World's first MEMS-based gyrocompassing IMU

SBG Systems introduces the world's first MEMS-based North-seeking IMU, capable of operating without GNSS aiding – a breakthrough in MEMS technology.

This leap forward paves the way for future products, including AHRS and INS solutions, to further develop MEMS-based navigation possibilities. This innovation marks a major milestone in inertial navigation by bringing the benefits of MEMS sensors to the world of high-performance navigation and orientation.

This MEMS-based IMU delivers unparalleled precision, reaching a heading accuracy better than 1° secant latitude without GNSS aiding, and an INS heading accuracy better than 0.01° when fused with GNSS utilising the company's state-of-the-art navigation and orientation algorithms.

Also, this is a true MEMS-based gyrocompass with no moving parts and does not rely on carouseling, ensuring durability and reliability in all environments.

This MEMS-based Gyrocompassing IMU includes unmatched SWaP optimisation in a miniature form factor (52mm x 52mm x 36mm, <150g) with low power consumption (2W), making it the most compact and efficient solution in its category. It is designed for high-volume production, facilitating broad adoption across industries and competitive pricing. It is ITAR-free for unrestricted global deployment.

The company has developed cutting-edge and patent-pending algorithms to provide ultra-fast gyrocompass and INS alignment in all conditions:

A pure north-finding algorithm can rapidly initialise in static and dynamic conditions down to one minute. The advanced GNSS/INS algorithm takes full advantage of gyroscope performance to deliver exceptional single-antenna heading accuracy, even in non-dynamic scenarios.

"With this breakthrough, we are pushing the boundaries of MEMS technology. This IMU lays the foundation for a new generation of compact, cost-effective, and high-accuracy navigation solutions for marine, autonomous systems, and georeferencing applications," said Thibault Bonnevie, CEO of SBG Systems.

The solution is ideal for subsea applications, including ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles), requiring precise navigation in extreme environments. It is also ideal for geospatial and marine surveying, enabling high-performance single-antenna marine surveys with unparalleled accuracy and making it the perfect choice for hydrographic, dredging, and offshore operations.

The first off-the-shelf solutions are slated for early 2026.