Bosch introduces new MEMS inertial sensor

     Everyone has probably been in a situation at least once, driving into a strange city with complicated traffic and having the navigation system malfunction just when it is needed most. With the introduction of the SMI230, a MEMS sensor from Bosch that promises uninterrupted navigation, those days will be history.

     Bosch's new MEMS sensor SMI230 solves the GNSS navigation blind spot problem. Even when the satellite signal is weak, it can help pinpoint the location of the vehicle and provide a timely route forward. The MEMS sensor SMI230 continuously records changes in the direction and speed of the vehicle, evaluates the information and transmits it to the navigation system. This information is combined with location data from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) and used for navigation.

     If the GPS signal suddenly breaks down in a tunnel or "urban canyon," the sensor steps in. The company recently started production of the SMI230, and the first customers have already received the sensor as standard equipment. "When the navigation system fails, Bosch semiconductor sensors ensure that the car does not get lost," says Jens Fabrowsky, member of the executive management of Bosch's Automotive Electronics Division.

     Sensor technology, in the form of chips, is the secret behind the smooth movement of arrows on navigation maps. Experts call such sensors micro-electromechanical systems, also known as MEMS sensors. To generate high-precision data about the vehicle's movement, the company combines two sensors - one for the vehicle's acceleration and the other for its yaw rate - in a housing. Sensor pairing helps improve accuracy and can quickly detect changes in vehicle motion. Data from the SMI230 sensor helps the map show smooth movement with the movement of the vehicle, which is equally applicable in cases where the navigation system is completely disoriented due to a dropped satellite signal.

     Michael Rupp, Product manager, Automotive Electronics, Bosch, said: "Bosch's sensors solve the blind spots of GNSS navigation, helping to pinpoint the vehicle's position and provide route guidance at the right time, even when the satellite signal is weak." To do this, the navigation system continuously analyzes changes in the direction and speed of the vehicle detected by the sensors and sends the location of the vehicle to the navigation map. According to the company, the data acquisition is so precise that the display of the vehicle's position can remain reliable even if the drop signal continues for some time.

     According to Bosch, the capabilities of the SMI230 MEMS sensor can not only improve navigation, but can also be used in fleet management and toll systems, as these areas also require sophisticated motion detectors. In addition, the sensor has the ability to detect vibration and shock, so it is suitable for vehicle alarm systems. In the event of an accident (which can be detected by extremely negative acceleration values (collisions) or a huge rotational motion (reverses)), the sensor data can still trigger the automatic eCall emergency call system.