Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) for Image Stabilization in Small Missiles

MEMS inertial sensor technology holds the promise of reducing the size, weight, power and cost (SWPaC) requirements for performing existing functions in Army missile systems. New MEMS inertial sensors will enable the Army's next generation of smaller and lighter missiles. Tanenhaus and Associates, Inc. miniature IMU (M350) meets SWPaC requirements using its patented innovative approach of combining arrays of COTS MEMS sensors to achieve far superior performance than MEMS used alone. The MEMS arrays provide redundancy and robustness and achieve sensor low drift errors. In this Phase I SBIR will expand the use of COTS MEMS technology that has exceptionally wide angular rate range for use low cost missile stabilization systems. A reduced size version of the M350 is proposed that will meet the 1.5 cu.in low power low weight goals of this program. When TAIs low drift error solution is applied to MEMS gyro capable of 100,000 deg./sec angular rates, the jitter performance is dramatically lower. The TAI IMU/INS technology is flexible; software upgrades allow for its adaptability for a variety of uses with the same internal hardware. Both the inner electronic module and the outside case can be changed easily to meet small missile requirements.