Inertial Measurement Units (IMU)

IMU manufacturers & suppliers of Inertial Measurement Units for UAV, UAS, USV, UGV including MEMS IMU & FOG IMU for unmanned systems
Overview Inertial Measurement Units (IMU)
By Technology Editor Last updated: August 8th, 2024

IMUs for UAVs, Drones and Unmanned Vehicles

What is an inertial measurement unit (IMU)?

An IMU (inertial measurement unit) is a device that combines inertial sensors – gyroscopes and accelerometers – to provide acceleration and orientation data that can be used to calculate position and velocity. Some models of IMU also incorporate magnetometers, which outputs measurements of the Earth’s magnetic field that can be used to improve the accuracy of orientation measurements. IMUs typically have one of each sensor per axis being measured, up to a maximum of three axes for measuring roll, pitch and yaw.

IMUs for UAVs and drones

Emcore Gyro-based Inertial Measurement Unit

Emcore Gyro-based Inertial Measurement Unit

IMUs are used for a variety of applications in UAVs and drones. They allow the aircraft to maintain stability and control while experiencing high winds or performing steep turning manoeuvres. They can also be used to enable highly accurate station-keeping or autonomous waypoint following.

Inertial measurement units may be used to provide data for an AHRS (Attitude and Heading Reference System), which calculates real-time attitude and heading for manned and unmanned aircraft, or an INS (Inertial Navigation System), which calculates position in addition to orientation.

Types of inertial measurement unit

Inertial Labs IMU P Inertial Measurement Unit for UAVs

Inertial Labs IMU P Inertial Measurement Unit for UAVs

Inertial measurement unit manufacturers typically manufacture units using one of four main technologies: Silicon MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), Quartz MEMS, FOG (Fiber Optic Gyro), and RLG (Ring Laser Gyro).

Silicon MEMS IMUs incorporate miniaturized sensors that measure either the deflection of a mass due to movement, or the force required to hold a mass in place. They are ideal for smaller UAV platforms and high-volume production, as they can generally be manufactured cheaply in compact and lightweight form factors.

FOG IMUs use a solid-state technology based on firing laser beams through a coiled optical fiber. Typically larger and more costly than MEMS-based IMUs, they are often used in larger UAV platforms.

RLG IMUs utilise a similar principle to FOG IMUs but with a sealed ring cavity in place of an optical fiber. They are generally considered to be the most accurate option, but are also the most expensive of the IMU technologies and typically much larger than other IMU types.

Quartz MEMS IMUs use an inertial sensing element that is micro-machined from a single piece of quartz and driven by an oscillator to vibrate at a precise amplitude. The vibrations can be used to sense angular rate, producing a signal that can be amplified and converted into a DC signal proportional to the rate. With low SWaP-C (size, weight, power and cost) characteristics, they are well-suited to UAV inertial systems.

Products (50)

FOG Inertial Measurement Units

Fiber optic gyroscope IMU with ultra-low bias drift & high stability

Fiber optic gyroscope IMU with ultra-low bias drift & high stability
...’s FOG-based inertial measurement units (IMUs) are built for applications demanding precise...
MEMS Inertial Measurement Units

High-performance multi-axis MEMS IMUs with up to ±6000 °/s gyro range

High-performance multi-axis MEMS IMUs with up to ±6000 °/s gyro range
...deNav’s MEMS Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are engineered for high-precision angular velocity...
CFI-200

SWaP-C optimized ITAR-free IMUs for precision stabilization & control

SWaP-C optimized ITAR-free IMUs for precision stabilization & control
...-200 family of inertial measurement units (IMUs) offers a range of performance options tailored to...
ARGO 500

FOG-based AHRS/IMU for airborne navigation & flight control

FOG-based AHRS/IMU for airborne navigation & flight control
...ro (FOG)-based inertial sensors is engineered for modern Fly-By-Wire (FBW) flight control...
ANELLO X3

Smallest & lightest three-axis optical gyroscope IMU

Smallest & lightest three-axis optical gyroscope IMU
...arate SiPhOG© units, each with its own independent six-axis redundant IMU sensor, CPU and power...
ANELLO IMU+

Triple-redundant inertial measurement unit for harsh environments

Triple-redundant inertial measurement unit for harsh environments
...U+ is a rugged inertial measurement solution designed to withstand high levels of shock and... ...tor IP68-rated unit offers reliable protection against chemicals and salt spray, making it ideal for...
Quanta Extra

The most accurate INS/GNSS system for demanding survey applications

The most accurate INS/GNSS system for demanding survey applications
Cutting edge SBG fusion algorithms together with the highest IMU performance and GNSS receiver build...
Quanta Plus

GNSS-aided Inertial Navigation System designed for UAV and land-based surveying solutions

GNSS-aided Inertial Navigation System designed for UAV and land-based surveying solutions
Quanta Plus combines a tactical MEMS IMU with a high-performance GNSS receiver to get reliable posit...
Quanta Micro

High performance IMU in an extremely compact form factor

High performance IMU in an extremely compact form factor
... manufacturing inertial sensors, including an individual calibration of each of the manufactured...
Pulse-40 IMU

Miniature tactical-grade 6 DoF IMU for UAVs & unmanned systems

Miniature tactical-grade 6 DoF IMU for UAVs & unmanned systems
Pulse-40 is a tactical-grade IMU that offers unmatched performance in harsh conditions in a miniatur...
IMU-NAV-100

High-performance navigation-grade IMU

High-performance navigation-grade IMU
...uirements, the unit is ideal for UAV, AUV & ROV navigation and control, platform orientation and...
Kernel IMUs

Fully-integrated industrial and tactical-grade inertial measurement units

Fully-integrated industrial and tactical-grade inertial measurement units
...es a number of measurement range and performance options to suit both industrial and tactical-grade...
IMU-P

Advanced three-axis MEMS IMU with external GNSS capability

Advanced three-axis MEMS IMU with external GNSS capability
...family of MEMS inertial measurement units utilize three-axis accelerometers and gyroscopes to... ...uirements, the unit is ideal for UAV, AUV & ROV navigation and control, platform orientation and...
IMU-FI-200T

Fiber Optic Gyroscope (FOG) and MEMS accelerometer-based Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

Fiber Optic Gyroscope (FOG) and MEMS accelerometer-based Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
...erometers. The unit delivers highly accurate linear acceleration and angular rate data with...
HGuide HG4930 S-Class IMU

Very high-performance MEMS IMU for camera & platform stabilization

Very high-performance MEMS IMU for camera & platform stabilization
The HGuide HG4930 S-Class is a variant of the HG4930 MEMS IMU, specifically designed to deliver the ...
HGuide HG4930 IMU

Very high-performance MEMS IMU for drones & robotics

Very high-performance MEMS IMU for drones & robotics
The HGuide HG4930 is the highest-performing MEMS IMU for its size and cost, and is an excellent repl...
HGuide i300 IMU

High-performance MEMS IMU for UAVs, UGVs & AUVs

High-performance MEMS IMU for UAVs, UGVs & AUVs
The HGuide i300 is a high-performance MEMS IMU that is designed to meet the requirements of a wide r...
3DM-CV7-AHRS Attitude Heading Reference System

Embeddable Tactical IMU/AHRS

Embeddable Tactical IMU/AHRS
...Strain 3DM-CV7 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) offers...
FI 200C FOG-Based IMU

Tactical-grade IMU for UAVs & autonomous vehicles

Tactical-grade IMU for UAVs & autonomous vehicles
...entally-sealed unit contains no moving parts, ensuring low noise and a long operating lifecycle....
Motus Miniature MEMS IMU

Ultra-high accuracy miniature inertial sensor for UAVs

Ultra-high accuracy miniature inertial sensor for UAVs
...racy MEMS IMU (inertial measurement unit) that combines ultra-high accuracy accelerometers and...
Ellipse 2 Micro IMU

Calibrated IMU data

Calibrated IMU data
...a small-sized Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)....
FOG Inertial Measurement Units

High-precision three-axis fiber-optic gyro-based IMUs for drones & robotics

High-precision three-axis fiber-optic gyro-based IMUs for drones & robotics
Micro-Magic's high-precision FOG IMUs combine three axes of accelerometers and gyroscopes with sophi...
MEMS Inertial Measurement Units

Cost-effective three-axis IMUs for drones & robotics

Cost-effective three-axis IMUs for drones & robotics
Micro-Magic's cost-effective MEMS IMUs combine three axes of accelerometers and gyroscopes with soph...
RiLOC-F Inertial System

High-precision IMU/GNSS solution for VUX laser scanners

High-precision IMU/GNSS solution for VUX laser scanners
The RiLOC-F is a high-precision IMU/GNSS subsystem that is designed to attach directly to RIEGL̵...
TAC-440 Quartz MEMS Tactical IMU

World’s smallest 1°/hour IMU with rugged construction

World’s smallest 1°/hour IMU with rugged construction
...onditions. The unit also provides continuous Built-in Test (BIT) capabilities and configurable...
FOG IMU U123D

Small, low power FOG-based inertial measurement unit

Small, low power FOG-based inertial measurement unit
...is a FOG-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) with a lightweight ultra-compact design and robust...
TAC-450-360 Photonic IMU (Non-ITAR)

High-performance IMU for demanding UAV & autonomous vehicle applications

High-performance IMU for demanding UAV & autonomous vehicle applications
The TAC-450-360 is one of EMCORE's premier tactical-grade IMUs, featuring proprietary photonic integ...
FOG IMU U121D

Miniature, low power FOG-based inertial measurement unit

Miniature, low power FOG-based inertial measurement unit
...is a FOG-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) with a lightweight compact form factor and robust...
FOG IMU U183(M)

Low noise, ultra-compact FOG-based inertial measurement unit

Low noise, ultra-compact FOG-based inertial measurement unit
...is a FOG-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) with an ultra-compact cylindrical form factor....
MRM60 Analog IMU

Analog Output MEMS IMU

Analog Output MEMS IMU
...d systems, the inertial measurement unit features environmental sealing, precision alignment,...
LandMarkâ„¢ 007X IMU

High Dynamic Low-noise MEMS IMU

High Dynamic Low-noise MEMS IMU
...d systems, the inertial measurement unit features environmental sealing, precision alignment,...
LandMarkâ„¢ 65 IMU

High Performance, High Range MEMS IMU

High Performance, High Range MEMS IMU
...rs. The rugged unit provides RS422/RS485 output at 5 kHz output and CANBUS 2.0B at 1MHz....
LandMarkâ„¢ 005 IMU

Ultra Small Low-noise MEMS IMU

Ultra Small Low-noise MEMS IMU
...d systems, the inertial measurement unit features environmental sealing, precision alignment,...
LandMarkâ„¢ 007 IMU

High Dynamic Low-noise MEMS IMU

High Dynamic Low-noise MEMS IMU
... for precision measurement in high vibration environments such as unmanned systems applications....
LandMarkâ„¢ 60LX IMU

Ultra-Low Noise MEMS IMU

Ultra-Low Noise MEMS IMU
...d systems, the inertial measurement unit features environmental sealing, precision alignment,...
SDC500 MEMS IMU

Quartz MEMS IMU for commercial & industrial applications

Quartz MEMS IMU for commercial & industrial applications
...TAR-controlled unit features a low SWaP footprint as well as high sensitivity and linearity, greatly...
EN-300-1 Inertial Measurement/Navigation Unit

Precision Three-Axis FOG IMU for UAVs with 0.05°/hr Gyro Bias

Precision Three-Axis FOG IMU for UAVs with 0.05°/hr Gyro Bias
...ons include in inertial navigation for UAVs, dismounted soldiers, civilian unmanned aviation, and...
EN-300-3 Inertial Measurement/Navigation Unit

Precision Three-Axis FOG IMU for UAVs with 0.1°/hr Gyro Bias

Precision Three-Axis FOG IMU for UAVs with 0.1°/hr Gyro Bias
...ons include in inertial navigation for UAVs, dismounted soldiers, civilian unmanned aviation, and...
EN-300-5 Inertial Measurement/Navigation Unit

Precision Three-Axis FOG IMU for UAVs with 0.4°/hr Gyro Bias

Precision Three-Axis FOG IMU for UAVs with 0.4°/hr Gyro Bias
...ons include in inertial navigation for UAVs, dismounted soldiers, civilian unmanned aviation, and...
MU-2A-AC FOG IMU

Six-axis FOG-based inertial measurement unit with 0.02 °/hr gyro bias instability

Six-axis FOG-based inertial measurement unit with 0.02 °/hr gyro bias instability
... six-axis IMU (inertial measurement unit) that integrates closed-loop fiber optic gyros with...
CI-710 Inertial Measurement Unit

High-precision MEMS IMU for drones & robotics

High-precision MEMS IMU for drones & robotics
...ance MEMS IMU (inertial measurement unit) that outputs three axes of angular rate and acceleration,... ...r high-dynamic measurement systems, including aircraft control and dynamic transmission...
ARK SCH16T

Combined gyro & accelerometer sensor based on Murata SCH16T

Combined gyro & accelerometer sensor based on Murata SCH16T
The ARK SCH16T is a high-precision combined gyro and accelerometer sensor based on the Murata SCH16T...
ARK ADIS16507

High-precision three-axis MEMS IMU based on Analog Devices ADIS16507

High-precision three-axis MEMS IMU based on Analog Devices ADIS16507
...precision MEMS inertial measurement unit based on the Analog Devices ADIS16507-2 six-axis sensor....
POLAR-300 AHRS-IMU

Combined air data, AHRS & INS unit for UAVs

Combined air data, AHRS & INS unit for UAVs
The POLAR-300 combines an air data system, MEMS-based AHRS and INS with redundant IMUs, and multi-co...
POLAR-500 AHRS-IMU

AHRS-IMU system with dual GNSS compassing

AHRS-IMU system with dual GNSS compassing
... and low-power unit is packaged in a rugged aluminium enclosure, and is easily integrated into a...
µIMU Inertial Measurement Unit

Miniature three-axis MEMS IMU

Miniature three-axis MEMS IMU
......t is available in a range of different performance and measurement range options....
FOG IMUs

Long-life cycle IMUs with modular configuration

Long-life cycle IMUs with modular configuration
...for rotational measurement and three axes of accelerometers for linear acceleration measurement, as...
Inertial, Environmental & Position Sensors

Sensing & data acquisition solutions for drones and robotics

Sensing & data acquisition solutions for drones and robotics
AvioRace offers a broad portfolio of sensing solutions for drones and robotics, covering a wide rang...
IMU20

Industrial Grade MEMS IMU

Industrial Grade MEMS IMU
...s leading MEMS inertial sensors integrated and calibrated using an in-house state-of-the-art test...
DMU41

High Performance MEMS IMU

High Performance MEMS IMU
An affordable non-ITAR MEMS IMU alternative to 'FOG-Grade' IMUs for use in exacting motion sensing a...

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