The navigation system becomes more accurate and reliable with the new SMI230 six-axis inertial sensor

     Bosch announces the launch of the new SMI230 six-axis inertial sensor. Using this sensor, the navigation system can still navigate even if the GPS signal is interrupted. Bosch's SMI230 sensor provides the navigation system with mobile data to determine the current position of a moving vehicle even in areas with weak or no GPS signal, making the navigation system more accurate and reliable.

     Millions of car drivers now rely on GPS navigation, which can be lost if they are in places where satellite signals are weak, distorted or interrupted, such as mountains, tall buildings or tunnels. This is where Bosch's SMI230 microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors come into play, accurately measuring the yaw rate and acceleration of the vehicle, so that the on-board navigation system can continuously calculate the direction and position of the car as it travels, and navigation will not be interrupted when the vehicle enters a tunnel or "city canyon". The sensor not only improves navigation, but also plays a role in fleet management, toll systems and car anti-theft devices, where precise location determination is important.

     The SMI230 sensor combines a three-axis MEMS accelerometer and a three-axis MEMS gyroscope in a compact package. Both sensors are based on Bosch's proven MEMS technology and perform digital arithmetic in 16-bit mode. In addition, the accelerometer and gyroscope can be operated separately or connected to synchronize data. Moreover, the SMI230 sensor also offers high precision (a prerequisite for navigation) - noise is only 0.02°/s/√Hz (rms) for the gyroscope and 0.12 mg/√Hz (rms) for the accelerometer. Moreover, the accelerometer temperature is very stable, with low temperature coefficient offset (TCO) usually less than 0.2 mg/K and temperature coefficient sensitivity (TCS) only 0.002 %/K.

     With typical bias instability of gyroscopes well below 2°/h, the SMI230 sensor also supports three energy saving modes: Accelerometer: suspension mode; Gyroscope: Suspension mode and depth suspension mode. In addition, the SMI230 sensor is compatible with Bosch's SMI130 sensor and offers the same gyroscope programming interface, allowing for quick and easy integration into existing platforms without time-consuming layout and resetting. The new sensor comes in an ultra-compact standard LGA package, measuring just 3 mm x 4.5 mm x 0.95 mm.