Kongsberg Discovery unveils north-seeking MEMS navigation system

The system, which offers tactical-grade performance in a compact, low-cost package, addresses a long-standing gap in the navigation market: until now, north-seeking gyroscopes capable of meeting modern performance requirements have been too large, heavy, expensive or power-hungry for many applications.

The new MEMS solution delivers comparable accuracy to larger, costlier units while meeting tighter size, weight, power and cost constraints – commonly referred to as SWaP-C.

The solid-state device operates without a magnetometer, making it resistant to the jamming and spoofing vulnerabilities that affect GNSS-dependent systems.

“Obviously, there’s no GNSS when operating in the subsea domain, so using MEMS in applications where size and power consumption is of the essence is a huge advantage,” said Ane Dalsnes Storsæter, vice-president Inertial Solutions at Kongsberg Discovery. “The need for truly resilient navigation in an ever-changing risk environment – with increased jamming and spoofing – is becoming increasingly important.”

Potential applications span marine survey, subsea robotics, uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles, defence systems and offshore energy operations, including ROVs and AUVs where power consumption and physical footprint are critical constraints.

The development is the result of a nine-month collaboration between Kongsberg Discovery and Silicon Sensing Systems.

David Somerville, general manager of Silicon Sensing, said the partnership had achieved a meaningful technical milestone.

“North-seeking MEMS is a breakthrough that will bring real operational benefits for a range of sectors,” he said.

The system has been designed for high-volume production, which Kongsberg says will support competitive pricing compared with existing tactical-grade alternatives.

The technology will make its public debut next week at Oceanology International in London. Maritime Journal will also be at the event.