EMCORE Unveils the Compact EN-150 Inertial Measurement/Navigation Unit

EMCORE Corporation has launched the EN-150 Inertial Measurement/Navigation Unit, specifically designed for unmanned aerial vehicles, dismounted soldiers, weapon systems, and scenarios where GPS signals are not accessible.

Innovative Design and Performance

This unit can function as a complete navigation solution or serve as a high-performance, compact alternative to customary Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). The EN-150 stands out as the most compact and cost-effective Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG)-based IMU currently available, offering extraordinary performance.

Expanding EMCORE’s existing IMU lineup, which includes the EN-300, the EN-150 measures just 2.6 inches in diameter and 2.24 inches in height, occupying a total volume of only 11 cubic inches. This three-axis, closed-loop FOG design is one-third the size of competing models. It incorporates EMCORE’s proprietary solid-state FOG transceiver along with advanced Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) electronics, delivering performance that can be up to twice as effective as older IMUs, while also enhancing reliability and reducing costs.

Precision and Versatility

The EN-150 is available in various performance configurations, featuring bias drift as low as 0.5 degrees per hour and an Angle Random Walk (ARW) of 0.02 degrees per square root hour. This level of precision makes it ideal for applications requiring accurate targeting, line-of-sight stabilization, and navigation in GPS-denied environments, outperforming older RLG units that typically exhibit bias drift between 1 to 5 degrees per hour. Bias drift is a critical factor in determining the accuracy and precision of an IMU, with lower drift values indicating superior overall performance. The EN-150’s internal signal processing provides two standard IMU outputs: raw acceleration and rate data at 600Hz, along with navigation data at 100Hz, which includes coning and sculling compensation. Additionally, it offers options for both standalone and aided navigation, utilizing external sensors like GPS.

Expert Insights

David Faulkner, EMCORE’s Vice President and general Manager of Aerospace & Defense, stated, “The EN-150 is the most compact FOG-based IMU on the market, serving as a functional upgrade to legacy systems while delivering considerably enhanced performance in a smaller footprint.This new addition to our navigation systems portfolio leverages the technology from our EN-300, providing the benefits of a FOG IMU at a lower cost compared to RLG units, and at a size previously only possible with MEMS-based sensors.”

Dr. K.K. Wong, Senior Director of Fiber Optic Gyro Products at EMCORE, emphasized, “The EN-150 offers our clients the versatility to select navigation options tailored to their specific needs or to upgrade from older RLG IMUs to a more efficient, compact solution. The unit’s digital interface is fully programmable at EMCORE’s facility, allowing for a seamless transition from lower-performing units without incurring additional costs for interface modifications.”