Epson Expands its Lineup of IMUs for Industrial Applications

TOKYO, Japan, July 18, 2013 – Seiko Epson Corporation (TSE: 6724, “Epson”) has developed two inertial measurement units (IMU)^*1. Housing a new type of high-performance gyroscopic sensor^*2, the new M-G352 and M-G362 offer improved basic performance. Epson plans to begin shipping samples of the M-G362 and M-G352 in August and October of 2013, respectively.

The M-G352 IMU supports a wide dynamic range. It has a larger measurement range (±450 deg/s for the gyroscopic sensor and ±6 G for the accelerometers^*3) than the M-G350 yet maintains the same basic performance level (6 deg/hr gyro bias instability^*4). The high-performance M-G362 IMU boasts 3 deg/hr gyro bias instability, two times better than that of Epson’s previous IMU, the M-G350.

The new models are equipped with additional new features, including a higher output data rate (2,000 samples per second, max.), an external trigger input, and counter reset function, making it easy to synchronize measurements with other sensors or with a GPS module in a user’s system.

Epson’s current IMU, the M-G350, has been extremely well-received by a variety of users as a small, lightweight, low-power product that provides outstanding accuracy and stability. Now, with the addition of the upcoming M-G352 and M-G362 to the product lineup, Epson will be able to support an even broader range of applications. The M-G352 is ideal for dynamic attitude control for antennas, cameras, and so forth in unmanned aircraft, aircraft, cars and other vehicles. Meanwhile, the M-G362 is ideal for vibration damping in systems such as camera gimbals, professional cameras, and terrestrial antennas, which require a stable, immobile state with minimal shake and vibration.

“Given the social and technological changes that are afoot, Epson believes that the need for precision sensors that can make heretofore invisible information visible will only grow going forward,” said Yoshiyuki Moriyama, COO of Epson’s Sensing Systems Operations Division. “Epson will continue to leverage its unique technology to provide IMUs and other sensing systems that significantly contribute to our customers’ products and services.”

See the attachment for product specifications and main applications (41KB)

Upcoming trade shows

Epson will exhibit and demonstrate its latest IMUs at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems 2013, the world’s largest unmanned systems and robots symposium and exhibition.

Date and place: August 12-15 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
Epson booth number: 3736
Please see the link below for further details about the exhibition.

Glossary

^*1 Inertial measurement unit (IMU)

A device for sensing inertial motion that consists of angular rate sensors on three axes and accelerometers in three directions.

^*2 Gyroscopic (angular rate) sensor

A sensor that measures rotation angle (angular rate) of an object per unit of time with respect to a reference axis.

^*3 Accelerometer

A sensor that measures changes of velocity per unit of time

^*4 Gyro bias instability

The random variations having 1/f noise density characteristics of gyro output bias calculated by averaging a specified finite length of sampling times and time intervals

About Epson

Epson is a global innovation leader whose product lineup ranges from inkjet printers and printing systems, 3LCD projectors and industrial robots to sensors and other microdevices. Dedicated to exceeding the vision of its customers worldwide, Epson delivers customer value based on compact, energy-saving, and high-precision technologies in markets spanning enterprise and the home to commerce and industry.
Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 68,000 employees in 96 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and the communities in which it operates.
http://global.epson.com/