A navigation device and a method of calibrating the same are provided. The device
includes a barometric pressure sensor and a GPS receiver. A processor calculates
barometric and GPS derived altitudes and, based on a difference therebetween, corrects
barometer altitude readings that would otherwise include drift errors. The processor
uses a filter, such as a state feedback loop, to determine correction factors.
The state feedback loop is adjustable to operate with different time constants.
An error drift model is empirically determined and used to set the time constant.
The time constant may be adjusted during operation based on a relation between
the barometer correction quantity and an uncertainty in the vertical component
of the GPS derived altitude. The method includes updating and recalibrating an
atmospheric pressure model used to derive altitudes from the output of the barometric
pressure sensor.