Accuracy analysis of attitude computation based on optimal coning algorithm

To accurately evaluate the applicability of optimal coning algorithms, the direct influence of their periodic components on attitude accuracy is investigated. The true value of the change of the rotation vector is derived from the classical coning motion for analytic comparison. The analytic results show that the influence of periodic components is mostly dominant in two types of optimal coning algorithms. Considering that the errors of periodic components cannot be simply neglected, these algorithms are categorized with simplified forms. A variety of simulations are done under the classical coning motion. The numerical results are in good agreement with the analytic deductions. Considering their attitude accuracy, optimal coning algorithms of the 4-subinterval and 5-subinterval algorithms optimized with angular increments are not recommended for use for real application.