Which statement correctly describes the interaction between GPS and IN S during operation?

• A. GPS can provide in-flight alignment capability for the INS.
• B. The INS provides continuous position updates to assist GPS.
• C. GPS updates replace the INS entirely.
• D. They operate completely independently.

Answer: (B)

In a GPS/INS integrated system, the two sensors share information to keep navigation accurate and continuous. The INS continually produces position, velocity, and attitude estimates based on its internal sensors, which can be used to aid the GPS receiver. By providing a steady stream of position updates to assist GPS, the INS helps the GPS solution converge more quickly, maintain lock during brief outages, and constrain the overall navigation solution when satellite visibility is limited. This cooperative exchange keeps the overall system robust, even as one source wavers.

The other statements aren’t as accurate in describing typical operation: GPS isn’t generally used to in-flight-align the INS as a primary description of their interaction, GPS updates don’t replace the INS entirely since the INS is needed for dead reckoning when GPS is unavailable, and they do not operate completely independently.