Design and Implementation of an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for Small Diameter Ballistic Applications

• Main Authors: Bukowski, Edward F., Brown, T. Gordon
• Other Authors: Aberdeen Proving Ground
• Language: en_US
• Published: International Foundation for Telemetering 2009
• Subjects: Inertial Measurement Unit; Sensors; High-G; Gun Launched Munitions
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/606005; http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/606005

ITC/USA 2009 Conference Proceedings / The Forty-Fifth Annual International Telemetering Conference and Technical Exhibition / October 26-29, 2009 / Riviera Hotel & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada === The US Army Research Laboratory currently uses a variety of ballistic diagnostic systems for gathering aerodynamic information pertaining to gun launched munitions. Sensors are a vital component of each of these diagnostic systems. Since multiple sensors are commonly used, they are often configured into a sensor suite or inertial measurement unit (IMU). In order to gather information on smaller diameter projectiles, a small diameter IMU was designed using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) sensors and components. This IMU was first designed with a 21.6mm diameter and then later reintegrated into a 17.5mm diameter unit. The IMU provides up to ten sensor data channels which can be used to make in-flight projectile motion measurements. These measurements are then used in the determination of the projectile's aerodynamics. It has been successfully flight tested on a variety of projectiles. It has been used in conjunction with an on-board recorder (OBR) to take measurements on 40mm and 25mm projectiles. It has also been used in a telemetry based system on-board a flare stabilized 25mm projectile. This paper covers the design of the IMU and gives examples of various sensor data.