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GuideNav
Tactical-Grade & High-Performance Inertial Sensors: MEMS IMUs, FOG IMUs, Gyroscopes, Accelerometers, INS
Platinum Partner
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía
Guidance, Navigation & Control Solutions (GNC) for Drones & UAVs
Platinum Partner
Honeywell Aerospace Technologies
BVLOS Solutions for UAS & UAM: Fuel Cells, Radar, Navigation Sensors, Flight Control & SATCOM
Platinum Partner
Advanced Navigation
Software-Defined Inertial Navigation Systems (MEMS & FOG), and Acoustic Positioning Solutions
Platinum Partner
Inertial Labs, a VIAVI Solutions Company
Inertial Navigation Sensors: MEMS IMU, Accelerometers, Gyroscopes, AHRS, GPS-INS & Point Cloud Generation
Platinum Partner
SBG Systems
Inertial Navigation Systems, INS/GPS, AHRS, and IMU Sensors for Unmanned Systems
Platinum Partner
Micro Magic
Industrial & Automotive-Grade Inertial Sensing Systems for UAVs, Robotics & Autonomous Vehicles
Gold Partner
EMCORE Corporation
High Performance FOG, RLG, and Quartz MEMS Inertial Sensors - Gyros, IRU, IMU, INS
Gold Partner
Gladiator Technologies
MEMS Inertial Sensors: IMUs, GPS-Aided INS, Gyroscopes, Accelerometers, AHRS
Gold Partner
ARK Electronics
Cutting-Edge Flight Controllers, Sensors, and Other Electronics Technologies for Drones & Robotics
Silver Partner
CHC Navigation
GNSS Positioning & Navigation Systems, Mobile Mapping UAV LiDAR & Unmanned Surface Vehicles
Silver Partner
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Products
Tactical Grade IMUs for Drones, UAVs, and Unmanned Systems
Tactical-grade inertial measurement units (IMUs) deliver dependable navigation and motion tracking in unmanned platforms where external signals like GPS may be unreliable or unavailable. Designed to balance performance, size, weight, power consumption, and cost, tactical-grade IMUs bridge the gap between consumer-grade and navigation-grade inertial systems. These units are commonly integrated into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), underwater vehicles (UUVs), and spaceborne platforms to support autonomy, stability, and control.
Unlike consumer or commercial-grade IMUs, tactical-grade models have superior in-run bias stability, low drift rates, and high dynamic range. While not as precise as navigation-grade IMUs used in strategic or nuclear applications, tactical units substantially improve accuracy and environmental resilience. The performance specifications of tactical IMUs make them suitable for demanding scenarios such as ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), precision targeting, mobile mapping, robotic navigation, and maritime operations.
Distinguishing Tactical Grade from Industrial Grade IMUs
Industrial IMUs are typically used in factory automation, warehouse robotics, and general-purpose machinery, offering moderate precision at lower cost. They are optimized for stable environments where high dynamic performance and extreme durability are not critical. Bias stability in industrial-grade IMUs often ranges from 10 to 50°/hr, with more tolerance for environmental noise, making them appropriate for tasks like equipment tracking, orientation control, and vehicle stabilization in controlled settings.
IMU-H100 by Inertial Labs.
In contrast, tactical-grade IMUs offer significantly improved performance. Gyro bias stability in the 1 to 10°/hr range, higher bandwidth, and lower noise characteristics make them ideal for mobile, dynamic, or GPS-denied environments. Tactical IMUs are engineered to withstand harsher operating conditions, including vibration, thermal gradients, and high acceleration rates, while maintaining high data fidelity. They are often built to meet military or aerospace standards, even when not used in strictly military applications.
Applications in Unmanned Systems
Tactical-grade IMUs are a key enabling technology in unmanned systems where GPS access is intermittent or completely denied. They are widely used across the following domains:
UAV and Drone Navigation
Tactical IMUs allow drones and UAVs to maintain stable flight, perform autonomous missions, and return to base even without GPS. They support dead reckoning, position hold, and waypoint following, particularly in contested environments or indoor operations.
Surveying and Mapping
High-precision motion data from tactical IMUs enhances photogrammetry, LiDAR mapping, and 3D terrain modeling. The ability to track sensor orientation and position precisely is vital for aerial surveying and geospatial intelligence.
Robotics and Motion Control
Ground-based robotic systems rely on IMUs for feedback in localization and path planning. Tactical IMUs help maintain stability and orientation in dynamic terrain, contributing to autonomous mobility and obstacle avoidance.
Underwater Navigation
In UUVs and AUVs, tactical-grade IMUs provide inertial reference data for underwater navigation without surface-based positioning systems. Integrating Doppler Velocity Logs (DVLs) and pressure sensors creates reliable inertial navigation systems (INS) for subsea operations.
Space and Satellite Attitude Control
Small tactical IMUs are deployed in CubeSats and microsatellites for attitude and orbit control. These systems support spacecraft orientation, pointing maneuvers, and reaction wheel feedback.
Sensor Architectures and Types
Tactical grade IMUs vary in architecture, sensor configuration, and underlying technology. Standard sensor elements include:
MEMS-Based IMUs
Compact and cost-effective, using micro-electromechanical systems technology. MEMS IMUs in the tactical class feature improved bias stability and environmental hardening over commercial and industrial versions.
MEMs IMUs by GuideNav.
Fiber-Optic Gyroscopes (FOG)
FOG-based IMUs offer high precision and low noise performance, suited for high-dynamic applications. They are preferred in UAVs with long-duration missions.
Ring Laser Gyros (RLG)
Known for excellent drift characteristics, RLG-based IMUs are used where higher performance is required, though their size and power demands limit use in SWaP-constrained platforms.
Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)
Tactical IMUs are often embedded in inertial navigation systems (INS) or attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS) that combine gyroscopes, accelerometers, magnetometers, and satellite navigation. These systems use advanced sensor fusion algorithms to maintain accurate positioning and orientation through GPS-denied intervals.
Performance Benchmarks and Comparisons
Tactical grade IMUs are typically defined by a bias stability range of 1 to 10°/hr for gyroscopes and 50 to 500 µg for accelerometers. Their drift rates, scale factor linearity, and bandwidth exceed commercial-grade counterparts, making them suitable for mid-performance navigation tasks.
| IMU Grade | Gyro Bias Stability (°/hr) | Typical Use Cases |
| Consumer Grade | >50 | Mobile phones, wearables |
| Industrial Grade | 10–50 | Warehouse robotics, automated machinery |
| Tactical Grade | 1–10 | UAVs, marine robots, field robotics, micro-sats |
| Navigation Grade | <1 | Strategic missiles, aircraft, submarines |
Standards and Environmental Ratings
Tactical IMUs used in defense and industrial sectors must comply with strict standards for performance and durability:
- MIL-STD-810: Specifies environmental testing for military equipment, including thermal shock, vibration, and humidity.
- MIL-STD-461: Covers electromagnetic interference and compatibility standards for electronic systems.
- STANAG Compliance: Some tactical systems align with NATO STANAG specifications for interoperability and performance.
- IP Ratings: Many tactical IMUs are IP67 or higher, providing dust and water resistance for rugged environments.
Manufacturers typically perform additional factory calibration, thermal compensation, and in-run bias correction to ensure consistent performance in extreme or dynamic conditions.
Selection Criteria and System Integration
Selecting the right tactical IMU involves a thorough assessment of operational requirements, including:
- Bias Stability and Noise Density: Critical for dead reckoning and precision tasks without GNSS.
- Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP): Especially relevant for UAVs and compact robotic systems.
- Interface Support: Integration with vehicle control units, GNSS, magnetometers, or autopilots may require specific digital communication protocols.
- Thermal and Mechanical Ruggedness: Ensures performance in fluctuating or harsh environments.
- Lifecycle Support: Including field calibration, firmware upgrades, and in-system diagnostics.
Trends and Emerging Technologies
The tactical IMU space is evolving rapidly due to new sensor designs, AI-driven fusion algorithms, and broader application domains. Key trends include:
- Miniaturization of High-Performance IMUs: New MEMS designs are shrinking tactical-level performance into industrial-scale form factors.
- Integrated AI Navigation: Machine learning models are helping correct IMU drift and improving trajectory estimation.
- Multi-IMU Redundancy Systems: Using dual or triple IMUs improves reliability and fault tolerance in mission-critical systems.
- Radiation-Tolerant Designs: Supporting tactical IMUs in space and high-altitude UAVs through hardened electronics.
- Commercial Expansion: Tactical IMUs are increasingly used in industrial sectors requiring high precision, such as autonomous mining, smart agriculture, and high-speed rail.
