Business Jan 13. 2023
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Focus Ariane 5 and Thales’s inertial measurement unit launch for the 100th time! Ariane 5 and Thales’s inertial measurement unit launch for the 100th time!
Cutting-edge technology
Thales’s TopAxyz inertial units are based on gyrolaser technology (Ring Laser Gyro, RLG).
Positioned in the upper level of the launcher, the performance levels of the inertial units have proved highly consistent over 22 years of operations. The compact equipment incorporates a solid laser gyrometer and three accelerometers that form an optimized system to ensure the precision of the launch vehicle’s performance.
“RLG technology has proved to be greatly reliable over the years. It also demonstrates Thales’s ability to deliver high-performance products,” comments Thales sales executive Mickaël Brouillet.
IMU applied to other fields
“The experience gained on board the Ariane 5 has enabled us to further develop the technology and apply it to various other environments and situations,” Mickaël Brouillet adds.
As well as its use on board the range of European launch vehicles, the TopAxyz IMU is present on commercial and military aircraft, including the Mirage 2000 and KC-390. On the Airbus A350 XWB, the units have clocked up more than 3 million flight hours since the aircraft entered into service.
TopAxyz is a true concentrate of high-tech expertise with capabilities that are also suitable for land applications, as shown by its recent selection for the Jaguar combat and reconnaissance armoured vehicle. The inertial measurement unit can also be applied to naval platforms; it is present on board autonomous underwater vehicles including Thales’s AUSS (Autonomous Underwater & Surface System).
Photo: ©2018 ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE / Optique Vidéo du CSG - JM GUILLON
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