The 3DM-CX7 inertial sensors cross-check redundant IMUs in real time
(Image courtesy of HBK)
MicroStrain by HBK has launched the 3DM-CX7 inertial sensors, a compact family designed to help maintain dependable attitude and navigation information on platforms that take repeated impacts, heavy vibration and rapid movement.Those conditions can compromise motion estimates. Across the series, three configurations span attitude sensing, heading and aided navigation for UAVs, legged robots and autonomous ground vehicles, so engineers can select the level of motion and navigation capability each application needs.
3DM-CX7 inertial sensors for shock and vibration
The 3DM-CX7 relies on a redundant multi-IMU design that cross-checks readings in real time, detects untrustworthy measurements and deweights or excludes them, with MicroStrain’s auto-adaptive Extended Kalman Filter producing the final estimate. HBK’s product pages for the AHRS and INS variants describe four internal IMUs monitored in parallel and report up to 100 times better attitude stability under repeated high-g shock than the previous generation. Every unit also receives individual calibration across its full operating range of −40°C to +85°C.
All three variants combine 2.1°/h gyro bias instability with measurement ranges up to ±32 g and ±4,000°/s and output rates up to 1 kHz, while the 8.3 g package fits within the size, weight and power requirements autonomous platforms set.
Three configurations from attitude to aided navigation
Where magnetic heading is impractical, the 3DM-CX7-AR provides roll, pitch and relative heading, particularly for industrial AGVs and legged robots. Adding an integrated three-axis magnetometer for absolute magnetic heading, the 3DM-CX7-AHRS suits UAVs and legged robots working under vibration and rapid motion. For more advanced navigation, the 3DM-CX7-INS combines inertial measurements with external position, velocity and heading inputs, and HBK lists GNSS, radar, LiDAR and wheel encoders among compatible aiding sources.
ROS and PX4 support for the 3DM-CX7 inertial sensors
The family supports ROS and PX4 environments, and the MSCL API and MIP SDK provide documented interfaces and example code for sensor communication and embedded development. InertialConnect and SensorConnect cover configuration, parameter adjustment, data collection and visualisation.
Joe Beckwith, Product Manager at MicroStrain by HBK, said the aim was to give engineers motion data they can depend on under real-world conditions, in a compact format that is flexible to integrate into autonomous systems.
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