SBG Systems has just introduced the world’s first MEMS-based North-seeking IMU — and it doesn’t need GNSS to tell you where north is. It’s compact. Rugged. Super accurate. Considering all its advantages, it should shake up the navigation world.
MEMS sensors have always been known for their small size and affordability. But they’ve rarely touched the performance of bulky fiber-optic or ring-laser systems, until now. SBG Systems’ gyrocompass doesn’t just match the competition — it beats it in size, weight, and power. 52 x 52 x 36 mm. It weighs under 150 grams. Consumes just 2 watts of power. Yet, it still delivers heading accuracy better than 1°, without any help from satellites. When fused with GNSS, that accuracy tightens to under 0.1°.
SBG has been chasing this since 2007. Now it’s here. And it’s volume-ready — designed for mass production and global deployment. It’s also ITAR-free, clearing the way for deployment in global markets without export restrictions — something increasingly important for commercial and industrial clients.
The performance is impressive, but the algorithms are what make it shine. A pure North-finding mode initializes in under a minute — whether the system is static or in motion. The INS mode squeezes every drop of precision out of the gyros, holding strong even when there’s little movement to work with. Meanwhile, it also requires no carouseling or bulky stabilizers.
Hence, the MEMS-based gyrocompass should be a perfect fit for tough jobs. For instance, subsea missions with ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles). Marine surveying, dredging, hydrography — any application where GNSS is not available, yet precision still matters. And yes, it plays nice with single-antenna setups.
“This breakthrough sets the stage for a new generation of MEMS-based navigation solutions, with the first off-the-shelf products expected to hit the market in early 2026,” said Thibault Bonnevie, CEO of SBG Systems. “This has been a long-term goal since the incorporation of SBG in 2007, this is now time to put it in the hands of our partners!”
Set to be released in early 2026, this MEMS-based gyrocompass product represents the culmination of a long-standing goal for SBG Systems, founded in 2007.
