Precision 6-axis IMU debuts at RoboBusiness 2019

and NavChip Series 3 Class A and Class B parts. Each part offers varying performance levels and corresponding price points (from within the 6-axis IMUs market). The NavChip Series 3 expands on Thales’ current IMU product offerings, providing users with improved performance, miniaturization, and environmental ruggedness. Furthermore, MEMS sensor technology, propriety sensor-fusion processing techniques, a small and easily mountable package, and low power dissipation make this IMU suited for applications including drone navigation, robotic control, camera/antenna platform stabilization, augmented/virtual reality, aiming and alignment, and GPS/INS integration.

The rationale behind the NavChip Series 3 Class A and Class B parts is to increase the performance accuracy of a key parameter:

·      Class A bias in-run stability to 4°C/hr (typical), 5°/hr (max) with an output rate of 1,000 Hz;

·       Class B bias in-run stability 5°/hr (typical), 10°/hr (ma.) with an output rate of 1,000 Hz.

The result is a more competitive product that supports a broader range of applications over the ±16 g operating range (other ranges available upon request). The Series 3 performance enhancement aligns with the manufacturer’s strategy to not only expand the IMU product line, but also provide users with options for selecting the performance for their unique application, while minimizing the cost of the overall solution. Other enhancements include a 1,000 Hz update rate; embedded Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS), which reduces system complexity, cost, and power consumption; and the ability to accept other external inputs, such as a magnetometer, to enhance the systems’ overall performance, while maintaining cost and easing the system’s design complexity.

Lou Taddeo, Thales Visionix’s director of business development, said, “The availability of the Class A and Class B options to NavChip Series 3 are the latest offerings in our rapidly expanding NavChip family of precision IMUs. It incorporates the performance, ruggedness, and reliably of our legacy aerospace product line into a low-cost component that meets the requirements of a broad range of commercial applications. Listening to the voice of the customer, we have maximized their performance requirements while mainlining a low-cost approach that is compatible with the commercial market. Our plan is to continue providing our customers with the highest performance to price solutions, while introducing newer additions to the NavChip family that will offer a broad range of options at varying performance, functionality, and price points. Our customers can buy only what they need to achieve optimum systems performance at the lowest possible cost.”

These items can be procured through Digi-Key at the following URL: https://www.digikey.com/en/supplier-centers/t/thales-visionix