IMU tilt sensors

The IMU innovation: cutting-edge technology that adapts to your needs – not the other way round.

With its combination of technological excellence and maximum flexibility, our new Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sets new standards. Thanks to an advanced algorithm, the solution can be tailored precisely to the specific requirements of your application.

Dynamic compensation and vibration robustness

Conventional IMUs quickly reach their limits under movement, vibration and shock. Contelec's IMU technology is designed specifically for these conditions. It compensates for dynamic accelerations and suppresses vibration components directly in the sensor. As a result, it delivers stable and precise readings even while the machine is moving and under continuous vibration. Robust sensor technology and adaptable algorithms allow the solution to be optimized for specific applications.

The two measurements below show the behavior of a GA6 56 compared with a competitor IMU.

Scatter of pitch and roll under sinusoidal vibration (15 Hz, 3.5 g): GA6 56 compared with a competitor IMU

Robot test: pitch and roll output of a GA6 56 and a competitor IMU during a dynamic robot movement

Your benefits with the Contelec IMU at a glance

  • Reliable tilt readings while your machine is moving, not just at standstill
  • Stable signals even under continuous vibration
  • Ready-to-use tilt values directly from the sensor, via CANopen or CAN J1939
  • Algorithms that we tune to your machine and its motion profile
  • Housing sizes from 40 × 26 × 10 mm

Technical data

The following values apply to all housing variants. Extended ranges and customized configurations are available on request.

Output valuesPitch, roll
Raw dataAcceleration and angular rate, 3 axes each
Static accuracy±0.05°
Resolution0.001°
Max. output rate200 Hz
Output range pitch / roll±180° / ±70°
Acceleration measuring range±8 g, optional ±15 g
Angular rate measuring range±300 °/s
Shock resistance100 g
Operating temperature−40 °C to +85 °C
Supply voltage9 to 35 V DC
InterfacesCANopen, CAN J1939

Our selling points

Applications

Contelec's IMU tilt sensors are designed for mobile machinery in which tilt has to be measured during movement. Typical fields of application include cranes and aerial work platforms, excavators and construction machinery, sprayer booms in agricultural technology, and autonomous vehicles in port logistics and intralogistics.

Housing variants

All housing variants use the same sensor technology and the same algorithm. They differ in housing, dimensions and connection.

 

TypeHousingDimensionsConnectionDownloads
GA6 10Aluminum40 × 26 × 10 mmCablePDF
3D
GA6 26Plastic54 × 41 × 22 mmDT connectorPDF
3D
GA6 32Plastic48.4 × 38.3 × 10 mmCablePDF
3D
GA6 40Plastic79.5 × 57 × 20.8 mmMQS connectorPDF
3D
GA6 56Aluminum90 × 62 × 29.5 mm1 or 2 × M12 connectorPDF
3D 1× M12
3D 2× M12

FAQs

Does the IMU also provide a yaw angle?

The angular rates about all three axes are measured and output, including the yaw rate (°/s). An absolute yaw angle, however, cannot be determined physically from inertial data alone. Pitch and roll are stable over the long term because gravity acts as a reference. For the vertical axis, this reference is missing. The yaw rate can be used to derive a relative change in angle over short periods; an absolute yaw angle requires an external angle reference. We deliberately do not use a magnetometer, as it delivers unreliable values in metallic and motorized environments.

We can supply this reference. The angle sensor and the IMU run on the same CAN bus (CANopen or CAN J1939). On request, we integrate the measured rotation angle into the sensor fusion of the IMU on a customer-specific basis. This gives you absolute, drift-free pitch, roll and yaw angles from a single system.

When is an IMU the better choice than an angle sensor?

An angle sensor measures the angle between two components and requires an axis of rotation to which it is mechanically coupled. The IMU measures tilt relative to gravity and is screwed directly onto the component. It is therefore suitable for locations without an accessible axis of rotation, such as booms, cabs or vehicle frames, and for retrofits. Coupling and alignment to a shaft are not required.

Where a relative angle or the yaw angle is required, we combine both sensors on the same CAN bus.

Can the IMU be mounted in any orientation?

Yes. The mounting orientation can be freely configured via parameters.

Why is the roll output range limited to ±70°?

The ±70° is not a sensor limit but a defined operating limit for robust pitch/roll output.

Internally, the orientation of the IMU is calculated as a 3D rotation. The limitation only arises when it is output as Euler angles, i.e. as separate values for pitch, roll and yaw. Near ±90°, Euler angles have a singularity known as gimbal lock. Roll and yaw can then no longer be clearly separated from each other.

For applications with larger tilt ranges, alternative angle definitions or application-specific evaluations can be used.

How quickly is the IMU ready for use after switch-on?

The IMU works without active heating and requires no warm-up phase. Thanks to integrated temperature compensation, it delivers valid tilt values within 1.5 s of switch-on (default setting), across the entire temperature range from −40 °C to +85 °C.

From demo to tailored solution

We use our demonstrator to show you the IMU directly on site. In a proof of concept, we then carry out measurements together with you on your application. Based on this measurement data, we tune the algorithm to the motion profile of your machine.

Engineering consulting