While accurate positioning is a critical function in industries such as transport, infrastructure and space, current technical solutions are still too expensive, large or energy hungry.
High-performance gyroscopes are devices that measure rotation and orientation of whatever they are mounted upon. They can be used to improve the navigation and safety of autonomous cars, correct the course of satellites travelling at 11,000 km/h and enhance the precision of drones used for remote infrastructure inspection.
The global market for high performance gyroscopes in the fields of autonomous infrastructure inspection and autonomous vehicle navigation is expected to reach $US13.7 billion by 2024.
The price of one high-performance gyroscope has remained greater than USD $20K for more than a decade, meaning these technological solutions are still out of reach for use in many transport, infrastructure and space applications.
A new Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) was announced in July 2020, aimed to cut the cost of high-performance gyroscopes by 85%.
The project is led by navigation system manufacturer Advanced Navigation, our Centre Director Arnan Mitchell and Defence Team Leader Andreas Boes from RMIT University, The Australian National University (ANU) and commercial partner Corridor Insights.
The team has identified the integrated photonic circuit components needed to implement ANU’s optical measurement technique – capable of detecting the tiniest changes between two light waves – to ensure the device provides an accurate reading.
While traditional high-performance gyroscopes normally take up a whole laboratory bench, our team miniaturised the components by integrating them onto a fingernail-sized chip powered by light. This chip will be light enough to mount on drones to monitor railway infrastructure and is approaching the suitable size, weight, power and cost for safely navigating driverless cars.
Working with the researchers at InPAC has been very easy and collaborative from the beginning – we brainstormed how we could manufacture photonic chips our navigation systems in Australia and the InPAC team rapidly came up with a technical solution to suit our needs. We are working with the team to create low-cost chips that can be used on satellites, drones and even self-driving cars.
Chris Shaw
CEO of Advanced Navigation
Aug 2017: First team meeting with Advanced Navigation
Oct 2018: Began first packaging of optical component
April 2019: Innovation Connections project
Jan 2020: Guanghui began creating new chip design
March 2020: Submitted CRC-P application
July 2020: CRC-P funding announced
Read more about the partnership in the World-leading gyroscope news article.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.