Shaking Up the Rate Tables Market with EVO-AMI

The EVO-AMI is a compact, two-axis position and rate table designed to perform tests and calibrations on inertial navigation systems or optronic payloads. Its small dimensions combined to its performance make it a unique product on the market, with little or no competition.  It can be used to test a wide range of sensors, both high-performance (FOG) and lower-performance (accelerometers or MEMS for airborne UAVs, for example).

Originally designed to test the mechanical interfaces of systems going on Ariane 5, hence its name EVO-AMI (AMI for Automated Mechanical Interface), its template is the same size as the Phins Surface INS.

The EVO-AMI performance is achieved through careful selection of key components such as brushless motors, optical encoders and slip-ring capsules, which are critical to the system’s performance. Each EVO-AMI comes with the iXblue nGine controller and the ProaXe graphical interface, which are the most advanced control electronics in terms of performance, efficiency and safety. nGine is the axis controller that drives the table to achieve the most precise positions and the most stable movements (speed and sine) and, thanks to the numerous control patents and functions, facilitates the implementation of the customer’s products.  These intelligent innovations thus contribute to reducing integration time and non-recurring costs for customers.

Unlike the other larger tables developed by the division, the EVO-AMI does not need to be installed on an earthquake-resistant table slab, a simple marble slab is all that is needed. A definite advantage for the customer, who does not need to build a large and expensive infrastructure to operate the table. This point is also an important benefit for navigation systems sustainment maintenance and verification as the motion simulator is, therefore, transportable by one or two operators and does not require any civil works or expert for installation.

“In addition to its performance and small format, the EVO-AMI provide the customers with other benefits, such as the possibility of associating it with another table,” says Nicolas Bernard, product manager. “Indeed, it can be combined with the single-axis EVO-10M table to create a 3-axis system, a real upgrade solution for a customer who could not invest directly in a 3-axis EVO-30N table, which requires a higher budget. »

Finally, the components of the table were chosen to allow integration in a climatic chamber (-40/+85°C) to improve the simulation of the environment. When the customer owns a park of climatic rooms, he can consider installing his table in one of them, without having to invest in a new system integrating a climatic chamber.

The EVO-AMI owes its success to one specific customer, an integrator for a leading army, which has ordered most of the tables sold, in particular for the maintenance of integrated sensors. This year, over 5 tables were ordered by the same customer, exceeding a total of more than 50 EVO-AMI sold.

A great result with this customer, but not only, as the EVO-AMI is triggering the interest of other customers. This is namely the case for manufacturers, integrators, or users of small inertial sensors for whom the table’s performance/price ratio meets their specifications. Universities are also among the first customers of the EVO-AMI and use it for tests on MEMS or for sensors for autonomous vehicles, for example. “The EVO-AMI is an entry-level product allowing small budgets to acquire a test system, and which, thanks to the trend towards sensor miniaturization, is ideally positioned on the market,” adds Nicolas Bernard.

Further opportunities have also emerged from discussions with customers to develop a larger version of the EVO-AMI, suitable for larger sensors, which at the same time could also be used to calibrate the Advans land-based power plant range. In addition, the health crisis has impacted customers’ budgets and those who wanted to invest in larger or more efficient tables could turn to the EVO-AMI or its new larger version with a constrained budget.

Finally, to meet the growing demand from customers and their expectations in terms of lead times, the division has decided to produce these tables in larger batches, which means that a few products are readily available and allows greater responsiveness for customer delivery, a great differentiator for order booking. Contrary to the other tables manufactured in Bonneuil, the EVO-AMI requires little or no adaptation, which makes this organization easier.