WL/AAAI-3, Bldg 635 2185 Avionics Circle Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7301

A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION POC Mr. Michael Berarducci, 513-255-2302. The Wright Laboratory, Avionics Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH requests information from research and development sources on the subject of aiding and/or enhancing low-cost inertial measurement units (IMUs) to gain improved performance for military aerospace applications. Aiding may include use of such external information as the Glorbal Positioning System precision code. Enhancing could include application of signal processing, use of special sensor configurations, or other methods. Specifically, what characteristics must the inertial sensors have to make such improvements practical? Do any lower-cost inertial instruments available today have the desired characteristics, or should new developments be undertaken to supply them? The military aerospace applications of concern would typically be for IMUs in tactical aircraft. The lower-cost IMUs of interest are roughly in the 2- to 100-nautical-mile/hr circular error probable (CEP) horizontal position error performance category, and the desired performance is on the order of 0.8-nautical-mile/hr CEP or better. Sources should consider such questions as the degree to which various kinds of low-cost gyro-scopes and accelerometers are amenable to calibration through external aiding, the trade-offs of long-term versus short-term drift, and the possibility of replication of sensors for improved performance. Sensor/system cost is to be included in the responses, along with an assessment of the feasibility. This RFI is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a request for proposal (RFP) or as an obligation on the part of the Government. Interested firms and/or universities should respond with information within 30 days from the time of publication. Please limit responses to no more than 15 single-spaced pages. References to existing document are allowable. Information should be sent to Attn: Mr. Michael Berarducci, WL/AAAI-3 Bldg 635, 2185 Avionics Circle, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433-7301. For additional technical information contact WL/AAAI-3, Mr. Michael Berarducci, (513)255-2302. (0257)

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