High-performance digital MEMS accelerometer sensors released

TDK Corporation has added two new products to the Tronics AXO300 accelerometers platform. After the production launch in 2020 of the ±14g AXO315 accelerometer for high-performance navigation and positioning of dynamic systems, Tronics expanded the accelerometer series with the AXO301, a low-noise and high-resolution ±1g accelerometer for high-precision acceleration/deceleration measurements in railway applications and inclination control in industrial applications, and the AXO305, a ±5g accelerometer targeted at navigation, positioning, and motion control of land and marine manned and unmanned systems. Constructed with an innovative closed-loop architecture that provides high linearity and stability even under strong vibrations, the platform accelerometers provide an excellent one-year composite bias repeatability of 1mg and composite scale factor repeatability of 600ppm.

The AXO301 is a low-noise, high-resolution, closed-loop digital MEMS accelerometer with ±1g input range that provides a performance-equivalent, low-SWaP and cost-effective choice to force balance inclinometers and servo-accelerometers. It presents an ultra-low noise density of 8μg/√Hz with an exceptional 50μg resolution to deliver high-accuracy inclination angle measurements. It is tailored to odometry assistance for train positioning and localisation systems, high-end industrial tilt and inclination measurement systems, and motion control of construction machinery. The device is compliant with EN61373 railway standard for vibrations and shocks.

With an input measurement range of ±5g and vibration rectification error of 20μg/g², AXO305 targets navigation, positioning and motion control functions of land, rail and marine transportation systems and vehicles.

It displays a Bias Instability of 4μg with a ±0.5mg bias over its temperature range, thus enabling precise GNSS-aided navigation of manned and unmanned ground vehicles and trains when integrated into INS. It is an excellent candidate for MRU employed for ship motion control and dynamic positioning, IMU for land navigation, subsea navigation of AUV and ROV, platform and crane stabilisation, and precision robotics.

The closed-loop architecture of the AXO300 platform delivers high resolution and strong vibration rejection. Accelerometers and inclinometers from the series are housed in a miniature, hermetic, ceramic J-lead package that provides long operational and storage life and guarantees high compliancy with the stringent thermal cycling requirements of critical applications. They embed fully hard-coded electronics with a 24-bit digital SPI interface for swift integration into stand-alone sensor modules, INS, IMU, and Attitude and Heading Reference Systems AHRS. The built-in self-test ensures initial verification of the sensor’s integrity and continuous in-operation functionality test.

Thanks to their common sensor’s architecture, miniature package and low-power consumption, the AXO315, AXO305 and AXO301 accelerometers provide a digital, cost-effective and low-SwaP alternative to bulky, expensive, and power-consuming analog solutions such as tactical-grade quartz accelerometers. The accelerometers are complemented by high-performance Tronics GYPRO digital rate gyros that share the same SMD J-lead ceramic package (12mm x 12mm x 5mm) and the same digital interface to enable low-cost integration, assembly, and reliability on PCB, even in fast-changing temperature conditions.