KVH and VectorNav collaborate to offer precision inertial navigation system

VectorNav’s Tactical Series line of inertial navigation systems now supports KVH’s high-performance fiber optic gyro-based 1750 IMU and 1775 IMU.

Inertial sensor companies KVH Industries Inc. and VectorNav Technologies LLC have announced that KVH’s fiber optic gyro (FOG)-based 1750 IMU and 1775 IMU will now be offered to enhance the operation of VectorNav’s VN-210 and VN-310 Tactical Series GNSS-aided inertial navigation systems.

The products are on display in KVH’s (#2600) and VectorNav’s (#2214) booths at the AUVSI Xponential conference in Denver, Colorado, taking place April 30-May 3.

The VectorNav Tactical Series products with KVH’s FOG-based inertial measurement units (IMUs) combine the precision and reliability of KVH’s FOG technology with the robust filters and high-performance navigation algorithms of VectorNav’s inertial navigation systems.

The combined capabilities represent an affordable, effective alternative to larger, higher-cost inertial navigation systems and provide improved accuracy in challenging environments, the companies said.

Photo: VectorNav/KVH

VectorNav’s Tactical Series includes an onboard micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)-based IMU, which provides some advantages for customers who have constraints in terms of size and weight in their navigation and stabilization applications.

However, in terms of inertial accuracy, the most demanding applications require performance that can only be delivered by FOG-based IMUs, for which KVH is a leading provider.

The VectorNav Tactical Series products with KVH FOG-based IMUs are designed for such applications as:

• Satcom On The Move
• gimbal and camera pointing and stabilization
• weapons systems targeting and stabilization
• autonomous vehicle navigation
• lidar mapping
• georeferencing

or any application where MEMS-based solutions are unable to deliver sufficient accuracy and precision.

A single cable connects the two systems, running from KVH’s 1750 IMU or 1775 IMU directly to the auxiliary port on the VN-210 or VN-310. This pairing creates a fully integrated FOG-based inertial navigation system designed to provide a high-accuracy, continuous positioning, velocity, and attitude solution.

KVH is a leading innovator for assured navigation and autonomous accuracy using high-performance sensors and integrated inertial systems. KVH’s widely fielded TACNAV systems are in use by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps as well as many allied militaries around the world.

KVH’s FOGs and FOG-based IMUs are in use today in a wide variety of applications ranging from optical, antenna, and sensor stabilization systems to mobile mapping solutions and autonomous platforms and cars.

“We are pleased to feature KVH technology in our Tactical Series and give our customers the option of utilizing a FOG-based IMU for higher precision performance to support a wide range of demanding applications,” said Jakub Maslikowski, director of sales and marketing for VectorNav.

“The combination of VectorNav’s Tactical Series products with our FOG-based IMUs provides a great solution for applications that require advanced inertial navigation capability and FOG-level IMU performance,” said Jay Napoli, vice president of FOG/OEM sales for KVH.