This paper presents a sensitivity optimization of a MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) gyroscope for a magnet-gyro system. The magnet-gyro system, which is a guidance system for a AGV (automatic or automated guided vehicle), uses a magnet positioning system and a yaw gyroscope. The magnet positioning system measures magnetism of a cylindrical magnet embedded on the floor, and AGV is guided by the motion direction angle calculated with the measured magnetism. If the magnet positioning system does not measure the magnetism, the AGV is guided by using angular velocity measured with the gyroscope. The gyroscope used for the magnet-gyro system is usually MEMS type. Because the MEMS gyroscope is made from the process technology in semiconductor device fabrication, it has small size, low-power and low price. However, the MEMS gyroscope has drift phenomenon caused by noise and calculation error. Precision ADC (analog to digital converter) and accurate sensitivity are needed to minimize the drift phenomenon. Therefore, this paper proposes the method of the sensitivity optimization of the MEMS gyroscope using DEAS (dynamic encoding algorithm for searches). For experiment, we used the AGV mounted with a laser navigation system which is able to measure accurate position of the AGV and compared result by the sensitivity value calculated by the proposed method with result by the sensitivity in specification of the MEMS gyroscope. In experimental results, we verified that the sensitivity value through the proposed method can calculate more accurate motion direction angle of the AGV.

This paper presents a new approach for mobile robot heading detection using MEMS Gyro north finding method in the indoor environment. Based on this, the robot heading angle measurement scheme is proposed; improved north finding theory and algorithm are also explained. Several approaches are applied to confirm system’s precision and effectiveness. In order to find out the heading angle, a single axis MEMS gyroscope to sense the angle between the robot heading direction and the north is used. To reach enough estimation accuracy and reduce detection time,the least square method (LSM) for the signal fitting and parameter estimation is applied. Through a turn‐table, we setup a carouseling system to decrease the substantial bias effect on gyroscope’s heading angle. For the evaluation of the proposed method, this system is implemented to the Pioneer robot platform. The performance and heading error are analyzed after the test. From the simulation and experimental results, system’s accuracy, usefulness and adaptability are shown.