inertialsensorer

Inertialsensorer, also known as inertial sensors, are devices that measure motion and orientation by sensing inertial forces. They detect linear acceleration and angular velocity, often producing data that allow estimation of an object's velocity, position, and attitude when integrated over time. They require no external references such as GPS or optical signals, making them useful in contained environments or where reference signals are unavailable.

The most common realizations are microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometers and MEMS gyroscopes, which are small, inexpensive, and widely used in smartphones, wearables, and consumer electronics. More precise options include optical gyroscopes—fiber optic gyroscopes (FOG) and ring laser gyroscopes (RLG)—as well as quartz rate sensors. These technologies differ in scale, bias stability, noise, and resistance to vibration. An inertial sensor array may combine multiple sensing axes in a single package, creating an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

Two related system types are inertial navigation systems (INS) and attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS). An IMU is often a core component; algorithms such as Kalman filters or complementary filters fuse inertial data with data from external sensors like GPS, magnetometers, or visual odometry to produce stable estimates of position, orientation, and velocity.

Performance is described by bias stability, scale factor error, angular/linear noise, and drift over time, all of which are affected by temperature, vibration, and aging. Calibration and thermal management are important for accuracy. Inertialsensorer are used in consumer devices for motion sensing, in automotive and aerospace navigation, in robotics and drones for stabilization and control, and in virtual reality and cinematic motion capture.