Advanced Avionics MEMS QUBIKtm IMU

MMM Systems is R&D the MEMS QUBIKtm Inertial Meaasurement Unit (IMU) for military and copmmercial applications. Recent advancements in the packaging of the electronics will allow this next phase effort to permit the PCB electronics to be the actual housingof this sensor. This will reduces the cost by orders of magnitude to less than $100/unit in high production and allow a small 1.0 cubic inch package including electronics that weighs less than 25 grams. All six degrees of freedom are derived from a single0.420 inch cubic proofmass that weighs less than one gram. The QUBIKtm proofmass has three sets of parallel orthogonal arrays of magnets embeded in it. The inside cavity of the PCB outer housing is a few thousands of an inch larger that the proofmass andhas a simlar arrangement of electromagnets (coils) and 36 variable capacitance pins. The proofmass is kept centered (nulled) in this cavity by an active set of electronics that selectively apply magnetic forces on it. The performance will also improve byorders of magnitude by eliminating magnetic field contamination created by the ferrous leads on electronic components. Reducing the cost of IMU onwership will permit better training and integration of weapon systems. After the MEMS QUBIKtm IMU isintegrated with a microprocessor (in PHASE II) it can be sold in the automotive aftermarket as a black box six degree of freedom accident recorder. Insurance companies hint that they will reduce their rates for vehicles equiped with this system.