
Honeywell is introducing the HG3900 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a small, lightweight, and low-power tactical-grade device with accuracy and reliability comparable to larger, near-navigation-grade IMUs.
The HG3900 comprises all-silicon MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) gyroscopes and accelerometers, enabling a significant reduction in size, weight, and power (SWaP) compared to IMUs that use traditional technologies. Its advanced sensors offer performance improvements up to 20 times greater than those of other Honeywell MEMS devices.
The HG3900 is designed with backward compatibility in mind. As the highly successful Honeywell HG1900 IMU nears its end of life, the HG3900 will be offered in a nearly identical package to allow an easy transition for existing HG1900 users.
In addition to Honeywell’s rigorous product development process, the HG3900 IMU has successfully completed full environmental testing by the U.S. Army and Navigation Technology Associates (NTA), meeting all requirements under demanding conditions, including high vibration and dynamic temperature changes.
Honeywell IMUs are widely used on autonomous vehicles and other autonomy-driven use cases where precision positioning and navigation are critical. Advanced MEMS IMUs such as the HG3900 are highly resilient and can provide accurate navigation and orientation data with or without global navigation satellite system (GNSS) inputs. They can operate independently for extended periods when GNSS signals are jammed, spoofed, or unavailable.
The design verification process will continue into 2026, with initial production and deliveries expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. Honeywell is currently accepting orders for pre-production units, with delivery planned for 2026.
Matt Picchetti, vice president and general manager of Navigation and Sensors at Honeywell Aerospace Technologies, commented, “Our HG3900 IMU is an ideal solution for customer applications requiring tactical or near-nav grade performance in a small, lightweight package. Extensive Honeywell and customer testing demonstrates that our new IMU offers superior real-world performance in a smaller package as compared to other IMUs.”
Honeywell is showcasing the HG3900 IMU at the Joint Navigation Conference in Cincinnati, June 2-5, Booth 132.