MEMS Inertial Sensors for the Rail Market
Tronics Microsystems, a TDK Group Company, is a manufacturer of standard and custom high-performance MEMS inertial sensors. Founded in 1997, Tronics is located in Crolles, near Grenoble (France) and employs around 100 employees.
Addressing high-growth markets such as railway, industrial, aerospace, marine, oil and gas and land transportation, Tronics’ products enable precision navigation, stabilization, positioning, motion & tilt control of dynamic applications operating in demanding environments.
Rail digitalization is moving fast, sustained by the global demand for rail transportation which is expected to witness a 200% growth by 2050. With more and more trains operating each day, train manufacturers have to build innovative control, signaling and navigation solution to provide a safe, reliable, maintainable and predictable service.
Inertial Sensor Rail Applications
Inertial sensors are part of the multiple sensing technologies that can be found inside a train or in the trackside infrastructure to ensure a high quality of service.
High-performance accelerometers and gyroscopes are the heart of tomorrow’s demanding train functionalities like GNSS-assisted navigation, sensor-fusion odometry, train localization and positioning, which are required to enable the next generation of Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) systems. One example of CBTC deployment can be observed in Europe with the implementation of the future European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) which is aimed at reducing the maintenance costs of the trackside infrastructure. High-performance inertial sensors are also used in Track Geometry Measurement Systems to assist the laser profilometer for an accurate positioning of rail defects.
High-Performance MEMS Accelerometers and Gyroscopes
Tronics designs and manufactures high-performance digital MEMS accelerometers and gyroscopes that offer a performance-equivalent, cost-effective and low-SWaP alternative to quartz accelerometers and Fiber Optic Gyros (FOG). Tronics’s accelerometers and gyros demonstrate high bias stability and repeatability with excellent rejection of shock and vibrations, making them the ideal candidates for integration into IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), INS (Inertial Navigation Systems) or stand-alone inertial modules for railway applications and systems.
Tronics Products for the Rail Industry
AXO 301: High-resolution accelerometer and inclinometer with ± 1 g input range for railway applications. Compliant with EN61373 railway standard for shocks and vibrations.
AXO 305: High-performance accelerometer with ± 5 g input range for positioning and navigation of manned and unmanned systems.
AXO 315: High-performance accelerometer with ± 14 g input range for high precision navigation of dynamic systems operating in severe environments.
GYPRO 4300: High-performance gyro with ± 300 °/s input range for navigation, positioning, attitude, and motion control of dynamic applications.
