Temperature Sensitivity Analysis of Inertial Measurement Unit Under Dynamic Conditions

In the modern technological world, there is a notable increase in the demand for precise sensors and sensing platforms in many different application fields. In the context of Industry 4.0, inertial measurement units (IMU) are now playing a central role in positioning estimation and anomaly detection, smart condition monitoring, and fault diagnosis tools. Despite this increasing development in recent years, the metrological characterization and sensor performances of inertial platforms still represent a current research gap. Currently, the actual dynamic operating conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, and mechanical stress) endured by the device during its operating life are rarely considered in the literature. However, a thorough sensor characterization needs to consider all external stress sources. Trying to fill this research gap, this study presents the results of a measurement campaign conducted on a triaxial micro-electromechanical system (MEMS)-based IMU performed at different operating temperatures. The dynamic characterization has been carried out emulating the automotive field regarding both movements and operating temperatures. The analysis of the experimental results introduces specific metrics to quantitatively estimate the impact of the temperature dependence on the IMU measuring a repeatable movement.