Low Cost, High Performance Inertial Rate Sensors - Airborne

ATA proposes development of an Advanced Rate Gyro (ARG) that blends two of ATA’s developmental designs to fulfill MDA’s airborne gyroscope requirements. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) requires such high performance gyros for Advanced Inertial Reference Units (aIRUs) for Airborne Laser DE systems and space-based surveillance and weapons systems. Current high performance gyros are marginal in meeting the ABL aIRU performance requirements and are very expensive. ARG is a combination of new technology components of the Advanced MERG (Magnetohydrodynamic Effect Rate Gyro)for low frequency measurement (DC-1+Hz), and latest passive MHD sensors for high frequency (1-1000+ Hz). The ARG inherits all of the desirable features of ATA's passive MHD sensors, including low linear acceleration sensitivity, low cross axis angular sensitivity (cross coupling), ultra-low noise, combined with high stability, ruggedness and reliability, and low radiation susceptibility. The resulting sensor technology combination yields the best overall noise PSD from constant rate (DC) to very high frequency (greater than 1kHz) with the added benefit of broadband response. The ARG potentially provides the best and lowest cost long-term solution for ABL and SBL optical IRU’s and for future mission applications where precision inertial attitude knowledge, pointing, and tracking are critical.