Research on A Low Computational Cost Vision-aided Inertial Navigation Method for Precision Landing on Asteroid

Abstract

Asteroid exploration missions demand more autonomous navigation system that are precise and in real-time. Visual-aided inertial navigation systems combine the advantages of autonomy of inertial navigation systems and accuracy of visual navigation systems. However, both increase the computational burden for the information processing. With the goal of decreasing the computational load, this paper proposes a low cost vision-aided inertial navigation method which can calculate increment position, velocity and attitude directly in inertial frame by pre-integrating IMU measurements. For visual information, specific combinations of the features are selected according to information entropy theory to reduce computation. Simulation results show that the standard deviations of the spacecraft’s estimated position error is less than 1 m, the velocity less than 0.002 m/s and the attitude angle less than 0.005 deg, compatible with precision landing on asteroids.