Ultra-reliable IMU operates in extreme environments

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

Available in high-volume production, Aceinna’s new inertial measurement unit (IMU), the IMU383ZA, integrates triple-redundant, three-axis MEMS accelerometer and gyroscope sensors. These devices are well-suited for guidance and navigation solutions in autonomous systems and vehicles.

The triple-redundant sensor architecture consists of three independent three-axis accelerometers and three-axis gyros for excellent accuracy and reliability. The sensor array delivers high performance bias stability of 1.3°/hr, 0.08°/root-hr.

By embedding a triple-redundant sensor array, the IMU383ZA uses Aceinna’s proprietary voting scheme to use only valid sensor data, said Aceinna, and any defective sensor output or errant dataset will be ignored or de-rated in importance.

The module is factory-calibrated over the –40°C to 85°C industrial temperature range, which provides consistent performance in extreme operating environments, including automotive ADAS, autonomous systems, drones, robotics, agricultural, construction, and other industrial machines. It’s also small — measuring 24 × 37 × 9.5 mm.

The IMU383ZA offers improved performance over its predecessor, the IMU381ZA, and is pin-compatible with the older device. New features include a unique fault-tolerant sensor architecture for improved reliability, advanced synchronization, and a bootloader for field upgradeability. It also offers a standard SPI for board-to-board communications.

Engineering samples and evaluation kits are available to qualified customers at WPG Americas  or Mouser. They are also available directly from Aceinna.