iSensor MEMS gyroscope to rival fibre optic gyros?

The new matchbox sized module weighs in at just 25g and is designed to provide 3.5o/hr typical bias stability while consuming less than 1W. ADI claims it demonstrates 2x better linearity, 30x faster start-up and 5x lower power compared to more costly fibre optic gyros. "The ADIS16136 MEMS gyro is competitive on the stability and angular random walk specifications compared to more costly fibre optic gyros, while demonstrating better linearity, faster start up and lower power," said Bob Scannell, iSensor business development manager, MEMS/Sensors Technology Group, ADI. "Even more significant is its small size and low weight. It is minute in comparison to fiber optic gyros, which can be 10 cubic in or larger." The ADIS16136 operates autonomously and is designed to enable precision dependent applications such as platform stabilisation and control, navigation, robotics and medical instrumentation. It is designed to provide data at rates of up to 2048S/s and offers an averaging/decimation filter structure for optimising noise/bandwidth trade-offs. Its serial peripheral interface and user register structure are said to provide easy access to configuration controls and calibrated sensor data for embedded processor platforms.