24 September 2021

DSEI 2021: iXblue unveils UmiX series of inertial measurement units

by Samuel Cranny-Evans

iXblue presented its new UmiX series of inertial measurement units (IMU) that utilise miniaturised gyroscopes during the DSEI 2021 exhibition held in London from 14–17 September. (Janes/Sam Cranny-Evans)

France's iXblue has unveiled its new UmiX series of inertial measurement units (IMU) that utilise miniaturised gyroscopes, during the DSEI 2021 exhibition held in London from 14–17 September. The IMU is intended to become a component part of a range of systems from stabilised opto-electrical sights to inertial navigation systems and missile guidance systems, David Cunningham, the company's commercial director told Janes on 15 September.

The UmiX series represents about four years of research and development that the company has funded internally, and employs fibre optic gyroscopes that are 40 mm in diameter, representing a first for iXblue. iXblue manufactures every element of the UmiX series.

The technology is scalable, and the sensitivity of a gyroscope is proportional to the useful surface of the fibre optic coil, which is defined by multiplying its length by its diameter. This means that the UmiX can be scaled to meet a broad range of needs from short-term navigation to strategic level needs, iXblue told Janes on 23 September. The company added that its in-house design and manufacturing has led to a design with the same sensitivity as larger coils of previous generations.

A fibre optic gyroscope works by winding an optical fibre into a coil. A laser light source is then split and sent travelling down opposing ends of the coil and allowed to exit. Upon exit, the light sources are subjected to interference and the phase difference between the beams is measured to detect any mechanical rotation that has occurred.

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