IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) is a sensor module that integrates a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope and is used to measure the linear acceleration and angular velocity of an object. On UAVs, IMU plays an important role. It can provide precise attitude and motion information and provide key data for UAV control and navigation.
Concepts and types of drones
A drone is an aircraft that does not require human piloting. It is equipped with various sensors and control systems and can perform tasks autonomously. The main role of the IMU is attitude control and flight stability. Based on purpose and design features, drones can be divided into the following three types:
✮Fixed wing drone
✮Multi-rotor drone
✮Vertical take-off and landing and transition drone
1. Fixed-wing UAV: The design of this UAV is similar to a traditional aircraft, with fixed wings and tail. It is usually used for long-duration flights and wide-area reconnaissance missions, with high speed and the ability to maintain flight stability. For example, the ER-MIMU02 and ER-MIMU06 developed by Ericco can be used in fixed-wing UAVs to perform the initial alignment of the UAV launch system. The machine performs attitude control.
Product advantages: The bias stability of the gyroscope is reduced to 0.5 degrees per hour. This accuracy level has reached that of MEMS sensors.
limit value.
2.Multi-rotor UAV: This type of UAV provides lift and control force through multiple rotors, the most common ones are four-rotor and six-rotor. Multi-rotor drones have vertical take-off and landing and hovering capabilities, and are suitable for tasks such as close-range reconnaissance, aerial photography, and logistics distribution. For example, the ER-MIMU03 and ER-MIMU07 developed by Ericco can be used in multi-rotor drones. These products have built-in acceleration sensors and gyroscopes, which can measure linear acceleration and rotational angular velocity in three directions, and obtain the attitude and speed of the carrier through analysis. and displacement information for precise positioning.
Product advantages: The bias stability of the gyroscope is reduced to 3 degrees per hour. The drone can be well controlled for positioning.
3. Vertical take-off and landing and transition drone: This kind of drone has a variable flight mode and can switch between vertical take-off and landing and horizontal flight. It combines the advantages of fixed-wing UAVs and multi-rotor UAVs, and is suitable for tasks requiring long-term flight and flexible maneuverability. The IMU plays a key role in vertical takeoff and landing and transition drones, and can be used for flight mode conversion. For example, the ER-MIMU04 and ER-MIMU08 developed by Ericco can be used for vertical take-off and landing and transition drones, and can switch flight postures at will.
IMU is not only an important part of the above three types of drones, but also plays an important role in the IMU pod. On the pod, the IMU's main role is to provide stable images and image transmission. In addition to its two main functions of attitude control and flight stability, it can also be used with other sensors such as GPS (Global Positioning System) and magnetometer to provide more accurate navigation and positioning information.
IMU provides key data for the control and navigation of drones in the field of drone applications, allowing drones to efficiently perform various tasks. Different types of UAVs have different IMU applications depending on their design and purpose, but whether they are fixed-wing, multi-rotor or vertical take-off and landing and transition UAVs, IMU is used to realize their flight control and A key component of navigation.
Current status and development trends of MEMS IMU
The MEMS sensor market is expanding rapidly, and MEMS technology is changing with each passing day. As the demand for MEMS sensors continues to grow, new innovative MEMS sensors will emerge and drive market growth. MEMS IMU has changed the development trend of the sensor industry with its small size, low power consumption, and high precision. It is manufactured using micromachining technology and can mass-produce small and complex devices. Its market is growing rapidly and is expected to reach US$21.145 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.85% from 2023 to 2031. Can be used in multiple industries, such as oil logging, aerospace, drones, mining, surveying, etc., even in the fields of autonomous driving and medical care. In the field of oil logging, in the aerospace field, MEMS IMU is used in navigation systems, flight control systems and environmental control systems. In the mining and surveying world, MEMS IMUs are used in mining equipment and surveying vehicles. In the automotive field, MEMS IMUs are used in airbag deployment systems, anti-lock braking systems and tire pressure monitoring systems. Additionally, MEMS IMUs can be used in implantable medical devices, drug delivery systems, robotics, and more.
I hope this article has given you some understanding of IMU and can help you choose a suitable IMU device for your drone. If you would like to learn more about IMU, please click on the link below.
More Technical Questions
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5.What is the Main Sensor in an IMU?
6.What Does IMU Mean for A Drone?
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