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accelerometers and tilt sensors are transported to automobile industry and various
consumer products every year. Several advantages of these products are given below:
• Immune to vibrations—no measurable resonance
• Virtually indestructible (Very high shock tolerance capacity ≈50,000 g)
• Hysteresis are undetectable
• No friction
• Excellent zero-g offset stability
• Sensor and electronics integrated onto monolithic IC.
At present, most of the MEMS based gyros and accelerometers with different
specifications are available with Analog Devices Inc (ADI). To manufacture and
reach the ultimate goal of navigation for MAVs with micro fabricated MEMS, may
need to face many challenges. Reliability of MEMS in these applications is to be
assessed with temperature burning, G test, vibration tests and other aerodynamic
considerations. These tests vary from wafer to wafer, batch to batch and sometimes
rely on product.
A top-down approach can be followed to replace the bulky and heavy components
by MEMS, but bottom-up approach is needed to apply MEMS based navigational
systems at various superior platforms. The successful integration of MEMS with
other navigation devices will address the challenges by the double-oriented approach.
It guarantees the successful navigation in MAVs.
Primary navigation is done by GNSS, and as and when GNSS is not available or
in the emergency, MEMS bases inertial navigation will be used. Of course navigation
will be available in all weather conditions by integration of GNSS with MEMS based
IMU sensors.
Integrated GNSS and MEMS based navigation with single chip for affordable
cost, light weight and size, is very well suitable for MAVs for Accurate and reliable
navigation.
Summary
Various navigation methods used by Human being in olden days and present days
are described. Nowadays MEMS based Inertial Sensors, Global Navigation Satellite
Systems, Radar, ILS/MLS, Vision and LIDAR are used for navigation. All the above
mentioned methods are elucidated one by one.
• Inertial sensors are independent systems which give position, velocity and atti-
tude of moving vehicles, used for ships, aircrafts, space crafts and land vehicle
applications. Increase in errors with time is the main limitation for INS.
• GNSS is a satellite based positioning systems, and many users are using GNSS
for military purpose, transportation, mapping etc. Only useful in the outdoor
environment. Ionosphere, atmosphere and interference like jamming and spoofing