outputs three-axis acceleration signals. For example, the 6DoF sensor 14 may be a capacitive sensor obtained by processing a silicon substrate using a MEMS technique.

For example, the angular velocity sensor 13 and the 6DoF sensor 14 may be housed in one housing so that the detection axis of the angular velocity sensor 13 and any one of the three detection axes of the 6DoF sensor 14 are in the same direction, thereby forming a sensor module 10 that detects angular velocities around the three axes and accelerations in the directions of the three axes. In this case, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the sensor module 10 is mounted on a vehicle 5, which is a moving body, such that the three axes extend along the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis. The angular velocity sensor 13 detects an angular velocity around the Z-axis, and the 6DoF sensor 14 detects an angular velocity around the X-axis, an angular velocity around the Y-axis, an angular velocity around the Z-axis, an acceleration in the X-axis direction, an acceleration in the Y-axis direction, and an acceleration in the Z-axis direction. The sensor module 10 may output data including the angular velocity around the Z-axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13 and the angular velocities around the three axes and the accelerations in the directions of the three axes detected by the 6DoF sensor 14. For example, when the angular velocity around the Z-axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13 is more accurate than the angular velocity around the Z-axis detected by the 6DoF sensor 14, the sensor module 10 may output data including the angular velocity around the Z-axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13 and the angular velocity around the X-axis, the angular velocity around the Y-axis, and the accelerations in the directions of the three axes detected by the 6DoF sensor 14.

Here, the angular velocity sensor 13 and the 6DoF sensor 14 may be separate bodies.

The temperature sensor 15 detects a temperature and outputs a temperature signal. For example, the temperature sensor 15 is disposed in the vicinity of the angular velocity sensor 13 and detects the temperature of the angular velocity sensor 13. Alternatively, the angular velocity sensor 13 and the temperature sensor 15 may be housed in one housing.

The first azimuth calculation unit 20 calculates, based on the satellite signal received by the satellite signal receiver 11, a first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k, which is the azimuth of the moving body in the global coordinate system at time k. The first azimuth calculation unit 20 calculates the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k at a predetermined period, for example, every one second. For example, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 may calculate the velocity vector of the moving body by using a phenomenon in which the frequency of the satellite signal shifts according to the relationship between the position of the satellite and the velocity of the moving body due to the Doppler effect, and may calculate the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k from the direction of the velocity vector. In addition, for example, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 may calculate based on the satellite signal, the position of the moving body in the global coordinate system, calculate a velocity vector by differentiating the position, and calculate the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k from the direction of the velocity vector. For example, antennas for receiving satellite signals may be provided at two different positions of the moving body, the satellite signal receiver 11 may calculate the positions of the two antennas based on the satellite signals received by the two antennas, and the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k may be calculated from the two calculated positions. Alternatively, two satellite signal receivers 11 may be mounted on the moving body, two positions may be calculated based on the respective satellite signals received by the two satellite signal receivers 11, and the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k may be calculated from the two calculated positions. The first azimuth calculation unit 20 may further calculate the position or the speed of the moving body in the global coordinate system by using known satellite navigation.

The second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates, based on the angular velocity signal output from the angular velocity sensor 13, a second azimuth Ψ_ins,k, which is the azimuth of the moving body in the global coordinate system at time k. The second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k at time k with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 at the last time k−1 predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50. The second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k at a predetermined period, for example, every 0.01 seconds. Specifically, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the angular velocities of the roll angle φ, the pitch angle θ, and the yaw angle ψ by using Equation (1) based on the angular velocity ω_z around the Z-axis at time k detected by the angular velocity sensor 13 and the angular velocity ω_x around the X-axis and the angular velocity ω_y around the Y-axis at time k detected by the 6DoF sensor 14. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the roll angle φ is a rotation angle with the X-axis in the traveling direction of the vehicle 5 as a rotation axis. In addition, the pitch angle θ is a rotation angle with the Y-axis in the right direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the vehicle 5 as a rotation axis. In addition, the yaw angle ψ is a rotation angle with the Z-axis in the downward direction perpendicular to the plane on which the vehicle 5 travels as a rotation axis. The yaw angle ψ indicates the relative azimuth of the moving body, and the roll angle φ and the pitch angle θ indicate the posture of the moving body.

$\begin{array}{cc}\left[\begin{array}{c}\stackrel{.}{\phi }\\ \stackrel{.}{\theta }\\ \stackrel{.}{\Psi }\end{array}\right]=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}1& \sin \phi \tan \theta & \cos \phi \tan \theta \\ 0& \cos \phi & -\sin \phi \\ 0& \sin \phi /\cos \theta & \cos \phi /\cos \theta \end{array}\right]\left[\begin{array}{c}{w}_x\\ w_y\\ w_z\end{array}\right]& \left(1\right)\end{array}$

With a third azimuth Ψ_est,k-1 at the last time k−1 calculated by the third azimuth calculation unit 40 as the initial azimuth, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k at time k by adding a value, which is obtained by subtracting the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 from the angular velocity of the yaw angle ψ and integrating the subtraction result, to the third azimuth Ψ_est,k-1. In the traveling control of the vehicle 5, the yaw angle ψ is most important among the roll angle φ, the pitch angle θ, and the yaw angle ψ. Therefore, in order to calculate the yaw angle ψ with high accuracy, the azimuth calculation device 1 includes, in addition to the 6DoF sensor 14, the angular velocity sensor 13 that detects the angular velocity around the Z-axis with high accuracy.

The third azimuth calculation unit 40 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k, which is the azimuth of the moving body in the global coordinate system at time k, based on the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k at time k calculated by the first azimuth calculation unit 20 and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k at time k calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30. The third azimuth calculation unit 40 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k at a predetermined period, for example, every one second by using known composite navigation in which the satellite navigation and the inertial navigation are combined. For example, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 may set the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k as the third azimuth Ψ_est,k at the timing when the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k is calculated, and may set the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k as the third azimuth Ψ_est,k at the timing when the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k is not calculated. In addition, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 may calculate the third azimuth Ψ_est,k by using a Kalman filter. The third azimuth calculation unit 40 may further calculate the position of the moving body based on the speed, the posture, and the azimuth of the moving body. The speed of the moving body may be a speed calculated by the first azimuth calculation unit 20, or may be a speed calculated based on the wheel speed signal output from the wheel speed sensor 12. In addition, the posture of the moving body may be expressed by the roll angle Φ_est,k and the pitch angle Θ_est,k, and the roll angle φ and the pitch angle θ may be calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30.

The storage unit 70 stores temperature characteristic information 71 of an angular velocity bias δΩ_k. In the present embodiment, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is the bias of the angular velocity of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30, and is expressed by Equation (2). δΨ_ins,k in Equation (2) is an error of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k, and is a difference between the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k and the third azimuth Ψ_est,k at time k calculated by the third azimuth calculation unit 40 as shown in Equation (3). Δt in Equation (2) is a period at which the third azimuth calculation unit 40 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k. For example, Δt is 1 second.

$\begin{array}{cc}\delta {\Omega }_k=\delta {\stackrel{.}{\Psi }}_{\mathrm{ins},k}=\frac{\delta {\Psi }_{\mathrm{ins},k}}{\Delta t}& \left(2\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{\mathrm{\delta \Psi }}_{\mathrm{ins},k}={\Psi }_{\mathrm{ins},k}-{\Psi }_{\mathrm{est},k}& \left(3\right)\end{array}$

The angular velocity bias δΩ_k is approximated by an n-th degree polynomial having a temperature change ΔT_k at time k as a variable as in Equation (4). The temperature change ΔT_k is a difference between the temperature T_k at time k and the temperature T_k at time k−1 detected by the temperature sensor 15.

$\begin{array}{cc}\delta {\Omega }_k=\sum _{i=0}^n{c}_{i,k}\Delta T_k^i=\sum _{i=0}^n{c_{i,k}\left(T_k-T_{k-1}\right)}^i& \left(4\right)\end{array}$

In the present embodiment, the temperature characteristic information 71 includes values of coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k of the polynomial (4) for each of a plurality of temperatures. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the temperature characteristic information 71. In the example of FIG. 3, the temperature characteristic information 71 includes values of coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k for each temperature in units of 1° C. of −40° C. to +85° C. The temperature characteristic information 71 does not necessarily include at least one of the values of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k for at least one temperature.

The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15, based on the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30 and the third azimuth Ψ_est,k calculated by the third azimuth calculation unit 40, and updates the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70 based on the estimated temperature characteristic. The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 may estimate the values of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k of the polynomial (4) as the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for the temperature T_k and calculate the variances of the estimated coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k. In a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 includes the value of the coefficient c_i,k of the polynomial (4) for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 may update the value of the coefficient c_i,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the coefficient c_i,k when the variance of the coefficient c_i,k is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, and may not update the value of the coefficient c_i,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 when the variance of the coefficient c_i,k is larger than the predetermined threshold value. That is, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 may update the value of the coefficient c_i,k for the temperature T_k, which is included in the temperature characteristic information 71, only when the estimation accuracy of the value of the coefficient c_i,k for the temperature T_k is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 illustrated in FIG. 3 is stored in the storage unit 70, for example, when the temperature T_k is 25° C. and the variances of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k are all equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the values c_{0(+25° C.)} to c_{n(+25° C.)} of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k for 25° C. included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated values of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k.

When the temperature characteristic information 71 does not include the values of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k of the polynomial (4) for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 may update the values of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated values of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k regardless of the values of the variances.

The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k at a predetermined period at which the third azimuth Ψ_est,k is updated, for example, at a short period such as one second. Therefore, in each period in which the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the temperature characteristic, the temperature change ΔT_k is small. As illustrated in FIG. 4, when the temperature change ΔT_k is small, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k can be regarded as changing linearly for the temperature change ΔT_k. That is, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is approximated by a linear polynomial of the temperature change ΔT_k as shown in Equation (5). Equation (5) corresponds to the polynomial (4) when n is 1.

$\begin{array}{cc}{\mathrm{\delta \Omega }}_k\cong c_{1,k}\Delta T_k+c_{0,k}=c_{1,k}\left(T_k-T_{k-1}\right)+c_{0,k}& \left(5\right)\end{array}$

Therefore, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 may estimate the first-order coefficient c_1,k and the zero-order coefficient c_0,k of the polynomial in Equation (5) for the temperature T_k according to the temperature signal output from the temperature sensor 15. In the present embodiment, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the first-order coefficient c_1,k and the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k by using an extended Kalman filter.

In the present embodiment, as shown in Equation (6), a state variable x_k having the first-order coefficient c_1,k, the zero-order coefficient c_0,k, and the temperature T_k as its elements is defined.

$\begin{array}{cc}{x}_k=\left[\begin{array}{c}{c}_{1,k}\\ c_{0,k}\\ T_k\end{array}\right]& \left(6\right)\end{array}$

The state equation is defined by Equation (7). In Equation (7), F_k is a state transition matrix, and is assumed to be 3×3 unit matrix as shown in Equation (8). In addition, in Equation (7), v_k is drive noise, and has, as its elements, σ_v1, σ_v2, and σ_v3 that are set to appropriate values in advance as shown in Equation (9).

$\begin{array}{cc}{x}_k=F_k{x}_{k-1}+v_k& \left(7\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{F}_k=I=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}1& 0& 0\\ 0& 1& 0\\ 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right]& \left(8\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{v}_k=\left[\begin{array}{c}{\sigma }_{v1}\\ {\sigma }_{v2}\\ {\sigma }_{v3}\end{array}\right]& \left(9\right)\end{array}$

In the present embodiment, as shown in Equation (10), an observation variable y_k having the angular velocity bias δΩ_k, an angular velocity bias change δΩ_k-δΩ_k-1, and the temperature T_k as its elements is defined.

$\begin{array}{cc}{y}_k=\left[\begin{array}{c}{\mathrm{\delta \Omega }}_k\\ {\mathrm{\delta \Omega }}_k-{\mathrm{\delta \Omega }}_{k-1}\\ T_k\end{array}\right]& \left(10\right)\end{array}$

The observation equation is defined by Equation (11). In Equation (11), H_k is the observation Jacobian, and is expressed by Equation (12). In addition, in Equation (11), w_k is observation noise, and has, as its elements, σ_w1, σ_w2, and σ_w3 that are set to appropriate values in advance as shown in Equation (13).

$\begin{array}{cc}{y}_k=h\left(x_k,w_k\right)\cong H_k{x}_k+w_k& \left(11\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{H}_k=\frac{\partial h}{\partial x}{❘}_{x=x_k}=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}\Delta T_k& 1& c_{1,k}\\ \Delta T_k-\Delta T_{k-1}& 0& c_{1,k}\\ 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right]& \left(12\right)\end{array}$

$\begin{array}{cc}{w}_k=\left[\begin{array}{c}{\sigma }_{w1}\\ {\sigma }_{w2}\\ {\sigma }_{w3}\end{array}\right]& \left(13\right)\end{array}$

The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 executes a prediction step, an observation step, and an update step of the extended Kalman filter, and estimates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k.

First, in the prediction step, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 predicts a state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 at time k from a state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k-1|k-1 updated in the update step at time k−1 by using Equation (14) based on State Equation (7). That is, the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k-1|k-1 is a posteriori estimation value at time k−1, and the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 is a priori estimation value at time k.

$\begin{array}{cc}{\hat{x}}_{k❘k-1}=F_k{\hat{x}}_{k-1❘k-1}={\hat{x}}_{k-1❘k-1}& \left(14\right)\end{array}$

In addition, in the prediction step, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 predicts, by using Equation (15), the covariance matrix P_k|k-1 of the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 at time k from the covariance matrix P_k-1|k-1 of the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k-1|k-1 updated in the update step at time k−1. In Equation (15), V_k is a covariance matrix of the drive noise v_k, and is calculated by Equation (16).

$\begin{array}{cc}{P}_{k❘k-1}=F_k{P}_{k-1❘k-1}{F_k}^T+V_k=P_{k-1❘k-1}+V_k& \left(15\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{V}_k=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}{{\sigma }_{v1}}^2& 0& 0\\ 0& {{\sigma }_{v2}}^2& 0\\ 0& 0& {{\sigma }_{v3}}^2\end{array}\right]& \left(16\right)\end{array}$

Subsequently, in the observation step, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates a value to be observed from the state variables x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 predicted in the prediction step at time k by using Equation (17) based on Observation Equation (11). In Equation (17), the temperature change ΔT_k is, as in Equation (18), a difference between the temperature T_k|k-1 included in the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 and the temperature T_k-1|k-1 included in the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k-1|k-1. In addition, the temperature change ΔT_k-1 is, as in Equation (19), a difference between the temperature T_k-1|k-1 included in the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k-1|k-1 and the temperature T_k-2|k-2 included in the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k-2|k-2.

$\begin{array}{cc}h\left({\hat{x}}_{k❘k-1},0\right)\cong H_k{\hat{x}}_{k❘k-1}=\left[\begin{array}{c}{c}_{1,k❘k-1}\Delta T_k+c_{0,k❘k-1}\\ c_{1,k❘k-1}\left(\Delta T_k-\Delta T_{k-1}\right)\\ T_{k❘k-1}\end{array}\right]& \left(17\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}\Delta T_k=T_{k❘k-1}-T_{k-1❘k-1}& \left(18\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}\Delta T_{k-1}=T_{k-1❘k-1}-T_{k-2❘k-2}& \left(19\right)\end{array}$

The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates, by using Equation (20), an observation residual e_k, which is a difference between the value of the observation variable y_k at time k of actual observation and the value calculated by Equation (17).

$\begin{array}{cc}{e}_k=y_k-h\left({\hat{x}}_{k❘k-1},0\right)& \left(20\right)\end{array}$

In addition, in the observation step, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates, by using Equation (21), the covariance matrix S_k of the observation residual e_k from the covariance matrix P_k|k-1 of the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 predicted in the prediction step at time k. In Equation (21), W_k is a covariance matrix of the observation noise w_k, and is calculated by Equation (22). In addition, H_k is an observation Jacobian matrix, and is calculated by Equation (23).

$\begin{array}{cc}{S}_k=W_k+H_k{P}_{k❘k-1}{H_k}^T& \left(21\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{W}_k=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}{{\sigma }_{w1}}^2& 0& 0\\ 0& {{\sigma }_{w2}}^2& 0\\ 0& 0& {{\sigma }_{w3}}^2\end{array}\right]& \left(22\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{H}_k=\frac{\partial h}{\partial x}{❘}_{x={\hat{x}}_{k❘k-1}}=\left[\begin{array}{ccc}\Delta T_k& 1& c_{1,k❘k-1}\\ \Delta T_k-\Delta T_{k-1}& 0& c_{1,k❘k-1}\\ 0& 0& 1\end{array}\right]& \left(23\right)\end{array}$

Finally, in the update step, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates, by using Equation (24), a Kalman gain K_k from the covariance matrix P_k|k-1 of the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 predicted in the prediction step at time k and the covariance matrix S_k of the observation residual e_k calculated in the observation step at time k.

$\begin{array}{cc}{K}_k=P_{k❘k-1}{H_k}^T{S_k}^{-1}& \left(24\right)\end{array}$

In the update step, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates, by using Equation (25), the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 predicted in the prediction step at time k to the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k, based on the Kalman gain K_k and the observation residual e_k calculated in the observation step at time k. As described above, the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 is a priori estimation value at time k. In addition, the state variable x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k is a posteriori estimation value at time k.

$\begin{array}{cc}{\hat{x}}_{k❘k}={\hat{x}}_{k❘k-1}+K_k{e}_k& \left(25\right)\end{array}$

Thus, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates, by using the extended Kalman filter, the first-order coefficient c_1,k and the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the state variables x_k.

In the update step, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates, by using Equation (26), the covariance matrix P_k|k-1 of the state variables x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k-1 predicted in the prediction step at time k to the covariance matrix P_k|k of the state variables x{circumflex over ( )}_k|k, based on the Kalman gains K_k.

$\begin{array}{cc}{P}_{k❘k}=\left(\begin{array}{ccc}{p}_{11}& p_{12}& p_{13}\\ p_{21}& p_{22}& p_{23}\\ p_{31}& p_{32}& p_{33}\end{array}\right)=\left(I-K_k{H}_k\right)P_{k❘k-1}& \left(26\right)\end{array}$

In the covariance matrix P_k|k, p₁₁ is the variance of the first-order coefficient c_1,k and p₂₂ is the variance of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k. In a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 includes the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k when the variance p₁₁ is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and does not update the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 when the variance p₁₁ is larger than the predetermined threshold value. When the temperature characteristic information 71 does not include the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k regardless of the value of the variance p₁₁.

Similarly, in a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 includes the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k when the variance p₂₂ is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and does not update the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 when the variance p₂₂ is larger than the predetermined threshold value. When the temperature characteristic information 71 does not include the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k regardless of the value of the variance p₂₂.

The angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 predicts the angular velocity bias δΩ_k based on the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15 and the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. For example, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 may predict the angular velocity bias δΩ_k by substituting the temperature T_k-1, the temperature T_k, and the coefficient c_0,k to c_n,k for the temperature T_k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 into the polynomial (4).

The azimuth calculation device 1 configured as described above can estimate the angular velocity bias δΩ_k at a predetermined period, for example, every one second, regardless of whether the vehicle 5 as a moving body is stopped or traveling, and calculate the highly accurate third azimuth Ψ_est,k with the angular velocity bias corrected.

A person who manufactures the angular velocity sensor 13 or a place where the angular velocity sensor 13 is manufactured may be the same as or different from a person who modularizes a part or entirety of the azimuth calculation device 1 including the angular velocity sensor 13 or a place where a part or entirety of the azimuth calculation device 1 including the angular velocity sensor 13 is modularized.

1-2. Azimuth Calculation Method

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the azimuth calculation method according to the present embodiment includes a first azimuth calculation step S10, a second azimuth calculation step S20, a third azimuth calculation step S30, a temperature characteristic estimation step S40, and an angular velocity bias prediction step S50. In the present embodiment, the azimuth calculation device 1 performs processing of each step according to the procedure illustrated in FIG. 5. The azimuth calculation device 1 may perform the processing of each step by executing a program (not shown).

First, in the first azimuth calculation step S10, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k based on the satellite signal received by the satellite signal receiver 11.

Subsequently, in the second azimuth calculation step S20, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k based on the angular velocity signal output from the angular velocity sensor 13 detecting the angular velocity. The second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 last time predicted in the angular velocity bias prediction step S50 to be described later.

Subsequently, in the third azimuth calculation step S30, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k based on the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k calculated in the first azimuth calculation step S10 and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated in the second azimuth calculation step S20.

Subsequently, in the temperature characteristic estimation step S40, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 of the azimuth calculation device 1 estimates, based on the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated in the second azimuth calculation step S20 and the third azimuth Ψ_est,k calculated in the third azimuth calculation step S30, the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity biases δΩ_k for the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensors 15, and updates, based on the estimated temperature characteristic, the temperature characteristic information 71 of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k stored in the storage unit 70.

The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the values of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k of the polynomial (4) as the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k, calculates the variance of the estimated coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k. In a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 includes the value of the coefficient c_i,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 may update the value of the coefficient c_i,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the coefficient c_i,k when the variance of the coefficient c_i,k is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and may not update the value of the coefficient c_i,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 when the variance of the coefficient c_i,k is larger than the predetermined threshold value.

Subsequently, in the angular velocity bias prediction step S50, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 of the azimuth calculation device 1 predicts the angular velocity bias δΩ_k based on the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15 and the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70.

The azimuth calculation device 1 repeatedly performs steps S10 to S50 until the azimuth calculation process ends in step S60.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the specific procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to a first embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, first, in step S1, the azimuth calculation device 1 initializes time k to 0.

Subsequently, when the satellite signal receiver 11 can receive a satellite signal in step S2, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k based on the satellite signal received by the satellite signal receiver 11 in step S11. When the satellite signal receiver 11 cannot receive a satellite signal in step S2, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 does not perform the processing of step S11. Step S11 corresponds to the first azimuth calculation step S10 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S21, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 of the azimuth calculation device 1 sets the initial value of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k. Specifically, the third azimuth Ψ_est,k-1 last time calculated in step S31 described later is set as the initial value of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k. When the third azimuth Ψ_est,k-1 is not calculated last time in step S31, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 sets the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k-1 last time calculated in step S23, which will be described later, as the initial value of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k. When time k is 0, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 sets the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k to an appropriate initial value.

Subsequently, in step S22, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates, by using Equation (1) above, the angular velocity of the yaw angle ψ based on the angular velocity ω_z,k around the Z-axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13, and corrects the bias of the angular velocity of the yaw angle ψ by subtracting the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 last time predicted in step S51, which will be described later, from the angular velocity of the yaw angle ψ.

Subsequently, in step S23, a value obtained by integrating the angular velocity of the yaw angle ψ whose bias has been corrected in step S21 is added to the initial value of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k set in step S22 to calculate the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k with the angular velocity bias corrected.

Steps S21, S22, and S23 correspond to the second azimuth calculation step S20 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, when it is determined in step S28 that the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k has been calculated in step S11, in step S31, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k based on the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k calculated in step S11 and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated in step S23. In step S30, when the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k is not calculated in step S11, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 does not perform the processing of step S31. Step S31 corresponds to the third azimuth calculation step S30 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S41, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates, by using Equation (3) above, an error δψ_ins,k of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k.

Subsequently, in step S42, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates, by using Equation (2) above, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k, which is the bias of the angular velocity of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k.

Subsequently, in step S43, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k. Specifically, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates the observation variable y_k shown in Equation (10) above based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k calculated in step S42 and the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15, and calculates, by using the extended Kalman filter described above, the state variable x_k having, as its elements, the first-order coefficient c_1,k, the zero-order coefficient c_0,k, and the temperature T_k of the above polynomial (5) shown in Equation (6) above.

Subsequently, in step S44, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. Specifically, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates the covariance matrix P_k|k shown in Equation (26) above.

Subsequently, in a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 includes the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the coefficient c_1,k when the variance p₁₁ is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and does not update the value of the coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 when the variance p₁₁ is larger than the predetermined threshold value. When the temperature characteristic information 71 does not include the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k regardless of the value of the variance p₁₁.

Similarly, in a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 includes the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k when the variance p₂₂ is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and does not update the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 when the variance p₂₂ is larger than the predetermined threshold value. When the temperature characteristic information 71 does not include the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k regardless of the value of the variance p₂₂.

Steps S41, S42, S43, and S44 correspond to the temperature characteristic estimation step S40 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S51, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 of the azimuth calculation device 1 predicts the angular velocity bias δΩ_k of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k based on the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. For example, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 may predict the angular velocity bias δΩ_k by substituting the temperature T_k-1, the temperature T_k, and the first-order coefficient c_1,k and the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 into the linear polynomial (5). Step S51 corresponds to the angular velocity bias prediction step S50 in FIG. 5.

The azimuth calculation device 1 increases time k by 1 in step S58, and repeatedly performs steps S2 to S58 until the azimuth calculation process ends in step S60.

In this manner, the azimuth calculation device 1 can estimate the angular velocity bias δΩ_k at a predetermined period, for example, every one second, regardless of whether the vehicle 5 as a moving body is stopped or traveling, and calculate the highly accurate third azimuth Ψ_est,k with the angular velocity bias corrected.

1-3. Function and Effect

As described above, in the first embodiment, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 can calculate the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k based on the satellite signal regardless of whether the moving body on which the azimuth calculation device 1 is mounted is stopped or traveling, and the second azimuth calculation unit 30 can calculate the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k based on the angular velocity signal output from the angular velocity sensor 13 even when a satellite signal cannot be received. Therefore, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 can seamlessly and periodically calculate the third azimuth Ψ_est,k based on the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k. As a result, even when the moving body is traveling, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 can periodically estimate the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k based on the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k and the third azimuth Ψ_est,k and can update the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. Therefore, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 can calculate the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 last time predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 based on the temperature characteristic information 71. In addition, since the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15, it is possible to accurately estimate the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for each narrow temperature range. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the azimuth calculation device 1 can calculate the azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected with high accuracy regardless of whether the moving body is stopped or traveling.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is not approximated by a polynomial having the temperature T_k as a variable, but is approximated by the polynomial (4) having the temperature change ΔT_k as a variable. Therefore, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 can accurately estimate the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for each narrow temperature range. In a narrow temperature range, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is accurately approximated by the linear polynomial (5) having the temperature change ΔT_k as a variable. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the calculation load for estimation while maintaining the estimation accuracy of the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k by the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60.

In addition, in the first embodiment, since the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the values of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 only when the estimation accuracy of the coefficients c_0,k to c_n,k of the polynomial (4) approximating the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 can accurately predict the angular velocity bias δΩ_k based on the temperature characteristic information 71. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the azimuth calculation device 1 can calculate the azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected with high accuracy.

2. Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, in a second embodiment, components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, descriptions overlapping those in the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified, and contents different from those in the first embodiment will be mainly described.

In the second embodiment, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is different from that in the first embodiment. That is, in the first embodiment, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is the bias of the angular velocity of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30. However, in the second embodiment, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is the bias of the angular velocity ω_z,k around the Z-axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13. Since the Z-axis corresponds to the yaw axis, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is, in other words, the bias of the angular velocity ω_z,k around the yaw axis.

Since a configuration example of an azimuth calculation device 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as that in FIG. 1, illustration thereof will be omitted. However, in the azimuth calculation device 1 according to the second embodiment, processes performed by the second azimuth calculation unit 30, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50, and the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 are different from those in the first embodiment.

The second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates a second azimuth Ψ_ins,k, which is the azimuth of the moving body in the global coordinate system at time k, based on the angular velocity signal output from the angular velocity sensor 13. The second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k at time k with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 at the last time k−1 predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50. Specifically, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the angular velocity around the Z-axis with the angular velocity bias corrected by subtracting the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 from the angular velocity ω_z,k around the Z-axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13. With the third azimuth Ψ_est,k-1 at the last time k−1 calculated by the third azimuth calculation unit 40 as the initial azimuth, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k at time k by adding, to the third azimuth Ψ_est,k-1, a value, which is obtained by integrating the angular velocity of the yaw angle ψ obtained by substituting the angular velocity around the Z-axis into Equation (1).

The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15, based on the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30 and the third azimuth Ψ_est,k calculated by the third azimuth calculation unit 40, and updates, based on the estimated temperature characteristic, the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70.

In the present embodiment, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates, by using Equation (27), the angular velocity bias δΩ_k, which is an element of the observation variable y_k shown in Equation (10) above.

$\begin{array}{cc}{\mathrm{\delta \Omega }}_k={\mathrm{\delta \Omega }}_{z,k}={\omega }_{z,k}-{\omega }_{z,k}^{\mathrm{est}}& \left(27\right)\end{array}$

The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates, by Equation (28), the angular velocity ω^est_z,k included in Equation (27), using the third azimuth Ψ_est,k, the roll angle Φ_est,k, and the pitch angle Θ_est,k calculated by the third azimuth calculation unit 40. In Equation (29), ΔΘ_est,k and ΔΨ_est,k are expressed by Equation (29) and Equation (30), respectively.

$\begin{array}{cc}{\omega }_{z,k}^{\mathrm{est}}=\frac{1}{\Delta t}\left(-{\mathrm{\Delta \Theta }}_{\mathrm{est},k}\sin {\Phi }_{\mathrm{est},k-1}+{\mathrm{\Delta \Psi }}_{\mathrm{est},k}\cos {\Phi }_{\mathrm{est},k-1}\cos {\Theta }_{\mathrm{est},k-1}\right)& \left(28\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{\mathrm{\Delta \Theta }}_{\mathrm{est},k}={\Theta }_{\mathrm{est},k}-{\Theta }_{\mathrm{est},k-1}& \left(29\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}{\mathrm{\Delta \Psi }}_{\mathrm{est},k}={\Psi }_{\mathrm{est},k}-{\Psi }_{\mathrm{est},k-1}& \left(30\right)\end{array}$

The temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the first-order coefficient c_1,k and the zero-order coefficient c_0,k of the linear polynomial (5) for the temperature T_k by using the extended Kalman filter similar to that in the first embodiment.

The angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 predicts the angular velocity bias δΩ_k based on the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15 and the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. For example, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 may predict the angular velocity bias δΩ_k by substituting the temperature T_k-1, the temperature T_k, and the coefficient c_0,k to c_n,k for the temperature T_k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 into the above polynomial (4).

The other configurations and functions of the azimuth calculation device 1 according to the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and accordingly, description thereof will be omitted.

A flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to the second embodiment is the same as FIG. 5, and accordingly, illustration and description thereof will be omitted. However, in the second embodiment, specific procedures of the second azimuth calculation step S20, the temperature characteristic estimation step S40, and the angular velocity bias prediction step S50 in FIG. 5 are different from those in the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the specific procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to a second embodiment. In FIG. 7, the same steps as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, first, in step S1, the azimuth calculation device 1 initializes time k to 0.

Subsequently, when the satellite signal receiver 11 can receive a satellite signal in step S2, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates, in step S11, the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k based on the satellite signal received by the satellite signal receiver 11. When the satellite signal receiver 11 cannot receive a satellite signal in step S2, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 does not perform the processing of step S11. Step S11 corresponds to the first azimuth calculation step S10 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S21, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 of the azimuth calculation device 1 sets the initial value of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k. Specifically, the third azimuth Ψ_est,k-1 last time calculated in step S31 described later is set as the initial value of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k. When the third azimuth Ψ_est,k-1 is not calculated last time in step S31, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 sets the second azimuth ins, k−1 last time calculated in step S23a, which will be described later, as the initial value of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k. When time k is 0, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 sets the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k to an appropriate initial value.

Subsequently, in step S22a, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 corrects the angular velocity bias around the yaw axis by subtracting the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 last time predicted in step S51a, which will be described later, from the angular velocity ω_z,k around the Z-axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13.

Subsequently, in step S23a, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 adds, to the initial value of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k set in step S21, a value obtained by integrating the angular velocity of the yaw angle ψ obtained by substituting the angular velocity around the yaw axis whose bias has been corrected in step S22a into Equation (1) above to calculate the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k.

Steps S21, S22a, and S23a correspond to the second azimuth calculation step S20 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, when it is determined in step S28 that the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k has been calculated in step S11, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates, in step S31, the third azimuth Ψ_est,k based on the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k calculated in step S11 and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated in step S23a. In step S30, when the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k is not calculated in step S11, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 does not perform the processing of step S31. In step S31, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 also calculates the roll angle Φ_est,k and the pitch angle Θ_est,k. Step S31 corresponds to the third azimuth calculation step S30 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S41, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates an error δΨ_ins,k of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k by using Equation (3) above.

Subsequently, in step S42a, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates the angular velocity bias δΩ_k, which is the bias of the angular velocity ω_z,k around the yaw axis, by using Equation (27) above.

Subsequently, in step S43a, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k. Specifically, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates the observation variable y_k shown in Equation (10) above based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k calculated in step S42a and the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15, and calculates the state variable x_k having, as its elements, the first-order coefficient c_1,k, the zero-order coefficient c_0,k, and the temperature T_k Of the above polynomial (5) shown in Equation (6) above by using the extended Kalman filter described above.

Subsequently, in step S44a, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. Specifically, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 calculates the covariance matrix P_k|k shown in Equation (26) above.

In a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 includes the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the coefficient c_1,k when the variance p₁₁ is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and does not update the value of the coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 when the variance p₁₁ is larger than the predetermined threshold value. When the temperature characteristic information 71 does not include the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the first-order coefficient c_1,k regardless of the value of the variance p₁₁.

Similarly, in a case in which the temperature characteristic information 71 includes the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k when the variance p₂₂ is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and does not update the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 when the variance p₂₂ is larger than the predetermined threshold value. When the temperature characteristic information 71 does not include the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 updates the value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 to the estimated value of the zero-order coefficient c_0,k regardless of the value of the variance p₂₂.

Steps S41, S42a, S43a, and S44a correspond to the temperature characteristic estimation step S40 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S51a, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 of the azimuth calculation device 1 predicts the angular velocity bias δΩ_k around the yaw axis based on the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. For example, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 may predict the angular velocity bias δΩ_k by substituting the temperature T_k-1, the temperature T_k, and the first-order coefficient c_1,k and the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 into the linear polynomial (5). Step S51a corresponds to the angular velocity bias prediction step S50 in FIG. 5.

The azimuth calculation device 1 increases time k by 1 in step S58, and repeatedly performs steps S2 to S58 until the azimuth calculation process ends in step S60.

As described above, in the second embodiment, even when the moving body is traveling, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 can periodically estimate, based on the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k and the third azimuth Ψ_est,k, the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k of the angular velocity ω_z,k around the yaw axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13 and can update the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. Therefore, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 can calculate the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 last time predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 based on the temperature characteristic information 71. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the azimuth calculation device 1 can calculate the azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected with high accuracy regardless of whether the moving body is stopped or traveling. In addition, according to the second embodiment, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained.

3. Third Embodiment

Hereinafter, in a third embodiment, components similar to those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, descriptions overlapping those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment will be omitted or simplified, and contents different from those in the first and second embodiments will be mainly described.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an azimuth calculation device 1 according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 8, the same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the azimuth calculation device 1 according to the third embodiment includes, similarly to the first embodiment, a first azimuth calculation unit 20, a second azimuth calculation unit 30, a third azimuth calculation unit 40, an angular velocity bias prediction unit 50, a temperature characteristic estimation unit 60, and a storage unit 70. The azimuth calculation device 1 may include a wheel speed sensor 12, an angular velocity sensor 13, a 6DoF sensor 14, a temperature sensor 15, and an external sensor 16. The azimuth calculation device 1 may have a configuration in which some of the components in FIG. 8 are omitted or changed or other components are added.

The third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that the first azimuth calculation unit 20 performs processing using the external sensor 16 instead of the satellite signal receiver 11.

The external sensor 16 is a sensor that detects information around the moving body, and may be, for example, a LiDAR, a camera, and a millimeter wave radar that are used for AD, ADAS, and the like. AD is an abbreviation for autonomous driving, and ADAS is an abbreviation for advanced driver assistance system. LiDAR is an abbreviation for light detection and ranging or laser imaging detection and ranging.

The first azimuth calculation unit 20 calculates a first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k, which is the azimuth of the moving body in the global coordinate system at time k, based on the detection result of the external sensor 16. The first azimuth calculation unit 20 calculates the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k at a predetermined period, for example, every one second. For example, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 calculates the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k, which is the azimuth of the moving body in the global coordinate system, by comparing the information around the moving body, which is the detection result of the external sensor 16, with map information 72 stored in the storage unit 70. The first azimuth calculation unit 20 may further calculate the position or the speed of the moving body in the global coordinate system.

As in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates, based on the angular velocity signal output from the angular velocity sensor 13, the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k, which is the azimuth of the moving body in the global coordinate system at time k. The second azimuth calculation unit 30 calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k at time k with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 at the last time k−1 predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50.

The third azimuth calculation unit 40 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k, which is the azimuth of the moving body in the global coordinate system at time k, based on the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k at time k calculated by the first azimuth calculation unit 20 and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k at time k calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30. The third azimuth calculation unit 40 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k at a predetermined period, for example, every one second. For example, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 may set the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k as the third azimuth Ψ_est,k at the timing when the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k is calculated, and may set the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k as the third azimuth Ψ_est,k at the timing when the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k is not calculated. In addition, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 may calculate the third azimuth Ψ_est,k by using a Kalman filter.

As in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the storage unit 70 stores the temperature characteristic information 71 of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k. The angular velocity bias δΩ_k may be a bias of the angular velocity of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30, as illustrated in Equation (2) above. In addition, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k may be a bias of the angular velocity ω_z,k around the yaw axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13, as illustrated in Equation (27) above. In addition, in the third embodiment, the storage unit 70 stores the map information 72 used for calculation of the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k by the first azimuth calculation unit 20.

As in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15, based on the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated by the second azimuth calculation unit 30 and the third azimuth Ψ_est,k calculated by the third azimuth calculation unit 40, and updates the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70, based on the estimated temperature characteristic. As described above, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 may estimate the first-order coefficient c_1,k and the zero-order coefficient c_0,k for the temperature T_k by using an extended Kalman filter.

As in the first embodiment or the second embodiment, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 predicts the angular velocity bias δΩ_k based on the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15 and the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. As described above, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 may predict the angular velocity bias δΩ_k by substituting the temperature T_k-1, the temperature T_k, and the coefficient c_0,k to c_n,k for the temperature T_k included in the temperature characteristic information 71 into the above polynomial (4).

The other configurations and functions of the azimuth calculation device 1 according to the third embodiment are the same as those of the azimuth calculation device 1 according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment, and accordingly, description thereof will be omitted.

A flowchart illustrating an example of the procedure of an azimuth calculation method according to the third embodiment is the same as FIG. 5, and accordingly, illustration thereof will be omitted. In the third embodiment, in the first azimuth calculation step S10 in FIG. 5, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k based on the detection result of the external sensor 16. The processing from the second azimuth calculation step S20 in FIG. 5, which is performed by the azimuth calculation device 1, is the same as that in the first embodiment or the second embodiment except that the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k is used instead of the first azimuth Ψ_gnss,k, and accordingly, description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the specific procedure of the azimuth calculation method according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 9, the same steps as those in FIG. 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 9, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k is the bias of the angular velocity of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, first, in step S1, the azimuth calculation device 1 initializes time k to 0.

Subsequently, in step S12, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k based on the detection result of the external sensor 16. Step S12 corresponds to the first azimuth calculation step S10 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in steps S21, S22, and S23, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates, by performing the same processing as steps S21, S22, and S23 in FIG. 6, the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k with the angular velocity bias corrected. Steps S21, S22, and S23 correspond to the second azimuth calculation step S20 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S31, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k based on the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k calculated in step S12 and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated in step S23. Step S31 corresponds to the third azimuth calculation step S30 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in steps S41, S42, S43, and S44, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 of the azimuth calculation device 1 performs processing similar to that in steps S41, S42, S43, and S44 in FIG. 6 and updates the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. Steps S41, S42, S43, and S44 correspond to the temperature characteristic estimation step S40 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S51, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 of the azimuth calculation device 1 performs processing similar to that in step S51 in FIG. 6 and predicts the angular velocity bias δΩ_k of the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k.

The azimuth calculation device 1 increases time k by 1 in step S58, and repeatedly performs steps S2 to S58 until the azimuth calculation process ends in step S60.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the specific procedure of the azimuth calculation method according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 10, the same steps as those in FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 10, the angular velocity bias δΩ_k may be the bias of the angular velocity ω_z,k around the yaw axis detected by the angular velocity sensor 13.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, first, in step S1, the azimuth calculation device 1 initializes time k to 0.

Subsequently, in step S12, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k based on the detection result of the external sensor 16. Step S12 corresponds to the first azimuth calculation step S10 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in steps S21, S22a, and S23a, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 of the azimuth calculation device 1 performs processing similar to that in steps S21, S22a, and S23a in FIG. 7 and calculates the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k with the angular velocity bias corrected. Steps S21, S22a, and S23a correspond to the second azimuth calculation step S20 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S31, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 of the azimuth calculation device 1 calculates the third azimuth Ψ_est,k based on the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k calculated in step S12 and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k calculated in step S23a. Step S31 corresponds to the third azimuth calculation step S30 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in steps S41, S42a, S43a, and S44a, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 of the azimuth calculation device 1 performs processing similar to that in steps S41, S42a, S43a, and S44a in FIG. 7 and updates the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. Steps S41, S42a, S43a, and S44a correspond to the temperature characteristic estimation step S40 in FIG. 5.

Subsequently, in step S51a, the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 of the azimuth calculation device 1 performs processing similar to that in step S51a in FIG. 7 and predicts the angular velocity bias δΩ_k around the yaw axis.

The azimuth calculation device 1 increases time k by 1 in step S58, and repeatedly performs steps S2 to S58 until the azimuth calculation process ends in step S60.

As described above, in the third embodiment, the first azimuth calculation unit 20 can calculate the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k based on the detection result of the external sensor 16 regardless of whether the moving body on which the azimuth calculation device 1 is mounted is stopped or traveling, and the second azimuth calculation unit 30 can calculate the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k based on the angular velocity signal output from the angular velocity sensor 13. Therefore, the third azimuth calculation unit 40 can seamlessly and periodically calculate the third azimuth Ψ_est,k based on the first azimuth Ψ_EXT,k and the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k. As a result, even when the moving body is traveling, the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 can periodically estimate the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k based on the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k and the third azimuth Ψ_est,k and can update the temperature characteristic information 71 stored in the storage unit 70. Therefore, the second azimuth calculation unit 30 can calculate the second azimuth Ψ_ins,k with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias δΩ_k-1 last time predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit 50 based on the temperature characteristic information 71. In addition, since the temperature characteristic estimation unit 60 estimates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for the temperature T_k detected by the temperature sensor 15, it is possible to accurately estimate the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias δΩ_k for each narrow temperature range. Therefore, according to the third embodiment, the azimuth calculation device 1 can calculate the azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected with high accuracy regardless of whether the moving body is stopped or traveling. In addition, according to the third embodiment, the same effects as those in the first embodiment or the second embodiment can be obtained.

4. Modification Examples

The present disclosure is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. For example, although an example in which the azimuth calculation device 1 is mounted on the vehicle 5 has been described in each of the above embodiments, the azimuth calculation device 1 may be mounted on a moving body other than the vehicle Examples of the moving body include not only a vehicle but also an agricultural machine such as a tractor, a construction machine such as an excavator, an unmanned transport vehicle, a robot lawn mower, a robot vacuum cleaner, aircraft such as jet aircraft and helicopter, a ship, a rocket, a satellite, and a railroad vehicle.

In addition, for example, although the azimuth calculation device 1 includes the angular velocity sensor 13 and the 6DoF sensor 14 in each of the above embodiments, the azimuth calculation device 1 may include other sensors instead of these. For example, the azimuth calculation device 1 may include two 6DoF sensors.

The above-described embodiments and modification examples are merely examples, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, each embodiment and each modification example may be combined as appropriate.

The present disclosure includes a configuration that is substantially the same as the configuration described in the embodiments, for example, a configuration that has the same function, method, and result, or a configuration that has the same purpose and effect. In addition, the present disclosure includes a configuration in which non-essential portions of the configuration described in the embodiments are replaced. In addition, the present disclosure includes a configuration having the same function and effect as the configuration described in the embodiments or a configuration capable of achieving the same object. In addition, the present disclosure includes a configuration in which a known technique is added to the configuration described in the embodiments.

The following contents are derived from the above-described embodiments and modification examples.

An azimuth calculation device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first azimuth calculation unit that calculates a first azimuth based on a satellite signal received by a satellite signal receiver or a detection result of an external sensor; a second azimuth calculation unit that calculates a second azimuth based on an angular velocity signal output from an angular velocity sensor detecting an angular velocity; a third azimuth calculation unit that calculates a third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth; a storage unit that stores temperature characteristic information of an angular velocity bias; a temperature characteristic estimation unit that estimates, based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth, a temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias for a temperature detected by a temperature sensor and updates, based on the estimated temperature characteristic, the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit; and an angular velocity bias prediction unit that predicts the angular velocity bias based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit. The second azimuth calculation unit calculates, based on the angular velocity bias last time predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit, the second azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected.

In this azimuth calculation device, the first azimuth calculation unit can calculate the first azimuth based on the satellite signal or the detection result of the external sensor regardless of whether the moving body on which the azimuth calculation device is mounted is stopped or traveling, and the second azimuth calculation unit can calculate the second azimuth based on the angular velocity signal even when a satellite signal cannot be received. Therefore, the third azimuth calculation unit can seamlessly and periodically calculate the third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth. As a result, even when the moving body is traveling, the temperature characteristic estimation unit can periodically estimate, based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth, the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias and can update the temperature characteristic information. Therefore, the second azimuth calculation unit can calculate the second azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias last time predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit based on the temperature characteristic information. In addition, since the temperature characteristic estimation unit estimates the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias for the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, it is possible to accurately estimate the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias for each narrow temperature range. Therefore, according to this azimuth calculation device, it is possible to calculate the azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected with high accuracy regardless of whether the moving body is stopped or traveling.

In the azimuth calculation device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the angular velocity bias may be approximated by a polynomial having a temperature change as a variable.

According to this azimuth calculation device, since the angular velocity bias is not approximated by a polynomial having a temperature as a variable but is approximated by a polynomial having a temperature change as a variable, the temperature characteristic estimation unit can accurately estimate the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias for each narrow temperature range.

In the azimuth calculation device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the temperature characteristic information may include a value of a coefficient of the polynomial for each of a plurality of temperatures.

In the azimuth calculation device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the polynomial may be a linear polynomial.

According to this azimuth calculation device, the angular velocity bias is accurately approximated in a narrow temperature range by the linear polynomial having a temperature change as a variable. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the calculation load for estimation while maintaining the estimation accuracy of the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias by the temperature characteristic estimation unit.

In the azimuth calculation device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the angular velocity bias may be a bias of an angular velocity of the second azimuth.

In the azimuth calculation device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the angular velocity bias may be a bias of an angular velocity around a yaw axis detected by the angular velocity sensor.

In the azimuth calculation device according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the temperature characteristic estimation unit may estimate the value of the coefficient as the temperature characteristic and calculate a variance of the estimated coefficient, and in a case in which the temperature characteristic information includes the value of the coefficient for the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the temperature characteristic estimation unit may update the value of the coefficient included in the temperature characteristic information to the estimated value of the coefficient when the variance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and may not update the value of the coefficient included in the temperature characteristic information when the variance is larger than the predetermined threshold value.

According to this azimuth calculation device, since the temperature characteristic estimation unit updates the value of the coefficient included in the temperature characteristic information only when the estimation accuracy of the coefficient of the polynomial approximating the angular velocity bias is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the angular velocity bias prediction unit can accurately predict the angular velocity bias based on the temperature characteristic information. Therefore, according to this azimuth calculation device, it is possible to calculate the azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected with high accuracy.

An azimuth calculation method according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first azimuth calculation step of calculating a first azimuth based on a satellite signal received by a satellite signal receiver or a detection result of an external sensor; a second azimuth calculation step of calculating a second azimuth based on an angular velocity signal output from an angular velocity sensor detecting an angular velocity; a third azimuth calculation step of calculating a third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth; a temperature characteristic estimation step of estimating, based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth, a temperature characteristic of an angular velocity bias for a temperature detected by a temperature sensor and updating, based on the estimated temperature characteristic, temperature characteristic information of the angular velocity bias stored in a storage unit; and an angular velocity bias prediction step of predicting the angular velocity bias based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit. In the second azimuth calculation step, the second azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected is calculated based on the angular velocity bias last time predicted in the angular velocity bias prediction step.

In this azimuth calculation method, the first azimuth can be calculated based on the satellite signal or the detection result of the external sensor in the first azimuth calculation step regardless of whether the moving body is stopped or traveling, and the second azimuth can be calculated based on the angular velocity signal in the second azimuth calculation step even when a satellite signal cannot be received. Therefore, in the third azimuth calculation step, it is possible to seamlessly and periodically calculate the third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth. As a result, even when the moving body is traveling, in the temperature characteristic estimation step, it is possible to periodically estimate, based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth, the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias and update the temperature characteristic information. Therefore, in the second azimuth calculation step, it is possible to calculate the second azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected, based on the angular velocity bias last time predicted based on the temperature characteristic information in the angular velocity bias prediction step. In addition, since the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias for the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is estimated in the temperature characteristic estimation step, it is possible to accurately estimate the temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias for each narrow temperature range. Therefore, according to this azimuth calculation method, it is possible to calculate the azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected with high accuracy regardless of whether the moving body is stopped or traveling.

Claims

1. An azimuth calculation device, comprising: a first azimuth calculation unit that calculates a first azimuth based on a satellite signal received by a satellite signal receiver or a detection result of an external sensor;a second azimuth calculation unit that calculates a second azimuth based on an angular velocity signal output from an angular velocity sensor detecting an angular velocity;a third azimuth calculation unit that calculates a third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth;a storage unit that stores temperature characteristic information of an angular velocity bias;a temperature characteristic estimation unit that estimates, based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth, a temperature characteristic of the angular velocity bias for a temperature detected by a temperature sensor and updates, based on the estimated temperature characteristic, the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit; andan angular velocity bias prediction unit that predicts the angular velocity bias based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit,wherein the second azimuth calculation unit calculates, based on the angular velocity bias last time predicted by the angular velocity bias prediction unit, the second azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected.

2. The azimuth calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the angular velocity bias is approximated by a polynomial having a temperature change as a variable.

3. The azimuth calculation device according to claim 2, wherein the temperature characteristic information includes a value of a coefficient of the polynomial for each of a plurality of temperatures.

4. The azimuth calculation device according to claim 2, wherein the polynomial is a linear polynomial.

5. The azimuth calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the angular velocity bias is a bias of an angular velocity of the second azimuth.

6. The azimuth calculation device according to claim 1, wherein the angular velocity bias is a bias of an angular velocity around a yaw axis detected by the angular velocity sensor.

7. The azimuth calculation device according to claim 3, wherein the temperature characteristic estimation unit estimates the value of the coefficient as the temperature characteristic and calculates a variance of the estimated coefficient, and in a case in which the temperature characteristic information includes the value of the coefficient for the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the temperature characteristic estimation unit updates the value of the coefficient included in the temperature characteristic information to the estimated value of the coefficient when the variance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value and does not update the value of the coefficient included in the temperature characteristic information when the variance is larger than the predetermined threshold value.

8. An azimuth calculation method, comprising: a first azimuth calculation step of calculating a first azimuth based on a satellite signal received by a satellite signal receiver or a detection result of an external sensor;a second azimuth calculation step of calculating a second azimuth based on an angular velocity signal output from an angular velocity sensor detecting an angular velocity;a third azimuth calculation step of calculating a third azimuth based on the first azimuth and the second azimuth;a temperature characteristic estimation step of estimating, based on the second azimuth and the third azimuth, a temperature characteristic of an angular velocity bias for a temperature detected by a temperature sensor and updating, based on the estimated temperature characteristic, temperature characteristic information of the angular velocity bias stored in a storage unit; andan angular velocity bias prediction step of predicting the angular velocity bias based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the temperature characteristic information stored in the storage unit,wherein, in the second azimuth calculation step, the second azimuth with the angular velocity bias corrected is calculated based on the angular velocity bias last time predicted in the angular velocity bias prediction step.