Inertial sensors for unmanned vehicles in development with Honeywell
NewsJanuary 25, 2021
PHOENIX, Ariz. Honeywell, with funding from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is creating the next generation of inertial sensor technology that will one day be used in both commercial and defense navigation applications.
According to the company, recent findings gathered in Honeywell labs have shown the new sensors to be greater than an order of magnitude more accurate than Honeywell's HG1930 inertial measurement unit (IMU) product.
Officials explaing that an IMU uses gyroscopes, accelerometers, and electronics to give precise rotation and acceleration data to enable a vehicle system to calculate where it is, what direction it is going, and at what speed, even when GPS signals aren't available. There are various types of IMUs on the market, and some use sensors based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) technology to precisely measure motion.
Honeywell claims it has been working with DARPA to develop the next generation of high precision "navigation grade" IMU technology, under the Precise Robust Inertial Guidance for Munitions: Thermally Stabilized Inertial Guidance for Munitions (PRIGM TIGM) program. These MEMS sensors will use different sensor design and electronics to enable higher performance.
