Deterministic Heading-Independent Celestial Localization Measurement Model

Abstract Planetary rover navigation frequently relies on dead reckoning and external infrastructure such as orbiting satellites. Celestial techniques combine measurements of the Sun, stars, gravity to provide autonomous absolute localization. This study examines performance digital star sextants (DSS)—a suite sensors combining a tracker an inclinometer—on estimating position planetary surface. In particular, we discuss estimation, calibration, error analysis for elevation-only measurement formulation that does not rely ground-truth heading information. Field tests Monte Carlo simulations validation proposed techniques. The real-world experimental system gives mean single-orientation 296 m. relative agreement between predicted observed reveals clear roadmap help evaluate impact prospective sensor improvements DSS performance.