Pedestrian navigation systems with redundant number of inertial information sensors have a great potential in reliability, measurement accuracy and low level of noise. Therefore the aim of this article is to investigate the features of constructing the inertial measurement unit comprising the redundant number of the primary information sensors. To achieve this goal, the mathematical model of the measurement unit implemented as a square pyramid with combined sensors of the acceleration, angular velocity and magnetic field strength on its faces was first analyzed. Then, the data processing algorithm of the measurement module was discussed. Finally, the conclusion is made about the feasibility of using the considered redundant measurement unit as the sensing element of a miniature pedestrian navigation systems to provide improved navigation performance.

Keywords: accelerometer, gyroscope, redundancy, inertial navigation, inertial measurement module, aggregation, magnitometer, micromechanical sensor, wearable electronics, personal navigation