Projects Profile
Project Title
Development of a High Performance Digital MEMS Gyroscope
Partnership
Prof. Michael Kraft, Nanoscale Integration Group, School of Electronics and Computer Science, Southampton University
Prof. Guizhen Yan, Peking University
Project Aim
To create a prototype of a high performance, digital gyroscope that is suitable for commercial exploitation for a wide range of mass market applications.
Inspiration for the projects
To fulfill the need for a high performance, digital micromachined gyroscope for mass market applications such as GPS bridging, novel computer input devices, automotive safety systems including roll-over protection, intelligent airbag deployment, inertial navigation of vehicles on land, sea and air, virtual reality, robotics and many others.
Commercial Potential and Further Development
The aim will be achieved by means of the natural synergy between long term and in-depth research efforts at Southampton and Peking Universities. The group of Prof Yan at Peking University has an extensive track record of designing and fabricating micromachined sensing element for vibratory rate gyroscopes and has established a world class expertise in this area. The group of Prof Kraft at Southampton University has a similar reputation and track record for developing innovative and intelligent control and interface circuit and systems for micromachined sensing elements.
The innovation lies in the combination of the two research themes which is natural, timely and obvious, but requires the complementary expertise available in both groups. Incorporation of advanced gyroscopic sensing elements, fabricated at Peking University, in original closed loop control systems, designed and implemented at Southampton University, holds the key to achieving the world-wide pursued goal of realizing a so-called ‘inertial grade’ gyroscope necessary for many of the aforementioned applications.
