A laser IMU performance evaluation system

Ring laser gyros are particularly suitable for use as attitude sensors in a strapdown inertial measurement unit (IMU). The performance of a ring laser gyro strapdown IMU is known to be dictated both by the performance of ring laser gyros and accelerometers and by the performance of the analytical platform which depends on the software and hardware of the computer involved. The paper describes a recently developed computerized laser IMU performance evaluation system, which allows an evaluation computer to receive signals from the IMU computer at various computation points and to analyze these signals by using appropriate deterministic and statistical analysis procedures. Topics discussed include the test facility, performance data desired, and analysis procedures. Only static tests are examined.