inertiaalmõõduri

An inertiaalmõõdur, or inertial measurement unit (IMU), is a device that measures and reports a body's specific force, angular rate, and sometimes magnetic field. This is achieved through the use of accelerometers and gyroscopes. Accelerometers measure linear acceleration, which is the rate of change of velocity, while gyroscopes measure angular velocity, which is the rate of rotation.

IMUs are crucial components in a wide range of applications. They are used in navigation systems for aircraft, ships, and submarines, providing continuous data on orientation and movement even when GPS signals are unavailable. In consumer electronics, IMUs enable features like screen rotation on smartphones and tablets, motion tracking in video games, and step counting in wearable fitness trackers. They are also vital in robotics for stabilization and control, as well as in automotive systems for electronic stability control and airbag deployment.

The data from an IMU's sensors can be processed to determine the orientation, velocity, and position of an object. However, without external references, IMUs are prone to drift over time due to the accumulation of small errors in sensor readings. This drift can be mitigated by integrating data from other sensors, such as magnetometers (which measure magnetic fields, acting like a compass) or GPS receivers, in a process known as sensor fusion. The sophistication and accuracy of an IMU depend heavily on the quality of its individual sensors and the algorithms used to process their data.