| Aerospace Blockset™ | ![]() |
Utilities/Axes Transformations

The Direction Cosine Matrix
ECEF to NED to Latitude and Longitude block converts a 3-by-3 direction
cosine matrix (DCM) into geodetic latitude and longitude. The DCM
matrix performs the coordinate transformation of a vector in Earth-centered
Earth-fixed (ECEF) axes
into a vector in north-east-down
(NED) axes
. The order of the axis rotations
required to bring this about is:
A rotation about oz0 through
the longitude
to axes
![]()
A rotation about oy1 through
the geodetic latitude
to axes
![]()


Combining the two axis transformation matrices defines the following DCM.

To determine geodetic latitude and longitude from the DCM, the following equations are used:
![]()
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| Input | Dimension Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
First | 3-by-3 direction cosine matrix | Transforms ECEF vectors to NED vectors. |
| Output | Dimension Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
First | 2-by-1 vector | Contains the geodetic latitude and longitude, in degrees. |
This implementation generates a geodetic latitude that lies
between
degrees, and longitude that lies between
degrees.
The implementation of the ECEF coordinate system assumes that the origin is at the center of the planet, the x-axis intersects the Greenwich meridian and the equator, the z-axis is the mean spin axis of the planet, positive to the north, and the y-axis completes the right-hand system.
Stevens, B. L., and F. L. Lewis, Aircraft Control and Simulation, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1992.
Zipfel, P. H., Modeling and Simulation of Aerospace Vehicle Dynamics, AIAA Education Series, Reston, Virginia, 2000.
"Atmospheric and Space Flight Vehicle Coordinate Systems," ANSI/AIAA R-004-1992.
Direction Cosine Matrix ECEF to NED
Direction Cosine Matrix to Rotation Angles
Direction Cosine Matrix to Wind Angles
Rotation Angles to Direction Cosine Matrix
Wind Angles to Direction Cosine Matrix
![]() | Direction Cosine Matrix ECEF to NED | Direction Cosine Matrix to Quaternions | ![]() |
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