Leading IndustrySolutions for a

World in Motion

Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbHSensors, integrated systems and comprehensive single source service

Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH is a global leader in inertial sensors, reference and navigation systems. Our Freiburg site employs over 500 highly qualified, experienced and dedicated staff.

For over 50 years, the company’s broad product range has been a stable player in the aviation, land, marine and space sectors, in both the civilian and defense industries.

Northrop Grumman LITEF develops and manufactures fully-integrated systems, providing customer-specific solutions for measurement and navigational tasks that require maximum precision and reliability, especially in challenging environments.

High-tech precision solutions for your spectrum of applica-tions, plus our lifetime service

Leading Industry Solutions for a World in Motion

Our products master your tasks

Use our modules and systems to:• stabilize cameras • navigate industrial and agricultural vehicles• stabilize cranes and small satellites• guide and navigate tunnel drills, UAVs and robotics.

Tell us about your project and together we will develop your own unique system or find the product that best suits your requirements.

We provide precision,you gain security

To determine accurate and error- free attitude, heading and reference data, measurements for angular rates and acceleration as well as to calculate position and speed, our portfolio includes:• mechanical• fiber optical• micromechanical sensor systems and specifically-pro grammed software.

The entire Northrop Grumman LITEF product range is subject to stringent precision and quality testing during the development phase. Moreover, these tests are standard for our series production.

You define the scope of application

Northrop Grumman LITEF inertial sensors and reference and heading systems, embody your high-tech solution for:• photogrammetry and mobile mapping• stabilization• guided drilling• pipeline inspection• automated guided vehicles (AGV guidance) • real-time navigation• condition monitoring

Northrop Grumman LITEF not only delivers high-performance products with tailor-made hardware and software solutions, but also offers comprehensive advice plus lifetime service.

C O M P A N Y

Application profile Photogrammetry measures three-dimensional objects to determine their exact location and shape. High-precision cameras, mounted to aircraft or vehicles, are used to continuously take photos during flight or travel.

Solution

Photogrammetry and mobile mapping deliver high qual-ity results based on complete and precise position, and orientation data of the camera. The Northrop Grumman LITEF sensor systems and inertial measurement units deliver reliable and highly accurate camera orientation data, under all operational conditions.

Photogrammetry/ Mobile Mapping

Products

ISA-100 and LCI-100

• Highly accurate, triaxial FOG and accelerometer triad• Data compensation across the entire,

specified temperature range

µIMU-I

• Complete inertial measurement unit based on the latest MEMS technology.

• Robust and compact housing• High reliability and good performance

stability

To later assist in processing and evaluating the images, photogrammetry systems register and save the position data for each image as well as the camera’s orientation. During post processing, the recorded inertial data provides the basis for calcu-lating three-dimensional images of the measured area and their specific geographical evaluation.For mobile mapping, the cameras are replaced by two-dimensional laser scanners. These are used to generate a three-dimensional point cloud of the area or object during the test flight or test drive.

Application profile

The task of stabilization is to keep a system in a stable position, irrespective of the moving carrier system it is mounted on. To do this, motion data from the carrier system is measured and corresponding counter-movements of the respective system are initiated, usually via an electric motor.

Solution

Northrop Grumman LITEF inertial sensors capture and measure the changing orientation of the carrier system.

Stabilization

S P E C T R U M O F A P P L I C A T I O N S

Products

µFORS

• Single-axis fiber optic rate sensor at various performance levels

• Configurable data output – compen-sated angle or rotation rate data, asynchronous or synchronous digital interface

• Robust and reliable design even under harsh environment

µIMU-I

• Complete inertial measurement unit based on the latest MEMS technology.

• Robust and compact housing• High reliability and good performance

stability

For example:• a camera mounted underneath a helicopter (the

camera must remain focused on an object while the helicopter is in-flight)

• a satellite’s antenna, which must continue to align with its reception point on earth, whilst drifting slowly in space.

Application profile

In the construction industry, underground boreholes of up to 400 m length and more are drilled to supply gas, wa-ter, electricity and others. These drilling holes don’t usually run in straight lines: especially in urban areas, pipeline hauling often has to circumnavigate objects, roads, rivers and railway lines. This requires that the drill head has to be navigable independent of depth and environmental conditions, and that its inertial data must be known reliable at all times..

Solution

The Drill-Pilot® NG provides inertial propagated orientation and position data for Measurement-While-Drilling (MWD) and borehole survey tasks based on dead reckoning coupled navigation. The system is designed to be used directly behind the drill bit, and allows exact measurement during the drilling process as well as short reaction times while performing steering manoeuvers. Independent of depth, inclination angle and magnetic surrounding, it is the preferred solution for all tasks requiring robust and accurate heading and positioning data.

S P E C T R U M O F A P P L I C A T I O N S

Guided Drilling

Product

Drill-Pilot® NG

• High performance fiber optic gyroscopes and MEMS accelero-meter sensors

• Gyro compassing functionality• Real time inertial navigation

Utmost precision for reliable applications, even under extremely challenging conditions.

ProductLife-Cycle

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Product Partnership with Lifetime ServiceCooperation and support throughout the entire project

Our customers are supplied with components and systems developed and manufactured exclusively by Northrop Grumman LITEF. Our allround and customized lifetime service supports your project for the entire lifecycle of your products.

Research drives progress

We research new materials and develop innovative processes, to furnish you with state-of-the-art, high-tech products.

Optimized components

Northrop Grumman LITEF measur-ing and navigating components are developed in-house and optimally integrated within our highly efficient products.

Manufacturing precision

Our employees’ long-term expertise, from the design phase to the shop floor; continually improving pro-cesses and top-of-the-range equip-ment, all serve to guarantee high manufacturing precision.

S I N G L E S O U R C E S E R V I C E

Quality assurance

All our core processes are certified according to international stand-ards. Strictest accuracy and quality tests are applied to every step of development and manufacturing.

Worldwide. Secure. Fast.

We are committed to delivering our products and spare parts as and when they are required.This is guaranteed by our compe-tent logistics team, taking all rele-vant regulations into consideration.

Comprehensive support

Our service package is tailored to support your project step by step: system integration, installation, user training, operation and maintenance.

Product partnership

Our experts develop customized solutions, in close cooperation with you, to meet your specific challenges.

Lifetime Service

Our top priority: Northrop Grumman LITEF will support you for as long as our product is in use; with guid-ance and resources, know-how and hardware.

The NG LITEF competency team: experts, technicians and engineers with long-term expertise.

Application profile

Gas, oil and water pipelines have to be inspected regularly. So called “pigs” are inserted into the pipeline and flushed through by the respective medium. These pigs gather data on critical parameters like deformation, orienta-tion, corrosion, etc., which is stored together with information on the relevant position. After the measuring run, this data is consolidated during post processing, determining the condition of the pipeline.

Solution

The Northrop Grumman LITEF inertial sensors measure the movements of these pigs. In combination with ad-ditional information, e.g. from odometer and reference points, the location of defective spots in the pipeline can be calculated.

S P E C T R U M O F A P P L I C A T I O N S

Pipeline Inspection

Products

LCI-100 and ISA-100

• Highly accurate, triaxial FOG and accelerometer triad• Data compensation across the entire,

specified temperature range• Configurable interface - data protocol,

data rate, master or slave, asynchro-nous or synchronous

µIMU-I

• Complete inertial measurement unit based on the latest MEMS technology

• Robust and compact housing High reliability and good performance stability

Application profile

In factory plants, goods are often moved around by automated guided vehicles (AGV). These vehicles autonomous-ly pick up goods from one position and convey them to a drop-off point. Navigation is achieved by measuring the distance travelled, calculating the rotary motion along the vertical axis as well as using reference points.

Solution

AGV navigation is achieved by processing the data of the distance travelled in combination with the rotary motion along the vertical axis and reference points. To ensure safety of the manufacturing area, goods and vehicles during operation, the navigation sensors must satisfy strict precision requirements. The Northrop Grumman LITEF fiber optic rate sensors, µFORS, reli-ably feed the AGV-guidance system with motion data, to ensure accurate and error-free operation.

AGV Guidance Systems

Product

µFORS

• Single-axis fiber optic rate sensor at various performance levels

• Configurable data output – compen-sated angle or rotation rate data, asynchronous or synchronous digital interface

Application profile

In contrast to some of the applications pictured previously, many systems require information on position and orientation in real-time, i.e. at any given time and without delay during operation. This information is calculated by real-time navigation systems comprising a GPS antenna, inertial sensors and computers. Examples for applica-tions are construction or mining vehicles, which operate autonomously above or underground.

S P E C T R U M O F A P P L I C A T I O N S

Realtime Navigation

Solution

The inertial sensors from Northrop Grumman LITEF measure the motion in all three axes, and thus deter-mine the exact orientation position. This informa tion is needed, among other things, in order to calculate direction changes.

Products

LCI-100N

• High-precision northfinder based on the inertial measurement unit LCI-100

• Propagation of orientation in real-time• Gyrocompassing and detection of

movement and resting

µIMU-I

• Complete inertial measurement unit based on the latest MEMS technology.

• Robust and compact housing• High reliability and good performance

stability

Application profile

This application automatically monitors the mechanical structure of large buildings or plants, in order to detect damage early. Parameters like vibration, alternation of length, change of position, etc. are measured to de-termine whether maximum permissible values have been exceeded. Examples are dams, wind turbines and bridges which deform under the pressure of mechanical forces.

Solution

Inertial sensors are used to determine vibrations or changes in the orientation of building components.Fast movements of building components and their vibrations can be measured with the B-295 accelero-meter or a rate sensor µFORS.Changes in the orientation or rotation of building components can be detected using either the portable alignment device LiPAD®-100 or the northfinder LCI-100N which is permanently integrated into a monitoring system.

S P E C T R U M O F A P P L I C A T I O N S

Condition Monitoring

Products

B-295 Triad

• 3-axis MEMS accelerometer triad• Data compensation across the whole

specified temperature range• May be used as either a tilt or vibration

sensor

LCI-100N

• High-precision northfinder based on the inertial measurement unit LCI-100

• Propagation of orientation in real-time• Gyrocompassing and detection of

movement and resting

LiPAD®-100

• Portable and robust alignment tool• Provides the angles pitch, roll and

heading in real time

Development Know-how Unique solutions for your individual requirements

As a long-term supplier of integrated sensor and system solutions, Northrop Grumman LITEF is a well- established specialist for individual customer solutions: ranging from unique adaptions of standard products to the completely new development of modules and

complete inertial measurement and navigation systems. All requirements resulting from the planning phase, as well as the configuration of hardware and software, are implemented by experienced engineers and technicians in close cooperation with the customer.

U N I Q U E S O L U T I O N S

Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbHLoerracher Str. 18, 79115 Freiburg, Germany

www.northropgrumman.litef.de

Industrial Solutions: Tel. +49 (0)761 4901-580

E-Mail: industrial@ng-litef.de

Northrop Grumman Europewww. northropgrumman.com/europe

© Northrop Grumman LITEF GmbH, Freiburg, Germany, February 2019

All rights reserved.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN IN EUROPE

Northrop Grumman is among the leading defence, security and industrial suppliers in

Europe with more than 2,200 employees and significant long-established businesses in

Germany, U.K., France, Italy and the Netherlands. We offer the best of our

U.S. and European R&D and technology to deliver solutions that help solve our

customer’s’ defence, security and industry challenges. Calling on our global experience

and 100-year European heritage, we provide everything from satellite payloads, to

maritime command and control systems, synthetic training, special mission aircraft,

land vehicle maintenance, repair and overhaul, unmanned air systems, tactical

communications and much more for our European customers. We may not always

be visible, but Northrop Grumman’s technology is all pervasive, as is our

commitment to building strong European businesses to serve our

customers for the long-term.

Leading IndustrySolutions for a

World in Motion