CEi chooses MEMS-based inertial measurement unit from Systron Donner for Navy Subsonic Aerial Target

CONCORD, Calif., 3 Oct. 2011.Aerial target and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designers at Composite Engineering Inc. (CEi) in Sacramento, Calif., needed an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for the U.S. Navy Subsonic Aerial Target (SSAT) and International Variant (SSAT(i)). They found their solution from Systron Donner Inertial in Concord, Calif.Systron Donner is providing an IMU for CEi SSAT based on the Systron Donner updated SDI500, an IMU based on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, under terms of a $350,000 contract. The Systron Donner updated SDI500 provides tactical-grade performance with 1-degree-per-hour bias stability and 0.02-degree-per-hour angle random walk, company officials say.In a head-to-head evaluation, the SDI500 outperformed a legacy IMU, improved system cost-effectiveness, reduces obsolescence and increased sustainability for CEi, Systron Donner officials say. The IMU will interface directly with the existing SSAT data architectures. CEi also will make necessary physical interface changes, yet retain the SDI500 commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) IMU technology.Systron Donner should be finished with the work by August 2012, company officials say. For more information contact Systron Donner Inertial online at www.systron.com.

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