VN-100 IMU/AHRS

Overview

The VN-100 is a compact, high-performance Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS). It integrates 3-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, a barometric pressure sensor, and a 32-bit processor to deliver high-rate, calibrated IMU data and real-time 3D attitude solutions—continuous over the full 360° range of motion.

Key Features

• World’s First Single-Package IMU/AHRS: Introduced in 2009, the VN-100 SMD is the first IMU/AHRS available in a single surface mount package. Its postage stamp size and single 3.2–5.5V power supply allow direct integration into user electronics, offering significant SWAP (Size, Weight, and Power) advantages.
• Rugged Version: The VN-100 Rugged is a plug-and-play variant, housed in a precision anodized aluminum enclosure for enhanced protection of internal sensors and electronics.
• Advanced Sensor Fusion: Onboard Kalman Filter provides real-time gyro drift compensation, ensuring accurate attitude estimation.
• User Configurable Messaging: Supports both ASCII and VectorNav Binary protocols.
• Seamless Software Integration: Shares a common communication protocol with the entire VectorNav product line.

Performance Highlights

• Magnetic Heading Accuracy: 2.0° RMS
• Gyro In-Run Bias Stability: 5°/hr typical
• Pitch/Roll Accuracy: 0.5° RMS (static), 1.0° RMS (dynamic)
• IMU Data Rate: Up to 800 Hz
• Attitude Update Rate: Up to 400 Hz
• Low Power Consumption: SMD: 185 mW; Rugged: 220 mW
• Lightweight Design: SMD: 3.5 g; Rugged: 15 g

Advanced Processing

• Vector Processing Engine (VPE) 2.0: Real-time rejection of magnetic and acceleration disturbances, adaptive signal filtering, and dynamic filter tuning.
• Hard & Soft Iron Compensation: Utilizes World Magnetic Model (WMM2016) and World Gravity Model (EGM96) for precise calibration.
• Robust Calibration: Each VN-100 sensor is individually calibrated for bias, scale factor, misalignment, and temperature across the full operating range (-40°C to +85°C).

Sensor Specifications

• Accelerometer: ±16 g range, <0.04 mg in-run bias stability, 0.14 mg/√Hz noise density, 230 Hz bandwidth
• Gyroscope: ±2,000°/s range, <10°/hr in-run bias stability, 0.0035°/s/√Hz noise density, 265 Hz bandwidth
• Magnetometer: ±2.5 Gauss range, 140 µGauss/√Hz noise density, 200 Hz bandwidth
• Barometer: 10 to 1200 mbar range, 200 Hz bandwidth

Electrical & Mechanical Details

• Input Voltage: SMD: 3.2–5.5 V; Rugged: 4.5–5.5 V
• Interfaces: SMD: Serial TTL, SPI; Rugged: RS-232, Serial TTL
• Size: SMD: 24 x 22 x 3 mm; Rugged: 36 x 33 x 9 mm
• MTBF: SMD: >280,000 hours; Rugged: >240,000 hours

Additional Benefits

• ITAR-Free: Made in the USA.
• Easy Setup: VectorNav Control Center GUI available for free download, enabling straightforward sensor configuration and data logging.
• Continuous Attitude Solution: Proprietary AHRS delivers uninterrupted attitude estimation over the complete 360° range.
• Environmental Resilience: Operating and storage temperature range from -40°C to +85°C.