Actively Stabilized MEMS IMU for Autonomous Guidance and Navigation

Without the means for stabilizing the scale factor and bias of MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers, they cannot become precise and accurate instruments. With stabilization, however, autonomous navigation is possible and GPS reliability can be improved. We propose to introduce active stabilization methods and test devices and carry out the proof-of-concept tests during Phase I. We will make use of existing hardware from related programs. The significance of the bias stabilization method to performance is that the formerly limiting 1/f – derived bias instability can be greatly reduced, with the potential of obtaining less than 1 deg/hr. An added importance of the scale factor and bias stabilization methods is the reduction in testing required and the corresponding drop in cost.