Two new all-silicon inertial measurement systems, developed to meet the specific demands of the small satellite and launch vehicle markets, have been released by Silicon Sensing Systems Ltd, and are on display at this month’s Space Tech Expo in Bremen, Germany.
The RMU30 combines below one-watt power consumption with performance comparable to much larger and higher-consumption fiber optic-based gyro systems. This is a small, lightweight, 3 axis micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) device incorporating three Silicon Sensing sensor heads manufactured at the company’s foundry in Japan.
[Image above: Silicon Sensing engineer working on an RMU30 prototype. Photos: Silicon Sensing]
Darioosh Naderi, Business Development Manager at Silicon Sensing explains: “This new gyro-package is the outcome of an extensive dialog with our existing customers in the space sector. As a result, we are confident it answers a growing requirement in the small satellite market, and indeed across all satellite technology. In the RMU30 we have stripped out all technology that is not relevant to the space environment to deliver a motion-sensing unit that is small and ultra-low power with precision inertial sensing performance that we can tailor to specific satellite requirements.”
Silicon Sensing’s IMU20 high-end, industrial-grade MEMS IMU can withstand extremely high shock environments and has a dynamic range that makes it ideal for use on satellite launch vehicles. This device combines three of the company’s gyros with Silicon Sensing’s own MEMS capacitive accelerometers.
“The IMU20 is a bespoke device focused on the needs of the launch vehicle market but is based on technology that is thoroughly proven in the highest impact and vibration environments, where performance is critical,” according to Naderi.
Developmental RMU30 and IMU20 units will be on display on the company’s stand at Space Tech Expo Europe 2019, November 19–21, in Bremen, Germany. Pre-production samples will be delivered to prospective customers later this year.
Silicon Sensing Systems Ltd is a gyroscope and inertial systems engineering development company based in , jointly owned by Collins Aerospace and Sumitomo Precision Products. It supplies silicon MEMS-based navigation and stabilization technology. Approaching 30 million MEMS gyroscopes and accelerometers have been supplied to thousands of customers since the company’s formation in 1999.
