News
MicroStrain's 3DM-G combines 360 range over all three axes and contains 9 distinct sensors
Burlington, Vermont, February 12, 2002 - MicroStrain, Inc. a leading
designer and manufacturer of micro sensors, today announced the
introduction of its new 3DM-G. 3DM-G has 9 total sensors (3 gyros, 3
accelerometers, and 3 magnetometers), which provide it with a 360
range over all three axes (pitch, roll, & yaw). The device can
output orientation data in euler angle, quaternion, or matrix format.
The device is the smallest commercially available inertial measurement
unit (IMU) on the market.
The 3DM-G is a breakthrough for MicroStrain as it sets the
Vermont-based company ahead. The 3DM-G combines the performance
attributes of two of MicroStrain's products: 3DM and MicroStrain's
other gyro enhanced product, FAS-G. FAS-G contains only one angular
rate gyro and two accelerometers, so it is capable of measuring static
and dynamic inclination (roll) over 360 degrees over one axis only.
FAS-G recently won a Gold award for "Best of Sensors Expo" in the
Sensors category at the Fall 2001 Sensors Expo in Philadelphia. These
systems were developed with partial support from the Dept. of Health
and Human Services Phase I & II SBIR program.
The applications for the FAS-G are diverse and include antenna
positioning, aiming and shaping, vehicle roll detection, compass tilt
compensation, and crane and heavy equipment stabilization to name but a
few. 3DM-G can be used in biomechanics limb segment tracking, athletic
performance monitoring, platform stabilization, image reconstruction,
robotic vehicle controls, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV's), and
unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV's).
"The big advantage of our gyro enhanced inclinometers and orientation
modules are that these systems can measure angles in the face of
dynamic (including vibratory and sudden start/stop) environments by
relying on the fast response of the gyros," said Steve Arms, President
of MicroStrain.
"In addition, the system has good static response by relying on the DC
response of the accelerometers and the magnetometers (when the system
is in static and quasi-static environments); this strategy continually
corrects for drift which can result from integrating the angular rate
gyros signals."
"The 3DM-G creates a powerful tool for many technologists and engineers. It can be used in hundreds of applications."
"In the past, this level of processing ability has only been realized
through the use of relatively large and expensive personal computing
platforms or digital signal processors. MicroStrain can now provide
these advanced capabilities in a low cost, tiny embedded
microprocessor. This will allow 3DM-G to be used in a wide variety of
applications", said Arms.
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