Inertial Labs has launched the INS-U, a low-cost, u-blox-based GPS-aided inertial navigation system (INS) that features an embedded air data computer (ADC). The new module is a fully integrated INS, Attitude & Heading Reference System (AHRS), Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), and ADC high-performance strapdown system that determines position, navigation, and timing (PNT) information for drones and unmanned systems.
The INS-U is part of Inertial Labs’ new generation of GPS-aided INS solutions, and utilizes a single-antenna, multi-constellation u-blox GNSS receiver that supports GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou. The module can be used in a variety of GPS-enabled environments and is protected against spoofing and jamming.
The system is comprised of two barometers, a miniature gyro-compensated fluxgate compass, and tri-axis temperature-calibrated advanced MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes. These high-performance sensors, along with Inertial Labs’ new on-board sensor fusion filter and advanced guidance and navigation algorithms, provide accurate position, velocity, and orientation of the device under measure.
The embedded ADC outputs static & dynamic pressure, pressure altitude, calibrated & true airspeed, true angle of attack, rate of climb, and wind speed of the device under measure. This data, combined with inertial reference information, provides UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) with accurate information about the unit and its relation to its environment.
The unit can use time-of-flight (ToF) aiding data from a ground station for long term GNSS-denied conditions as well as external position and heading so it can still output accurate PNT information regardless of the environment. The lightweight, compact solution measures 82 x 40 x 26 mm and weighs less than 200 grams. This, along with an IP67-related enclosure, makes the INS-U ideal for a wide range of SWaP-limited and harsh environment applications.
