EMCORE Corporation has introduced the TAC-440 MEMS Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), which according to the company is the smallest 1°/hour IMU in the world. Featuring an ultra-compact package of less than 5 cubic inches, the TAC-440 is a higher-performance, form, fit, and function compatible replacement for the Honeywell 1930 and 4930 IMUs.
The breakthrough performance of the TAC-440 IMU is based on EMCORE’s proven quartz MEMS inertial sensor technology. EMCORE’s quartz technology enables repeatable, high-volume production of precisely machined sensor structures combined with the inherent large signal output and thermal stability of quartz materials. The TAC-440 features 1°/hour gyro bias and 1 mg accelerometer bias stability with very low 0.05°/√hour Angle Random Walk (ARW) over a wide temperature range. It delivers excellent performance over temperature, shock, and vibration environments with a Velocity Random Walk (VRW) rating of 32 µg/√Hz (τ=-1/2).
The TAC-440 IMU is designed for demanding, mission-critical, rugged environments in a wide variety of defense, commercial, industrial, and marine applications such as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and robotics. The solid-state quartz sensors and hermetically sealed IMU construction provide reliable MTBF and storage life. Continuous Built-in Test (BIT), configurable communications protocols, electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection make the TAC-440 IMU easy to use in a wide range of higher-order integrated system applications.
The TAC-440 supports four data message synchronization methods with either input synchronization pulse capability or an output time of validity capability. The user can choose whether the synchronization pulse is internally generated and output as a Time of Validity (TOV) of the output data or whether the TAC-440 software will identify the synchronization pulse input and synchronize the output data to the input pulse.
Matthew Vargas, EMCORE’s Vice President of Sales, commented: “We are excited to announce the introduction of the TAC-440 as a critical addition to our IMU product suite. We feel it fills an important role in extreme shock and vibe conditions providing a more compact yet equally performing complement to our highly successful SDI500 IMU, and we anticipate successful qualification supporting key customer’s program needs.”
