Inertial Measurement Unit: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:IMU.gif|thumb|right|Inertial Measurement Unit]]
[[Image:IMU.jpg|thumb|right|Inertial Measurement Unit]]


The '''[[w:Inertial Measurement Unit|Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)]]''' was gimbaled on three axes.  The innermost '''stable member''', a 6 [[w:inch|inch]] beryllium cube, had three [[w:gyroscope|gyroscope]]s and three [[w:accelerometer|accelerometer]]s mounted in it. Feedback loops including the resolvers used signals from the gyroscopes to control motors at each axis. This [[w:servo|servo]] system kept the stable member fixed with respect to Inertial Space . The IMU was derived from the guidance system developed by Draper for the [[w:Polaris missile|Polaris missile]].  
The '''[[w:Inertial Measurement Unit|Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)]]''' was gimbaled on three axes.  The innermost '''stable member''', a 6 [[w:inch|inch]] beryllium cube, had three [[w:gyroscope|gyroscope]]s and three [[w:accelerometer|accelerometer]]s mounted in it. Feedback loops including the resolvers used signals from the gyroscopes to control motors at each axis. This [[w:servo|servo]] system kept the stable member fixed with respect to Inertial Space . The IMU was derived from the guidance system developed by Draper for the [[w:Polaris missile|Polaris missile]].  

Latest revision as of 18:58, 6 June 2007

Inertial Measurement Unit

The Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was gimbaled on three axes. The innermost stable member, a 6 inch beryllium cube, had three gyroscopes and three accelerometers mounted in it. Feedback loops including the resolvers used signals from the gyroscopes to control motors at each axis. This servo system kept the stable member fixed with respect to Inertial Space . The IMU was derived from the guidance system developed by Draper for the Polaris missile.

Inertial guidance systems are not perfect and Apollo system drifted about one milliradian per hour. Thus it was necessary to ‘‘realign’’ the inertial platform periodically by sighting on stars.


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