POLAR

Precision Attitude Estimation

Years of R&D invested in aerospace-grade estimation algorithms have resulted in outstanding precision and robustness.

Compact and Easy to Integrate

Reduced size and weight allows straightforward integration into the user's system.

Exceptional Performance in Highly Dynamic Conditions and Dead Reckoning Navigation

Exceptional navigation and attitude performance are combined in one device to provide robust and accurate dead reckoning navigation in GPS-denied environments.

 

Meticulous Calibration Procedures

UAV Navigation's manufacturing facility is equipped with state-of-the-art calibration and setup instruments; all products are subject to the most stringent Quality Control checks.

Quaternion-based

None of the traditional gimbal-lock problems.

Lightning-fast Data Rates

Latency is minimized by using the highest data report rates from the sensors (critical for advanced control systems).

 

The POLAR is a high-end, MEMS-based Air Data and Attitude and Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) and Inertial Navigation System (INS). It is perfect for system integration in avionics packages or other attitude sensing applications, and includes:
  • Attitude Heading & Reference System (AHRS).
  • Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU).
  • Inertial Navigation System (INS).
  • Air Data System (ADS).
  • Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS, including: GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou).

 

POLAR has proved itself in a variety of highly dynamic environments, giving outstanding results:
  • Red Bull Air Race
  • MotoGP onboard 'GyroCam'
  • Reno Air Races.
  • Various UAVs as the onboard ADAHRS for the Customer's own flight control computer.

 

Redundancy built into the POLAR software allows it to survive individual sensor failures while maintaining accurate estimates of attitude and position. Its high-performance MEMS-based IMU is calibrated and compensated over the full industrial temperature range.

Key features:
  • High accuracy attitude estimation. Precise attitude determination is an essential process for aircraft navigation and control. To achieve outstanding levels of attitude estimation precision, years of research and development of aerospace-grade sensor fusion estimation algorithms have been invested.
  • Compact and easy to integrate.
  • Supplied as standard in an aircraft-grade anodized aluminium box.
  • Optionally it can be supplied as an OEM board for direct integration in the Customer's product
  • As a developer and manufacturer of professional grade autopilots, UAV Navigation is committed to the highest aviation standards in terms of product performance, accuracy and reliability. UAV Navigation's manufacturing facility is equipped with state-of-the-art calibration and measurement tools and all products which leave the facility must pass exhaustive Quality Control checks. Repeatability is key. All equipment and tools used during manufacture, calibration and Acceptance Testing Protocol (ATP) comply with UAV Navigation's strict Quality Policy
  • Combines exceptional navigation and attitude performance device in a wide range of high dynamics conditions and GPS-denied dead-reckoning navigation.
  • Quaternion-based solution. Avoiding the gimbal-lock problems found in traditional systems.
  • High data report rates from the sensors in order to reduce the latency. This is a critical requirement in advanced control systems.
  • It is used as the onboard sensor suite inside UAV Navigation's VECTOR autopilot

 

REDUNDANCY AND SAFETY
Online sensor diagnostics
Yes
Sensor failure tolerance
All single, several multiple
I/O
Serial comm
RS-232, RS-422, RS-485
CAN (capability available from early 2017)*
1Mbps A and B
*Available under request.
ELECTRICAL
Voltage Supply (unregulated)
9V to 36V DC
Power consumption
1W
GNSS
Multi-constellation GNSS capability
  • 72-channel receiver
  • GPS L1C/A
  • SBAS L1C/A
  • QZSS L1C/A
  • GLONASS L10F
  • BeiDou B1
  • Galileo E1B/C
Antenna
Active (for best performance) or passive
Antenna Connector (boxed version)
50 Ohm SMA Female
Antenna power supply
3.3V
Sensitivity
-167 dBm
Time to First Fix
  • Cold Start: 26s
  • Hot Start: 1s
Navigation Update Rate
  • Single GNSS: up to 10 Hz
  • Concurrent GNSS: up to 5 Hz
Velocity Accuracy
0.05 m/s
Heading Accuracy
0.3 degrees
Horizontal Position Accuracy
2 m
Accuracy of Time Pulse Signal (RMS)
30 ns
Frequency of Time Pulse Signal
PPS signal can be configured by the user (default: 1 pps)
Operational Limits of GNSS
  • Dynamics: 4 g
  • Altitude: 50,000 m
  • Velocity: 500 m/s
AIR DATA SYSTEM (ADS)
Altimeter
-2.000 ft to 30.000 ft AMSL
Altimeter Accuracy
50 ft
Altimeter Resolution
0.5 ft
IMU (INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT)
Sampling rate
1 kHz
ACCELEROMETERS
Accelerometers range
+/-16 g (all axis)
3dB Bandwidth
400 Hz
Noise
0.52 mg/√Hz
RATE GYRO RANGE
Gyro range
2000º/s (all axis)
3dB Bandwidth
77 Hz
Noise
0.015 °/s /√Hz
MAGNETOMETER
Internal Magnetometer
3 axis (possibility to connect external magnetometer, e.g. MG01)
Magnetometer attitude compensation
Yes
Full scale range
+/- 1000 uT
Sensitivity
0.10 uT
Maximum applied magnetic/field
100,000 uT
AHRS/INS DYNAMIC ACCURACY *
Roll, pitch, yaw range

Continuous unrestricted
Pitch & Roll error
< 0.5º
Heading error
< 1º
Position
2m CEP with GPS and WAAS/EGNOS available
Drift
<50 m/min (continuous, not first minute only)

* 1σ precision in single cylinder piston powered UAV standard flight, with full sensor suite operational. Values are valid for internal and external magnetometer operation.
MECHANICAL / ENVIRONMENTAL
Size (mm, H x W x L)
  • Boxed: 22 x 40 x 82
  • OEM: 14 x 36 x 51
Weight
  • Boxed: 76g
  • OEM: 17g
Humidity (boxed only)
Up to 90% RH, non-condensing
Temperature range
-40ºC to +85ºC
Altitude
Up to 59000 ft AMSL
Shock survival
500g 8ms 1/2 sine
Mating Connector (boxed only)
MICRO-D Type Male 15-pin

 

 

POLAR Evaluation Kit
 
UAV Navigation offers the POLAR Evaluation Board (EVBOARD), together with two complete POLAR Evaluation Kits (EVKIT), to enable evaluation of the POLAR product by Customers.
The POLAR EVBOARD allows the user to access all the available POLAR Inputs & Outputs.
 
Note: only one POLAR unit can be connected to the EVBOARD at any one time.
 
The different versions are shown in the table below:
 
Name Description Kit Contents
POLAR Evaluation Board
  • POLAR Evaluation Board
  • GPS Antenna
POLAR OEM Evaluation Kit
  • POLAR Evaluation Board
  • POLAR OEM unit
  • GPS Antenna
POLAR Boxed Evaluation Kit
  • POLAR Evaluation Board
  • POLAR Boxed unit
  • GPS Antenna
 
See the following articles from the Knowledge Base:

 

 
POLAR Installation Kit
 
 
The optional POLAR Installation Kit (INSKIT) offered by UAV Navigation includes the recommended connector and cable to allow the Customer to integrate the POLAR unit into their system. INSKIT contents:
  • GPS Antenna
  • 15-Pin Micro-D System Connector (fitted with 18" / 45cm cables as shown in the image above).
 
 

 

 
MG01

 

Sometimes other onboard systems (e.g. electric motors, moving metallic parts, cabling etc) can interfere with the readings obtained from the built-in magnetometers in UAV Navigation's autopilots and AHRS-INS modules. In these cases, the MG01 provides a remote installation which can be physically located in a safe place far from interference.