Strap-down microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensors for high-G munition applications

Low-cost micromachined, inertial measurement sensors have steadily emerged into the commercial marketplace. Some of these sensors were evaluated throu gh ground and flight experiments for their insertion potential into militar y applications like operational test and evaluation and smart munition guid ance. Performance requirements for navigation and time space position infor mation (TSPI) are fast approaching those needed, especially when integrated with a global positioning system (GPS). Artillery and rockets, instrumented with "automobile grade'' Microelectrome chanical (MEMS) accelerometers and telemetry units, were recently part of a flight experiment which resulted in good success. The results of a High-g shock study suggest that some of these sensors are rugged enough to survive both low-g and high-g launch, Analyzes of the accelerometer data show good comparison to radar-based acceleration measurements and 6-degree-of-freedo m trajectory simulations. Flight simulated ground experimentation with gyro scopes have also been conducted that show promise for measuring projectile pitching and yawing behavior. Recent flight experiments may also be availab le for comparison to ground based measurement devices, This paper will pres ent the results of the flight and ground experimentation and describe the c hallenges for using these strapdown devices on rolling projectiles.