Honeywell MEMS Inertial Systems: Requirements and Development

Conrad E. Mueller, Joel G. Hanse

Abstract:	Inertial requirements across the spectrum of inertial system applications are summarized from a Honeywell perspective which is focused on applying MEMS inertial sensor technologies for the next generation of inertial measurement products featuring lower cost. A short survey of MEMS inertial sensor technologies from Honeywell evaluation experience is presented for both MEMS gyros and MEMS accelerometers. The steps along the path taken to assess the impact of MEMS inertial technology on the avionics industry and how they led to the resulting major acquisition of the MEMS inertial technology from the Boeing North American/Draper Laboratory Alliance are discussed. This decision to acquire the most advanced MEMS inertial designs available was supported by their key technical attribute ¾ their single-degree- of-freedom sensor design approach. Comparisons are drawn between the MEMS technology gyro development and past other Honeywell gyro developments, including conventional spinning mass gyros, laser gyros, and fiber optic gyros. The status of development plans at Honeywell is discussed along with projected MEMS IMU products’ availability in the near future for both commercial and military customers. Performance requirements are analyzed and MEMS inertial system performance is predicted using a linear, “blended spec” approach.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1999) June 27 - 30, 1999 Royal Sonesta Hotel Cambridge, MA
Pages:	451 - 461
Cite this article:	Mueller, Conrad E., Hanse, Joel G., "Honeywell MEMS Inertial Systems: Requirements and Development," Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of The Institute of Navigation (1999), Cambridge, MA, June 1999, pp. 451-461.
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