Which two components make up an Inertial Navigation System (INS)?

An Inertial Navigation System (INS) is fundamentally designed to calculate the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object without the need for external references. The correct components that make up an INS are accelerometers and gyroscopes.

Accelerometers measure changes in velocity, allowing the system to track the movement along various axes by integrating the data over time. This data helps determine both speed and direction of the aircraft's movement. Gyroscopes, on the other hand, are used to maintain orientation. They measure angular velocity, providing information about the orientation of the aircraft in three-dimensional space, which is crucial for maintaining accurate navigation.

By combining the data from both accelerometers and gyroscopes, the INS can continuously update the position and orientation of the aircraft relative to a known starting point, making it a critical component in modern navigation systems. The integration of these two components enables precise navigation even in environments where GPS signals may not be available, such as during certain military operations or in urban canyons.