Oct. 3, 2002 — Innovative Micro Technology said it has secured a $1.3 million contract with L-3 Communications’ Interstate Electronics Corp. (IEC) to make a MEMS-based inertial measurement unit.
The one-year project, part of IEC’s contract with the U.S. Army, calls for the firms to develop a device that offers more performance and robustness than current laser ring gyros at a fraction of the size and cost. The unit will be coupled with a global positioning system for weapons guidance.
Monte Heaton, IMT’s vice president of marketing and sales, said the first application is expected to be in shells, with other uses likely to follow. He said the project is part of the government’s larger push to develop smart weapons.