Comparison on Vector Magnetometer Configuration Schemes in Magnetic Localization Experiment

Two kinds of configuration schemes about eight and ten single-axis vector magnetometers are put forward on the basis of describing the principle of underwater magnetic field localization. The measurement equations of magnetic field magnitude and gradients are educed on condition of two configuration schemes, and that the calculated precisions of both magnetic field magnitude and gradients are compared and analyzed. The relationships between the length of measurement baseline ∆X and the errors of magnetic field magnitude, gradients and vehicle position relative to target are simulated numerically, and that the results show that these errors will increase when ∆X is lengthened. The calculated precisions of both magnetic field magnitude and gradients on condition of ten single-axis vector magnetometers are both largely higher than that on condition of eight ones, and things are the same for the localization precision of underwater vehicle. So, the ten single-axis vector magnetometers configuration should be selected in the magnetic field localization experiment of underwater vehicle.