Xsens Releases Pixhawk Integration Guide to Significantly Boost Drone Flight Accuracy
Xsens has published a comprehensive integration guide detailing how to deploy its high-performance IMU, AHRS, and GNSS/INS modules into UAV systems running Pixhawk flight controllers and ArduPilot software. The guide covers output rates up to 400 Hz, with the flagship Sirius RTK module delivering positioning accuracy of 0.6 cm + 1 ppm CEP.
Highlights
- Xsens has published a Pixhawk and ArduPilot integration guide covering IMU, AHRS, and GNSS/INS modules across its full product lineup, including the MTi 1 series, MTi 600 series, and MTi-G-710.
- Xsens IMU and AHRS sensors deliver attitude output at up to 400 Hz with low latency, enabling stable and responsive UAV flight control loops.
- The Sirius RTK GNSS/INS module, powered by a u-blox ZED-X20 receiver, achieves positioning accuracy of 0.6 cm + 1 ppm CEP and supports output rates up to 2 kHz.
- Integrating Sirius series modules with Pixhawk requires an external level converter due to RS232/RS422 or CAN(-FD) interface incompatibility with standard UART voltage levels.
- Xsens draws on 25 years of motion sensing expertise to deliver individually calibrated sensors meeting the stringent demands of advanced autonomous drone systems.
Xsens Releases Pixhawk Integration Guide to Significantly Boost Drone Flight Accuracy
Xsens has published a new integration technical guide detailing how to deploy its high-performance motion sensing modules into UAV systems running Pixhawk flight controllers and ArduPilot software.
Full Sensor Product Line Coverage
The technical document focuses on the seamless integration of Xsens Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS), and Global Navigation Satellite System/Inertial Navigation System (GNSS/INS) modules. For engineering teams, the guide provides critical information including physical wiring configurations, software parameter settings, and system verification procedures.
These external sensors deliver high-frequency attitude output at up to 400 Hz with low-latency data transmission, helping to establish highly responsive and stable flight control loops.
Compatible with Pixhawk, ArduPilot, and ROS Environments
The miniaturized sensors are designed for seamless compatibility with Pixhawk, ArduPilot, and Robot Operating System (ROS) environments, allowing developers to focus on high-level mission planning without spending resources on low-level sensor programming.
The guide includes detailed compatibility tables and specifications covering a diverse hardware lineup — from the ultra-compact MTi 1 series modules to the ruggedized MTi 600 series devices and the MTi-G-710.
Sirius GNSS/INS Series: Next-Level Accuracy
The integration guide also covers the setup process for two ruggedized modules: the Xsens Sirius GNSS/INS and the Xsens Sirius RTK GNSS/INS. Both modules feature a built-in u-blox ZED-X20 receiver and support high-speed output rates of up to 2 kHz.
In terms of positioning accuracy:
- Standard Sirius module: Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 1 m, heading Root Mean Square (RMS) error of 0.8°
- Sirius RTK variant: CEP accuracy improved to 0.6 cm + 1 ppm, heading RMS error of 0.5°
Wiring Considerations
Engineers integrating Sirius series modules with Pixhawk flight controllers should note that, because these ruggedized modules communicate via RS232/RS422 or CAN(-FD) interfaces — which are incompatible with standard Pixhawk UART voltage levels — an external level converter is required for proper operation.
25 Years of Motion Sensing Expertise
As demand grows for autonomous drones to navigate safely in complex environments, reliable and precise attitude data is increasingly critical. Backed by 25 years of motion sensing expertise, Xsens produces individually calibrated sensors designed to meet the stringent reliability and performance requirements of advanced Pixhawk-based UAV systems.
The complete integration guide is available for download on the Xsens official website.
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