MEMS-based attitude heading reference system for helicopters
ProductMarch 13, 2012
Alice Moss
Military Embedded Systems
Engineers at Northrop Grumman Corp. are improving helicopter navigation with a new Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS)-based Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), called the LCR-300.
Engineers at Northrop Grumman Corp. are improving helicopter navigation with a new Micro-Electromechanical Systems (MEMS)-based Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS), called the LCR-300. The new device has a MEMS-based inertial measurement unit designed and developed by navigation system engineers at Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH in Germany.
The LCR-300 is smaller with a reduced weight. The AHRS enables directional gyro mode to reduce magnetic compass errors. The unit also has hybrid navigation by making use of global navigation satellite system data. Flight testing of a demonstration LCR-300 on three midsize twin helicopters was completed last year.
The new LCR-300 has a 4.2-lb AHRS unit, which accepts satellite-based GPS velocity and position data, a magnetometer, a calibration programmable read-only memory unit, and a mounting tray. The product debuted at HELI-EXPO 2012.
