Tactical-grade embeddable inertial navigation system with quad-redundant IMU architecture, external GNSS aiding, next-generation vibration rejection, and continuous navigation in GNSS-denied environments.
3DM-CX7-INS
The 3DM-CX7-INS is a tactical-grade embeddable inertial navigation system (INS) from MicroStrain by HBK. It delivers continuous position, velocity, and attitude estimation by fusing a quad-redundant IMU architecture with external GNSS, body-frame velocity, and heading aiding inputs through MicroStrain's auto-adaptive Extended Kalman Filter, maintaining a robust navigation solution even when satellite signals are degraded, jammed, or unavailable.
With four internal IMUs continuously monitored in parallel, the CX7-INS automatically detects untrustworthy measurements from any individual IMU and deweights or excludes its readings in real time. This built-in redundancy ensures that transient sensor anomalies from shock, vibration, or component variation never propagate into the navigation solution, providing a level of measurement integrity that single-IMU designs cannot match. Validated at up to 100x better attitude stability under repeated high-g shock conditions, the inertial core of the CX7-INS remains reliable when the environment becomes most challenging.
Compatible with NMEA and native MIP protocol inputs, the CX7-INS works with a wide range of GNSS receivers and external aiding sensors including radar, LiDAR, and wheel encoders. Key specifications include an extended ±32 g accelerometer range, ±4,000°/s gyroscope range, adjustable output rates up to 1 kHz, and a compact 8.3 g OEM form factor measuring 38 mm x 24 mm. Every unit is individually calibrated across the full -40°C to 85°C operating range. The 3DM-CX7-INS is NDAA compliant, ITAR free, ROS ready, and PX4 compatible. It is part of the MicroStrain C-Series inertial sensor family, backed by 80+ years of HBK measurement heritage.
| Document | Type | Language |
|---|---|---|
| MicroStrain - Product Data - 3DM-CX7-INS | Data Sheets | English |
| 3DM-CX7-INS User Manual (Online) | User Manual | English |
Certificates and Approvals
| Document | Type | Language |
|---|---|---|
| 3DM-CV7 Declaration of Conformity (UK) | Declaration of Conformity | English |
| 3DM-CV7 Declaration of Conformity (EU) | Declaration of Conformity | English |
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Inertial Navigation (INS) |
| Performance Grade | Tactical Grade |
| Features | Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer |
| Random Walk | Accel: 36 µg/√Hz, Gyro: 0.058º/√h |
| Bias Instability (Gyroscope) | 2.1 °/hr |
| Bias Instability (Accelerometer) | 8.5 μg |
| Communication Port Type | Samtec FTS-105 (2x5) |
| Communication Interface | TTL serial |
| Update Rate | 1 to 1000 Hz |
| Inputs/Outputs | 4xGPIO |
| Weight | 8.3 g |
| Weight | 0.29 oz |
| Size | 38 x 24 x 8.6 |
| Size | 1.5 x 0.94 x 0.34 |
| Power Consumption | 0.324 W |
| Input Voltage | 3.2 to 5.2 VDC |
| Minimum Operating Temperature | -40 °C |
| Maximum Operating Temperature | 85 °C |
| Minimum Operating Temperature | -40 °F |
| Maximum Operating Temperature | 185 °F |
| MTBF | 1953356 h |
| GNSS Input(s) | External Input(s) |
| Sensing Range (Accelerometer) | 32 g |
| Sensing Range (Gyroscope) | 4000 °/s |
| Sensing Range (Magnetometer) | 8 Gauss |
| Sensing Range (Pressure) | 1260 mbar |
| Ingress Protection Rating | Not Rated |
| Housing Material | Aluminum |
| Software | InertialConnect, MSCL, ROS, SensorConnect |
| Mounting Style | Embeddable, Precision Alignment, Screw Down |
| Sub-Brand | Microstrain |
| Badge | NEW |
| Product Code | Description |
|---|---|
6212-3006
|
OEM CABLE KIT |
6212-3009
|
C-Series Development Kit, USB |
6212-3010
|
C-Series Development Kit, RS232 |
Access your sensor's comprehensive online user manual. Find detailed setup instructions, calibration procedures, troubleshooting guides, and technical specifications all in one convenient location.
InertialConnect is the latest software solution for MicroStrain inertial sensors. With InertialConnect, you can easily configure your sensors, adjust parameters, upgrade firmware, and deploy preconfigured parameter files. You can also verify sensor outputs with intuitive visualizations, including times eries data, position data, and statuses.
InertialConnect is compatible with both PC desktop and Linux operating systems, making it your go-to solution for precision and efficiency in inertial sensor management.
SensorConnect is the next generation in desktop sensing software.
From configuration of nodes and starting networks, to collecting and analyzing data in real-time, SensorConnect provides a modern, powerful experience with our Wireless, Inertial, and Displacement products.
Using our intelligent data collection and graphing algorithms, you are able to visualize massive amounts of data instantly, and then zoom in on points of interest just as fast.
Built in MathEngine functionality allows for both real-time and post-processed math, such as generating FFTs, averages, RMS, etc.
SensorCloud is a unique sensor data storage, visualization, and remote management platform that leverages powerful Cloud computing technologies to provide excellent data scalability, rapid visualization, and user programmable analysis.
MicroStrain sensors can instantly upload their data to SensorCloud via an ethernet-connected WSDA-2000. Once uploaded, your data is securely stored in the Cloud and can be accessed from anywhere, or downloaded for offline use.
Configurable alerts can be set to help notify you of real-time event in your data.
MathEngine allows you to perform analytics on your data, all in the Cloud. Pre-built functions are available for ease of use, while IPython Notebooks allow advanced users to write custom scripts to be run on their data once, or on a schedule.
The MicroStrain Communication Library (MSCL) is our open-sourced API that simplifies writing code to interact with our sensors. MIP SDK is a lightweight C/C++ library for interacting with MicroStrain G and C-series products via baremetal and resource constrained microcontrollers.
Both APIs are readily available and fully-documented on GitHub, featuring valuable tools such as full documentation, example code, and a quick start guide.
Robot Operating System (ROS) is an open-source, meta-operating system for your robot. It provides the services you would expect from an operating system, including hardware abstraction, low-level device control, implementation of commonly-used functionality, message-passing between processes, and package management. ROS can be used in building and simulating robotics applications, as well as unmanned ground vehicles and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). MicroStrain has an open source License free (MIT License) series of drivers specifically designed and tested for ROS.
PX4 is an open source flight control software for drones and other unmanned vehicles. The project provides a flexible set of tools for drone developers to share technologies to create tailored solutions for drone applications. PX4 provides a standard to deliver drone hardware support and software stack, allowing an ecosystem to build and maintain hardware and software in a scalable way. PX4 is fully supported on MicroStrain’s 3DM-CV7 family of inertial sensors.
The 3DM-CX7-INS is a tactical-grade Inertial Navigation System (INS) designed for autonomous platforms operating in demanding environments. Its unique architecture allows users to pair the INS with their preferred external GNSS receiver rather than being limited to a built-in solution.
Combined with a tactical-grade IMU, redundant multi-IMU architecture, flexible aiding inputs, and the proven MicroStrain Auto-Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter, it delivers high-performance navigation in an ultra-compact 8.3-gram OEM package optimized for UAVs, UGVs, and robotics.
Up to 100x better vibration robustness means the 3DM-CX7-INS is significantly more resistant to vibration-induced errors than previous-generation products. In practical applications, this translates into improved attitude stability, more reliable velocity estimation, reduced navigation drift, and continued operation in high-vibration environments where conventional inertial systems may experience degraded performance.
This is particularly valuable for UAVs, unmanned ground vehicles, and autonomous robotic systems exposed to persistent mechanical vibration.
The 3DM-CX7-INS is compatible with external RTK GNSS receivers and supports simultaneous integration of multiple aiding sensors. The navigation filter combines RTK position updates with measurements from LiDAR, radar, wheel encoders, optical flow sensors, and heading references to produce a more accurate and resilient navigation solution.
This capability is particularly valuable for autonomous systems operating in complex or GNSS-challenged environments.
The 3DM-CX7-INS introduces a redundant multi-IMU architecture, expanded measurement ranges up to ±32 g and ±4000°/s, and significantly improved shock and vibration robustness. These enhancements allow the system to maintain accurate navigation and attitude estimation during aggressive maneuvers, challenging terrain, and high-vibration operation commonly encountered in UAVs, UGVs, and autonomous robotic platforms.
The flexible aiding framework supports a wide range of external navigation inputs, including:
These measurements can be fused simultaneously within the Extended Kalman Filter, helping improve navigation accuracy, robustness, and continuity across a wide range of operating conditions.
Yes. The 3DM-CX7-INS is specifically designed for environments where GNSS signals may be degraded, obstructed, jammed, or temporarily unavailable. By combining tactical-grade inertial sensing with external aiding measurements and adaptive sensor fusion algorithms, the system can maintain reliable position, velocity, and attitude estimates when satellite availability is limited.
The tactical-grade gyroscope in the 3DM-CX7-INS features a bias instability of 2.1°/hour, helping minimize navigation drift and improve dead-reckoning performance. Lower gyro drift means the navigation solution remains accurate for longer periods between external updates, which is especially important during GNSS outages and autonomous operations in complex environments.
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Yes. The 3DM-CX7-INS supports defense-ready encrypted GNSS receivers and is compatible with both SAASM and M-Code inputs. These capabilities allow integration with resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) architectures used in defense, government, and security-sensitive applications where GNSS robustness is critical.
Yes. The 3DM-CX7-INS is NDAA compliant and ITAR free, making it suitable for a wide range of commercial, industrial, and government-related applications. It is also supported by the MicroStrain software ecosystem, including ROS drivers, PX4 integration, MSCL API, MIP SDK, SensorConnect™, and InertialConnect™ to simplify development and deployment.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, MicroStrain and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
