MHD Earth Referenced Azimuth Detector (MERAD)

Applied Technology Associates (ATA) proposes to develop a miniature, rapid, non-magnetic azimuth sensor by exploiting innovative magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) inertial angular rate sensing technology. The proposed solution centers upon use of a spinning MHD sensor that outputs a modulated version of Earth rate and offers means of deriving true azimuth. Inertial rate sensing is employed to link the MHD Earth Rate Azimuth Detector’s (MERAD's) orientation accurately to the vector that defines the rotation of the Earth. This avoids the errors inherent in systems that only use magnetic field information. The MERAD technical approach draws on the high signal-to-noise feature of ATA’s MHD sensor technology. The compute intensive nature of the required mechanism control and signal processing algorithms will be implemented in a processor to ensure meeting size and power goals compatible with the need for a man-portable far-target locator capability.