Navigation method using a single detector based on the observation of X-ray pulsar in different time interval

Traditional X-ray pulsar navigation system needs to track more than 3 pulsars at the same time, which will increase the effective load quality of the navigation system. Aiming at the phenomenon that the pulsars cannot be seen all the time by vehicles because of the earth shadow and the detector's visual angle, a navigation method using a single detector based on the observation of X-ray pulsar in different time interval was proposed. In consideration of the practical flying condition, visibility of X-ray pulsar with different detection range was analysed, and a single pulsar used for navigation was chosen from the detectable pulsars. The results of the simulations show that the navigation accuracy of this system is similar with that of traditional algorithm. The navigation error is 337 m. This algorithm can provide a possible method of the industrialization of X-ray pulsar-based navigation.