A miniature, gun-hard MEMS IMU for guided projectiles, rockets and missiles

BAE SYSTEMS is a leading provider of inertial sensors and systems, including silicon-MEMS inertial based products to automotive, commercial and military markets. BAE SYSTEMS is developing a miniature MEMS inertial measurement unit. SiIMU02™ is capable of surviving and performing after the massive shock and vibration environment of a guided projectile gun-launch event, and is small enough to fit into next generation small caliber guided rockets and missiles. This paper explains the logical progression from the first generation SiIMU01™, which is now in production, to the second generation SiIMU02™, as the next step along a development roadmap to even smaller and better performing MEMS IMUs in the near future. The IMU architecture is presented, as are results of initial prototype performance testing and gun firing trials. The emerging guided projectile and rocket programs are posing new challenges for inertial measurement units. These special requirements, and how they are solved by the unique combination of sensor technology and IMU architecture employed in SiIMU02™, are explained.