Small SiPhOG chip. (Image Credit: Anello Photonics)
Today’s navigation systems must be accurate, especially when GPS signals aren’t available or reliable. Although jamming blocks those signals, spoofing can send false positioning data to receivers. Alternatives like fiber-optic gyroscopes have precise motion and orientation measurements. However, these aren’t ideal for most applications due to their size and cost. To address that issue, Anello Photonics developed Silicon Photonics Optics Gyro (SiPhOG) that performs just like fiber-optic gyroscopes without being bulky.
Mario Paniccia, Anello Photonics founder, spent years in photonics research and development at places like Intel. He eventually turned to inertial sensing. And his startup focuses on using silicon photonics to make compact optical gyroscopes that deliver extremely precise navigation.
The SiPhOG chip measures 2 x 5mm and contains 4 splitters and couplers, 3 photodetectors, 2 modulators, a delay line, a polarization filter, 2 heaters, and a variable optical attenuator. This chip enables a gyroscope without any moving parts that is less sensitive to vibrations and temperature variations.
SiPhOG works like a high-performance optical gyroscope in a smaller package. It differs from fiber-optic gyroscopes by combining sensing and processing into a chip instead of using several instruments. The chip can also be used instead of MEMS gyroscopes, which have moving parts. Plus, thermal drift, EMI, and vibration may affect them.
Its small form factor means the chip is ideal for high-volume production and various navigation applications. So far, Anello has integrated this technology into robotics, aircraft, navigation systems for land vehicles, and marine vessels. Those systems can combine the components with the chip. This includes IMU and GNSS/INS.
Maritime applications have even used the technology. For example, Anello included the chip in a Maritime INS aboard a Combatant Craft Assault vessel controlled by the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command’s Special Boat Teams. It’s also been deployed in a Maritime INS on BlackSea Technologies’ Chased autonomous surface vessel.
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