In inertial navigation, the term carrier generally refers to the moving platform or vehicle on which the inertial navigation system (INS) is mounted. This can include aircraft, ships, submarines, ground vehicles, missiles, or even space vehicles.
The INS measures the motion of the carrier using accelerometers and gyroscopes, tracking its position, velocity, and orientation over time. Since an INS operates independently of external signals, it is especially useful for military applications, submarines, and aerospace systems, where GPS signals may be unavailable or jammed.
