Micro-Technology for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (Micro PN&T)
Abstract
The Micro-Technology for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (Micro-PNT) program is developing low-Cost, Size, Weight, and Power (CSWaP) inertial sensors and timing sources for navigation in GPS degraded environments, primarily focusing on the development of miniature solid state and atomic gyroscopes and clocks. Both classes of sensors are currently unsuitable for small platform or dismount soldier applications. Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors have limited performance but excellent CSWaP, while atomic sensors are capable of excellent performance but are limited to laboratory experiments due to complexity and high CSWaP. Micro-PNT is advancing both technology approaches by improving the performance of MEMS inertial sensors and by miniaturizing atomic devices. Ultimately, low-CSWaP inertial sensors and clocks will enable ubiquitous guidance and navigation on all platforms, including guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles (micro-UAVs), and mounted and dismounted soldiers. Successful realization of Micro-PNT requires development of new microfabrication processes and novel material systems for fundamentally different sensing modalities, understanding of error sources at the micro-scale, and development of miniature inertial sensors based on atomic physics. Innovative microfabrication techniques under development will allow co-fabrication of dissimilar devices on a single chip, such that clocks, gyroscopes, accelerometers, and calibration stages can be integrated into a small, low power architecture. The program is developing miniature inertial sensors based on atomic interferometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Ancillary research efforts for this program are funded within PE 0602716E, Project ELT-01.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2017
- Source ID
- dd737fbdded5f634b48955f92c63f8f9