IMU / AHRS / GNSS-INS for Drones: Stability & Navigation
Drones are expected to fly safely in windy or cluttered environments. To deliver missions reliably - inspection, delivery, mapping, or defense - they need dependable inertial sensing for flight stability and navigation.
Xsens industrial-grade IMUs, AHRS, and GNSS/INS + RTK provide the high-frequency orientation and state estimation required for in-flight stabilization and time-synchronized orientation & position.
With up to 400 Hz orientation output, advanced sensor fusion, and compact modules, Xsens helps UAVs stay stable, accurate, and mission-ready - plus fast integration with Pixhawk/Ardupilot and ROS.
Why Inertial Sensors Matter for UAVs
Unmanned aerial vehicles face demanding conditions: turbulence, payload restrictions, and missions in harsh environments. Xsens inertial modules help solve these challenges by delivering:
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Real-time flight stability under turbulence and high dynamics (up to 400 Hz orientation).
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Low-latency orientation output for responsive flight control.
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Compact, lightweight and low-power modules for tight UAV designs.
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Developer-ready: SDKs, ROS, Pixhawk/ArduPilot integration
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Rugged options (IP68) for industrial & defense environments.
Benefits of Xsens Inertial Sensor Modules for Drones
- High-Rate Orientation Data
Up to 400 Hz for precise control loops. - Compact OEM and SMD Options
IMUs down to 12×12 mm for small UAVs. - Rugged Modules
IP68 housings, with integrated GNSS receiver. - Developer-Ready
SDKs, ROS, Pixhawk and Ardupilot integration. - Proven in UAVs Worldwide
Trusted by defense and industrial drone manufacturers.
Xsens Sensor Modules for Drones/UAVs
MTi 1-Series
- Ultra-compact (12 × 12 mm), lightweight and low-power SMD module for space-constrained designs.
- Delivers reliable orientation and positioning with onboard sensor fusion.
- AHRS, INS/GNSS or INS/GNSS + RTK options, also available in easy to integrate modules for fast prototyping.
MTi 600 OEM-Series
- Up to 400 Hz orientation output providing high data rate.
- OEM form factor, compact and easy to integrate in embedded systems.
- AHRS, INS/GNSS or INS/GNSS + RTK options available. MTi-680 available with a Septentrio Development Kit with the Mosaic X5 - anti-jamming and anti-spoofing for critical GNSS applications.
Xsens Avior AHRS
- Premium OEM solution, low SwaP-C package.
- High accuracy for demanding motion dynamics.
- Wide interface support (UART, CAN, I2C, SPI, UART, RS232, RS424, optional EtherCAT).
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Xsens MTi-680G
- GNSS/INS + RTK rugged module, IP68 housing.
- Integrated GNSS receiver for easy, plug & play implementation.
- Time-synced orientation and positioning data.
Why Xsens
- 25 Years of Motion Expertise
Experience in human and machine motion tracking. - Accuracy You Can Rely On
All sensors are individually calibrated, sensor fusion optimized for real-world conditions. - Developer-Friendly
ROS drivers, Pixhawk and Ardupilot integration. - Global Support
FAEs with direct UAVs expertise in Europe, USA and Asia.
