Performance analysis of MEMS-based inertial measurement units in terrestrial vehicles

In the recent period, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are widely employed in many applications, such as smartphones, robotics, Unmanned Aerial vehicles, automotive and self-driving vehicles, artificial intelligence, and numerous others. However, the dynamical metrological performances and the reliability analysis when these microelectronic devices operate under real environmental conditions are not sufficiently covered by scientific literature. Starting from standard tests for automotive applications, to emulate the real operating conditions of IMUs, a new test plan based on sine sweep vibration profiles has also been developed, including different service conditions characterized by the presence of a sinusoidal component with the addition of a random vibration noise typical of automotive scenarios. In-depth analysis has been carried out in the time and frequency domains leading to the employment of suitable figures of merit, highlighting the effects of mechanical stress on the metrological performances of microelectromechanical sensors. The developed test plan could be used to investigate if sinusoidal vibrations at specific frequencies influence the correct operation of low-cost platforms in typical automotive applications. The experimental results have confirmed the suitability of the proposed figures of merit in analyzing the effects of vibrations typical of the automotive context on the IMUs operating. In particular, they have allowed investigating the axes cross-sensitivity of triaxial systems, spurious responses, and unexpected behaviors due to the devices' non-ideality.