What is the primary data source of an Inertial Navigation System?

The primary data source of an Inertial Navigation System (INS) is the accelerometer. An accelerometer measures the acceleration forces acting on the vehicle in various directions, allowing the system to calculate velocity and, subsequently, the position by integrating the measured accelerations over time.

This capability enables the INS to maintain accurate positioning and navigation without the need for external references, which is crucial in environments where GPS signals may be unavailable or unreliable. Accelerometers provide the essential data that, when combined with information from gyroscopes (which track orientation) and other sensors, allow a comprehensive representation of motion and position.

Other options, such as gyroscopes, magnetometers, and GPS units, have their roles in navigation systems but do not serve as the primary data source in an INS. Gyroscopes supplement the data by providing information about angular velocity, magnetometers help understand heading relative to the Earth's magnetic field, and GPS units rely on external satellite signals for positional data rather than through inherent motion measurements.