ASC launches 6-DOF miniature IMU for industrial, agriculture and automotive applications

Monday, 4th July 2016, Pfaffenhofen, Germany - Advanced Sensors & Calibration (ASC) GmbH, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of capacitive, piezoresistive and piezoelectric accelerometers, angular rate sensors (gyroscopes) and inertial measurement units (IMUs), has announced the introduction of a new range of industrial-grade MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical) inertial measurement unit (IMU), ASC IMU 7.X.Y. It is a miniature 6-axis analog output sensor featuring the latest generation of MEMS vibrating ring gyros and high-precision MEMS accelerometers. The IMU is targeted at low-cost navigation-aiding and pointing systems found in industrial, agriculture and automotive markets, among others.

“With our newest products we offer our clients high-precision sensors for very special applications. ASC IMU 7.X.Y offers not just an excellent price-performance ratio but is also lightweight, compact and provides an extended selection of measurement ranges, both for acceleration and rotation rates. Moreover, users can choose either the ASC LN (low-noise) series or the ASC MF (medium-frequency) series accelerometers, thus customising the IMU to meet their individual application requirements,” states Renate Bay, Managing Partner of ASC.

ASC IMU 7.X.Y can be customised with accelerometers from ±2g to ±50g and gyros from ±75°/s to ±900°/s. The IMU can be powered by a +5V to +40V DC power supply where the output voltage is independent of the supply. This mini-IMU is protected by lightweight anodised aluminium housing and features the industry-standard 12-pin connector with a detachable cable. The IMU is rated to IP65 and works from -40°C to +85°C.

ASC’s IMU 7.X.Y has excellent temperature stability, low noise and immunity to mechanical shocks, all of which are vital, for instance in precision agricultural applications involving moving heavy machinery over undulating terrain or in applications that are size- and weight-constrained and require a small IMU to secure operations during GPS outage.

The new IMUs are especially suitable for testing applications. In the marine area they are used on ship models to simulate wave-induced motions in launch tests from platforms where heavy shocks are involved. During dynamic testing applications in the automotive sector, the IMU provides short-term orientation measurement to keep the car moving on a digital map when the GPS signal is lost, for example in tunnels.

Features:

• 6-axis mini IMU
• Acceleration range: ±2g to ±50g 
• Rotation range: ±75°/s to ±900°/s
• Typ. spectral noise (accelerometer): 10 µg/√Hz
• Bias instability (Gyro): 9°/hr
• Shock limit: 500g (operational); 2000g (survival)
• Weight: 26g

Typical Applications:

• Precision agriculture
• Marine
• Navigation system aids (dead reckoning)
• Industrial & robotics
• Sports & biomechanics (motion capture)
• Platform stabilisation

For detailed specifications, drawings and additional information about ASC IMU 7.X.Y: Visit http://www.asc-sensors.com/products/inertial-measurement-unit.html or
e-mail Product Manager, Murlidhar Thakur at: m.thakur@asc-sensors.de

About ASC

ASC (Advanced Sensors & Calibration) GmbH, headquartered in Pfaffenhofen, Germany is one of the world's leading manufacturers of capacitive, piezoresistive and piezoelectric accelerometers, angular rate sensors (Gyros) and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs). ASC sensors are used in a wide range of industrial applications in automotive, rail vehicles, wind power, agriculture, air and space travel, geophysics, deep well drilling, tunneling, automation and mechanical engineering. Leading global companies including Audi, BMW, VW, Siemens Transportation Systems, Fendt, Wölfel, LMS and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) put their trust in ASC products..

Apart from being a quality sensor manufacturer, ASC also offers supplementary services such as maintenance, repair and calibration for its own products and also for third-party products. ASC is particularly specialised in providing customised solutions that are geared to the exact customer needs.

ASC is also the exclusive distributor of accelerometers from Honeywell and gyros from Systron Donner Inertial.