Session
Technical Session XII: Instruments & Sensors
Abstract
Magnetometer calibration is normally performed using shielded (or otherwise magnetically benign) coil facilities to provide a known uniform field. And measurements are taken with precise knowledge of sensor orientation. These facilities are expensive and can be tedious to use. A method for calibration based on field magnitude only has been developed. Accurate determination of relative orientations and relative scale factors between sensor axis requires only that the field magnitude be approximately constant. No coils or precision fixtures are needed. The method is extended to handle redundant sensitive axes, and fields of variable magnitude. The latter is of considerable interest, since it could be used to estimate drifts of scale factors or biases for instruments on-orbit.
Laboratory (and On-Orbit) Magnetometer Calibration without Coil Facilities or Orientation Information
Magnetometer calibration is normally performed using shielded (or otherwise magnetically benign) coil facilities to provide a known uniform field. And measurements are taken with precise knowledge of sensor orientation. These facilities are expensive and can be tedious to use. A method for calibration based on field magnitude only has been developed. Accurate determination of relative orientations and relative scale factors between sensor axis requires only that the field magnitude be approximately constant. No coils or precision fixtures are needed. The method is extended to handle redundant sensitive axes, and fields of variable magnitude. The latter is of considerable interest, since it could be used to estimate drifts of scale factors or biases for instruments on-orbit.
