SCIRAS Sensor: Sundstrand Coriolis Inertial Rate and Acceleration Sensor

Rand H. Hulsing II

Abstract:	Sundstrand Data Control, Inc., is developing a new inertial sensor in the Instrument Systems Division at Redmond, Washington. This sensor is based on Sundstrand's new digital accelerometer technology called ACCELEREX, which uses a force-sensitive quartz crystal resonator that measures specific force with the stability and resolution of a precision quartz frequency standard. By combining this device with Coriolis sensing techniques, it is possible to build an allaccelerometer, inertial sensing assembly. This new device is called SCIRAS, pronounced like the name Cyrus, for Sundstrand's Coriolis Inertial Rate and Acceleration Sensor. The SCIRAS'" sensor measures both angular rotation and linear acceleration. By detecting Coriolis acceleration of a dithered accelerometer, a direct rot at ion rate can be measured. Sundstrand has developed patented processing techniques which can separate Coriolis components of these signals from those due to linear acceleration with sufficient precision to achieve a few NMPH sensor package. The sensor assembly (without electronics} weighs under 2 pounds and fits within a 16 cubic inch package. The system costs substantially less than comparable RLG systems and uses about half as much power. There is no wear-out since this is an all-flexure device. The sensor i's Substantially rugged, being ab 1 e to survive 1000g shocks and 30g vibration. Wide temperature applications are possible and shelf life is indefinite, as there are no exotic fluids or gases required for operation. This represents a marked reduction in life-cycle costs. The paper presents the evolution of the design from theory of operation through three generations of hardware. Laboratory test data shows this to be a practical, working sensor.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1988 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 26 - 29, 1988 Santa Barbara, CA
Pages:	84 - 89
Cite this article:	Hulsing, Rand H., II, "SCIRAS Sensor: Sundstrand Coriolis Inertial Rate and Acceleration Sensor," Proceedings of the 1988 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, Santa Barbara, CA, January 1988, pp. 84-89.
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