Scientists in Tomsk, in Siberia, have come up with Russia’s first sensors for autonomous drone navigation.

In this project, Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) researchers are offering an intelligent inertial module that incorporates the functions of three advanced microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensors, namely gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer. The gyroscope gauges an object’s angular velocity; the accelerometer measures acceleration; and the magnetometer helps determine the cardinal directions.

The inertial module with all the three functions brought together offers a full-fledged self-contained navigation system, versatile enough to be mounted on a range of object types. It is operational in a broad temperature range between -40°C and +105°C.