Inertial Measurement Unit with Distributed Packaging

The development of small inertial measurement units (IMUs) with enhanced performance capabilities is critical for achieving the desired performance for use in modern missiles. The fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) that has been in development for several years is now in its early product stage. In comparison with the previous generations of gyros such as the mechanical gyro and the ring laser gyro, the FOG already offers the advantages of smaller size, lower weight, and lower power consumption for a given performance level. Along with these benefits, the FOG also offers improvements in both reliability and life expectancy over previous generation products. The objective of this research project is to scale a FOG that is currently in development and combine it with a state-of-the-art accelerometer to make a compact sensor package that is tethered to an electronic processing board. This Phase I program will result in a design for a robust and miniature IMU that can make accurate measurements even in a relatively hostile environment.