Micro-Technology for Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (Micro PN&T)
Abstract
The Micro-Technology for Position, Navigation, and Timing (micro-PNT) program is developing low-size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP+C) inertial sensors and timing sources. This suite of sensors, when integrated into an inertial measurement unit (IMU), will enable self-contained navigation and timing in the absence of signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS), due to environmental interference or adversary action such as GPS jamming. The micro-PNT program is developing miniature high performance gyroscopes, accelerometers, and clocks, based on both solid state and atomic technologies. Advanced micro-fabrication techniques under development will enable the fabrication of a single package containing all the necessary devices in a volume the size of a sugar cube. Co-location of atomic physics and MEMS-based devices opens the possibility for utilization of combinatorial algorithms to enable fast start-up time and increased bandwidth of MEMS with the long-term stability and accuracy of MEMS sensors, thus effectively providing very accurate navigation devices in highly dynamic environments. The small SWaP+C of these technologies will enable ubiquitous guidance and navigation on all platforms, including guided munitions, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and individual soldiers. The successful realization of micro-PNT depends on the development of new microfabrication processes and novel material systems for fundamentally different sensing modalities, understanding of the error sources at the micro-scale, and understanding of scaling relationships for the size-reduction of sensors based on atomic physics techniques. The micro-PNT program includes research into novel techniques for fabrication and integration of three-dimensional MEMS devices as well as theoretical and experimental studies of new MEMS architectures and geometries for inertial sensing. Atomic physics research includes the development of new geometries and architectures for atomic inertial sensing and the development of techniques for improving the sensitivity and accuracy of miniaturized devices. Advanced research for the program is budgeted in PE 0603739E, Project MT-12.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- e39f9c591de282020c7d05900a83965f
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- Root: ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY