Advanced, Low Cost, Integrated Avionics

A smaller high performance Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is required. The Line-Of-Sight-Stabilization system for the Next Generation THAAD advanced dual mode seeker requires total IMU error to be less than 2.5 uRadians and must have gyro data rates greater than 20kHz. The proposed gyro is critical to the electronic image stabilization that is performed in the advanced seeker's image processing system. An IMU of less than 2 cubic-inches is possible, which is 10 times smaller that existing IMUs. Performance of 1 degree/hour bias stability and capable of surviving high-G environments is possible by utilizing a novel rate sensing device developed by Sandia National Laboratories. The MKV Kill Vehicle program, presently base-lining a MEMS IMU, is also a good candidate for a compact IMU with the performance characteristics expected from this micro-optical gyro based IMU. The objective of the proposed effort is to develop a fully functional micro-optical gyroscope and interface it to support electronics. The Sandia Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) and Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) provide the baseline for the gyro. The proposed effort is to design the required control loop and readout circuitry that will be integrated with the existing capability and components that Sandia has already demonstrated.