Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. introduces the SCI36LT Series, a family of highly integrated intelligent inertial measurement units (IMUs) combining high-performance six-degree-of-freedom (6-DoF) MEMS sensing with an embedded microcontroller (MCU) in a compact surface-mount package. At launch, the SCI36LT-K01 integrates Murata’s proprietary sensor fusion algorithm for advanced orientation sensing, while the SCI36LT-K02 provides a customizable platform that allows customers to run their own software on the embedded MCU. By performing orientation calculations on the embedded MCU, the SCI36LT-K01 reduces host-side processing and sensor-fusion development effort. The SCI36LT-K02 enables application-specific processing to be performed directly within the sensor component, reducing host-side processing while giving customers the flexibility to develop and run their own software.
Conventional IMUs measure angular rate and linear acceleration, with the resulting sensor data subsequently processed by a host MCU or processor to determine the orientation of the monitored object. Developing this sensor fusion layer requires additional computing resources as well as specialized expertise in areas including algorithm implementation, sensor calibration, and system-level optimization.
Drawing on Murata’s vertically integrated expertise in MEMS, sensor fusion, electronics, and packaging, the SCI36LT family combines a high-performance MEMS sensor, an embedded MCU, supporting electronics, and passive components within a single compact platform. This enables sensor data processing to be moved closer to the sensing element, reducing the processing burden on the host and providing greater flexibility over how inertial data is used within the end system.
Two Launch Variants for Integrated and Custom Software
SCI36LT-K01: Turnkey solution with proprietary Murata Software & algorithm. Combines Murata’s high-performance IMU with its proprietary sensor fusion algorithm, running on the integrated MCU to calculate pitch, roll, and relative yaw. The device combines a ±490°/s gyroscope with a ±16 g accelerometer and provides calculated orientation in either Euler angle or direction cosine matrix (DCM) format. Configurable algorithm dynamics and output data rates allow sensor behavior to be optimized for different motion profiles and system requirements.
SCI36LT-K02: Open platform for Custom Software Development uses the same integrated IMU and MCU architecture but does not include Murata’s sensor fusion algorithm. Instead, customers can program the embedded MCU with their own software, allowing application-specific processing to be performed directly within the sensor component rather than on the host system.
For the SCI36LT-K01, integrated calibration features support module-level calibration after the sensor has been incorporated into the end system, simplifying compensation at PCB or module level. These capabilities make the SCI36LT family well suited to demanding industrial and robotic applications, including grade control for heavy machinery and excavators, dynamic inclination sensing in construction machinery and industrial equipment, support for real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning in surveying equipment and autonomous systems, motion sensing in humanoid robots, and commercial drone applications in agriculture, infrastructure and facility management, civil engineering and construction, and logistics.
Highly Integrated Architecture in a Compact Industrial Package
Measuring just 11.2 × 9.2 × 2.9 mm (0.44 × 0.36 × 0.11 inches), the SCI36LT family integrates Murata’s high-performance MEMS technology with an MCU, passive components, and crystal resonator in a single compact LGA package. This high degree of functional integration removes the need for external components required and enables sophisticated inertial sensing to be incorporated into space-constrained system designs. The device supports 3.1 V to 5.5 V supply and operates across -40°C to +85°C temperature range, making it suitable for demanding industrial operating environments.
‘The increasing sophistication of industrial and robotic motion-control systems is creating demand not only for high-performance inertial sensing but for greater processing flexibility directly at the sensor,’ said Juhani Pelttari, Senior Manager, Business Development at Murata Europe. ‘By combining high-performance MEMS with embedded processing in a single compact platform, SCI36LT gives designers greater flexibility over where and how inertial data is processed, helping reduce integration effort at system level.’
The common SCI36LT architecture will also provide a foundation for the wider product family and future application-specific sensing and software implementations. Future models can combine different algorithms and IMU calibration configurations to address the requirements of specific applications, extending the platform beyond the two initial launch variants. The SCI36LT Series comprises the SCI36LT-K01 and SCI36LT-K02. Samples are available now, with mass production scheduled to begin in Q1 2027.
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Murata in Brief
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.