GPS/INS Pares Pertinent Parameters

Aug 12, 2011 2:39 PM, MD&D News Staff

Paring down critical specs and measures, MicroStrain’s 3DM-GX3-45 assumes position as the smallest, lightest, and lowest-power GPS-aided inertial navigation system (GPS/INS) available. Excluding mounting tabs, the module measures 44 by 24 by 14 mm. Width across with tabs is 37 mm. It weighs 23 g and, operating from a 3.2-V to 16-V supply, consumes 160 mA at 5 V with an RS-232 and GPS lock. Other features include microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) inertial sensors, a GPS receiver, a Kalman filter, and an embedded geomagnetic model providing estimates of Earth’s magnetic field vector. Ensuring reliable position, velocity, and attitude estimates, the Kalman filter delivers a position accuracy of 2.5 m circular error of probability (CEP), velocity accuracy of 0.75 m/s 1-sigma, an attitude accuracy of 0.35° 1-sigma roll-and-pitch 1° 1-sigma heading, and an update rate of 100 Hz. To peruse a datasheet and quick-start guide, respectively, go to www.microstrain.com/pdf/3DM-GX3-45_datasheet_1.00f.pdf and www.microstrain.com/pdf/3DM-GX3-45%20Quick%20Start%20Guide.pdf.