GEM elettronica has finally reached a very challenging and technology-demanding goal by recently launching the new and enhanced POLARIS Fiber-Optic Gyroscope as a result of a multi-million dollar investment and a considerable R&D involvement that the company started in 2001.
At that time, GEM elettronica decided to invest in the creation of a Photonics Laboratory which was fitted with the most advanced laser instrumentation and was manned by senior researchers coming from leading Italian University and industry.
The first technological accomplishment of GEM elettronica Photonics Lab was a “strap-down” gyrocompass which was based on state-of-art Fiber Optic Gyroscope technology offering highly reliable and cost effective solution for vessels, fast patrol boats and submarines. This technology was able to provide an accurate, real-time reading of true north as well as control of attitude without GPS aiding.
Indeed, this is the technology and methodology which is at the base of POLARIS FOG-100 which GEM elettronica is now offering either as a stand-alone system or as integral part of a ship navigation system. Moreover, in order to further improve guarantee the quality and performances of POLARIS FOG-100, the company has developed a proprietary methodology and designed an high-precision, fully-automated Fiber-Optic Winding Machine to manufacture its own fibre optic sensors.
With this machine, GEM elettronica manufacturing can ensure the respect of stringent specifications for high accuracy sensors and enable high-volume manufacturing of Fiber Optic Gyroscopes since the machine can wind fiber optics with a rate up to 600mm/sec in a quadruple fashion without loosing the requested precision.
INNOVATIVE FIBER OPTIC GYROSCOPES (FOG) technology
Fiber Optic Gyroscope measure the angular rotation by sending two different beams of light in opposite direction around a closed path and it precisely measure the amount of time each beam takes to return to the starting point. Rotating the coil we get a phase shift between the light beams and information in terms of angular speed. FOG outputs provides hundreds of measurements every second with outstanding precision.
GEM elettronica is a leading systems partner for the major defense agencies and industry leaders.
The most relevant benefits of Fiber Optic technology
NO-MAINTENANCE: FOG does not require any preventive maintenance;- HIGH RELIABILITY: FOG has no moving parts;
- FAST INSTALLATION: Easy to integrate and replace thanks to the compact design and Plug & Play interface;
- QUICK TO START: FOGs alignment time is typically only 6 minutes;
- COMPACT DESIGN and LIGHTWEIGHT SOLUTION;
- VERY HIGH BANDWIDTH;
- ITAR FREE: All main components, including Fiber Optic Gyroscopes, are produced in house;
- WELL-PROVEN TECHNNOLOGY: Thousands of FOGs units have been sold today in naval defence, maritime navigation, land defence and air navigation;
- ROBUSTNESS and LONGTERM STABILITY: Insensitive to vibrations, extreme shock, thermal transients and weathering temperature changes;
- CALIBRATION FREE.
MASTERING THE ACCURACY
Inertial Navigation Systems
(INS)
GEM elettronica INS are able to provide in real time position, attitude and velocity of all types of vehicles. Coupling its state of the art Inertial Measurement Units with advanced Kalman filtering.
INS provides position, orientation, direction and speed of a moving vehicle with no need of external references.
Attitude and Heading Reference System
(AHRS)
GEM elettronica FOG-based IMUs, provide a wide range of strapdown Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) able to provide autonomously 3D orientation.
AHRS systems consists of sensors on three axes that offer Heading and Attitude information for vehicle, including Roll, Pitch and Yaw.
Inertial Measurement Unit
(IMU)
Combining raw information of multiple accelerometer and gyroscopes axis, GEM elettronica Inertial Measurement Unit is the heart of GEM elettronica Inertial Systems.
IMU is able to accurately measure rotation rates and accelerations providing absolute spatial displacement of the platform on which is installed.
FROM R&D TO MASS PRODUCTION
GEM elettronica supports the development of technologies for new products, processes toward market and supply chain needs. One of the most important capability of GEM elettronica is the ability to convert innovative ideas to innovative products with world-class standard.
The quality of its manufacturing process is fundamenteal to assure a final product capable of performing outstanding precision.
GEM elettronica is the proprietary owner of all of its key FOG technologies and production process, namely the fiber winding methods, electronics and mathematical algorithms All products are manufactured in GEM elettronica factory based in Italy. This means that we have full control of the process from the initial idea to design and production. The close relationship between R&D product development and manufacture department is a huge strength.
