VectorNav Technologies Supplies VN-200 GPS/INS for Troll Systems' SkyLink MINI II Antennas

DALLAS, Aug. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- VectorNav Technologies, a leading provider of inertial navigation solutions for the industrial and military markets, announced today that it will supply its VN-200 GPS-aided inertial navigation system (GPS/INS) for use in Troll Systems' SkyLink MINI II directional antennas. The next generation version of the SkyLink antenna provides Troll Systems' customers with a lower-cost and easier to integrate update to its existing SkyLink antenna solution.

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About the size of a postage stamp, VectorNav's VN-200 is a calibrated MEMS-based GPS/INS that provides a coupled position, velocity, and attitude solution suitable for a wide range of static and dynamic operating conditions. The VN-200 onboard microprocessor runs an aerospace-grade Kalman filter algorithm at a rate of up to 200 hertz and provides accuracies better than 0.25 degrees in pitch and roll and 0.75 degrees in heading. The upgraded version of Troll Systems' SkyLink MINI II antenna features a deeply embedded, surface mount VN-200 GPS/INS module that delivers control and stabilization for the gimbaled antenna system.

The only airborne directional antennas to pass DO-160 testing, Troll Systems' SkyLink antennas are compact, lightweight and steerable airborne tracking antennas that equip its users with an industry leading air-to-ground data-link solution. The upgraded SkyLink antenna system featuring the VN-200 GPS/INS enables Troll's customers to eliminate the need for external hardware or GPS input, reducing the cost of installation and the need to certify or calibrate external positioning devices.

The industry leading performance of the VN-200 GPS/INS enabled the upgraded antenna system to maintain the high degree of accuracy required to replace the existing SkyLink navigation system, which was comprised of a Quartz MEMS-based attitude heading reference system (AHRS) and high-end GPS receiver. Several rounds of ground and air testing and qualification with engineers from both teams demonstrated the capacity of the miniature MEMS-based GPS/INS solution to provide high performance in high dynamic conditions and when subjected to high-frequency vibration. VectorNav worked closely with Troll Systems to implement several features to add to the robustness of the solution, including an embedded magnetic hard and soft iron calibration routine and dynamic start-up routine.

"We are very pleased to be working with Troll Systems on their SkyLink line of antennas, which represent the gold standard for directional antennas in the industry," said John Brashear, VectorNav's President. "We are also proud to demonstrate the capacity of our VN-200 GPS/INS to provide a solution comparable to much higher-end systems and for an application that has very demanding and sophisticated navigation and control requirements."

VectorNav Technologies (Booth #3635) and Troll Systems (Booth #2129) will be exhibiting these and other technologies at AUVSI's Unmanned Systems North America 2013 Conference, August 12-15, in Washington, DC.

About VectorNav Technologies:

VectorNav Technologies specializes in manufacturing high-performance navigation and inertial sensors using the latest miniature MEMS sensor technology. Since its founding in 2008, VectorNav has been providing customers worldwide access to high quality, fully calibrated inertial sensors with state-of-the-art digital filtering technology. With a strong background in aerospace engineering and experience in the development and testing of spacecraft, launch vehicles, and micro-aerial vehicles, VectorNav brings high performance aerospace filtering and calibration techniques into the world of low-cost industrial grade MEMS sensors, expanding the possibilities of today's MEMS sensor technology.

www.vectornav.com

About Troll Systems:

For more than 25 years, Troll Systems has been a leading manufacturer of airborne and ground based tracking antennas and control systems used to provide, long range, high-bit-rate, video and data from, air, land or sea vehicles. Troll Systems is an ISO 9001:2008 certified U.S. manufacturer of advanced microwave datalink solutions. Sold worldwide to commercial broadcast, law enforcement, military and government users, Troll has over 1,000 customers in more than 30 countries, including aircraft OEMs, government agencies, commercial broadcasters, and prime DoD contractors. Troll's manned and unmanned systems have been deployed in demanding physical and operational environments, delivering unmatched performance, range and reliability.

SOURCE VectorNav Technologies