HRL Laboratories introduces a new inertial measurement unit (IMU) that provides near navigation-grade accuracy in a palm-sized package. Smaller and lighter than grade-equivalent conventional sensors, HRL's AXI-R100 delivers range-extending accuracy for GPS-contested navigation. The product is now ready for pre-production orders.

"Our gyroscopes and inertial sensors support navigation, pointing and stabilisation systems for autonomous vehicles, aircraft and guided missile and munition applications," said Jeff Dickman, Director, Precision Sensing, HRL Laboratories.

Using silicon micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, HRL's gyros exceed current state-of-the-art tactical-grade levels of performance in the same or smaller package size and is manufactured in high volumes at wafer-scale. This near navigation-grade performance is available at a tactical-grade price.

The new IMU is ideal for use in defence, aerospace and automotive applications, including missile guidance systems and drone navigation as well as for commercial automotive applications with higher levels of autonomy. The product is ready for integration as it has been designed and tested against challenging vibration, shock and thermal conditions representative of those applications.

HRL will present product specifications at the 2026 Joint Navigation Conference today in Cincinnati, Ohio.

- Monday, June 1

- Session B3: Inertial Navigation Technologies – Capabilities

- HRL DRaGon MEMS Gyroscope Enables Inertial Navigation with Near Navigation-Grade Performance at Scale for Emerging Missions and Challenging Environments

By leveraging high volume design automotive methodologies, HRL designed AXI-R100 navigation sensors to scale for high-volume automotive demand while maintaining performance superiority over traditional tactical-grade sensors. The result is a gyroscope compatible with foundry fabrication processes for high volume applications.

"Our gyroscopes and inertial sensors support navigation, pointing and stabilisation systems for autonomous vehicles, aircraft and guided missile and munition applications," said Jeff Dickman, Director, Precision Sensing, HRL Laboratories. "We leveraged our extensive microelectronics legacy along with innovations in micromechanical and manufacturing processes to pave the way for AXI-R100 to address the urgent needs from our industrial base."

Decades of innovation

HRL has spent more than 20 years advancing sophisticated MEMS inertial sensing technologies. The company is redefining navigation accuracy, reliability and efficiency through advanced micro-fabrication and intelligent control firmware. By combining custom MEMS device design with novel calibration and control algorithms, HRL is achieving higher performance and tighter system integration across defence and commercial platforms.