Back
Motions and Dynamics
Autonomous Navigation
Surveying
Pointing & Stabilization
SEARCH
Contact us
The amazing VIKINGS team’s robot autonomous navigation relies on several sensors: odometry prediction, fused with Ellipse-A inertial sensor information, then c
IMU – Inertial Measurement Unit
SBG Systems offers a wide line of IMU / INS, whether your applications requirements are size or performance.
What is an Inertial Measurement Unit - IMU?
An IMU, standing for Inertial Measurement Unit, is an electronic device that measures and reports acceleration, orientation, angular rates, and other gravitational forces. It is composed of 3 accelerometers, 3 gyroscopes, and depending on the heading requirement, 3 magnetometers. One per axis for each of the three vehicle axes: roll, pitch, and yaw.
There are different types of IMU sensors: the one based on FOG (Fiber Optic Gyroscope), the RLG IMUs (Ring Laser Gyroscope), and lastly, IMU based on MEMS technology (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems). This technology allows lower costs and low power requirements while ensuring performance. MEMS-based systems therefore combine high performance and ultra-low power in a smaller unit.
Raw data are outputted at 1KHz for demanding real-time applications.
What Difference between an IMU, an AHRS, and an Inertial Navigation System?
An IMU combines gyroscopes and accelerometers. An Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), also called a motion unit, adds a central processing unit (CPU) that embeds the Extended Kalman Filter to calculate attitude with heading relative to magnetic north.
Inertial Navigation Systems are composed of an IMU and additionally embed a GPS/GNSS receiver. An INS fuses inertial, navigation, and aiding data (odometer, DVL, etc.) thanks to the Extended Kalman Filter. This GNSS and IMU sensor fusion provides roll, pitch, heading, position, and velocity.
Inertial Measurement Unit Market
Depending on the grade of the IMU sensor, main applications include control and stabilization, navigation and correction, or measurement and testing. However, typical measurement unit markets are unmanned systems control, mobile mapping applications whether they are land, air, or marine and all payload requiring stabilization or pointing.
Because of their good performance/size ratio, MEMS IMUs are ideal for all unmanned markets, whether they concern unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), or unmanned marine vehicles (UMV). Tactical and Navigation grade IMUs, on the other hand, is one of the main components of the INS/GNSS used in aircraft or ships, as well as missiles and even satellites.
Resources
