Systematic Errors Calibration for MEMS Accelerometers

The low-cost inertial sensors MEMS are very advantageous for several applications in navigation, however these devices are characterized by several types of errors. By performing specific procedures such as calibration it is possible to obtain results with better accuracy. In this paper, it has been used the Modified Multi-Position Calibration Method, which allows to determine systematic errors, like bias, scale factor error and misalignment of the axes error. This method, the procedure and the equations of this calibration are shortly described. First of all, a calibration of different accelerometers has been made. The performance of the calibration parameters was verified by a field test, comparing the trajectories calculated by the accelerations before and after the corrections. After correction of the accelerations with the calibration parameters, were verified some discrepancies in the trajectories. Still, there was a significant improvement in the final solution. The advantage of this method is that it does not require the use of special equipment or precise alignment of the sensors. It can be applied in the field before the use of the sensors

Keywords:
Calibration; Accelerometers; Systematic Errors; MEMS; INS