What does an Inertial Navigation System (INS) rely on for navigation?

An Inertial Navigation System (INS) functions by continuously calculating the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object based on the principle of inertial forces. It relies on accelerometers and gyroscopes to measure the acceleration and rotation of the aircraft. By integrating this data over time, the system is able to determine the aircraft's position relative to a starting point without the need for external references.

The strength of an INS lies in its ability to operate independently of external signals, making it particularly useful in environments where GPS signals are weak or unavailable. The calculations performed by the onboard computer allow for dynamic updates on the aircraft's location, providing critical navigation information during flight.

In contrast, other options such as GPS satellites, maps and compasses, or visual cues from the cockpit, while valuable in their own right, do not accurately describe the primary operational mechanism of an INS. This highlights why the reliance on a computer calculating position based on time and inertial data is essential for the functionality of inertial navigation systems.