inertiaalimittausyksiköstä

Inertial measurement unit (IMU) is an electronic device that measures and reports a body's specific force, angular rate, and sometimes the magnetic field surrounding the body, using a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes. Some IMUs also incorporate magnetometers. Accelerometers measure linear acceleration, which is the rate of change of velocity. Gyroscopes measure angular velocity, which is the rate of rotation. Magnetometers measure the strength and direction of magnetic fields, often used for determining orientation relative to the Earth's magnetic field.

IMUs are crucial components in a wide range of applications. In navigation, they are used to track the position and orientation of vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft. For example, in smartphones, IMUs enable features like screen rotation, gaming controls, and augmented reality. In robotics, they help robots to understand their movement and maintain balance. They are also employed in medical devices for tracking patient movement and in sports equipment for analyzing performance.

The data from an IMU's sensors can be processed using algorithms, such as Kalman filters, to estimate the device's orientation, velocity, and position. However, IMUs are prone to drift, meaning that errors can accumulate over time. Therefore, they are often fused with other sensors, like GPS receivers or cameras, to provide more accurate and robust measurements. The miniaturization and decreasing cost of IMUs have led to their widespread adoption in consumer electronics and many other fields.