Dynamic Heading Reference for Marine Navigation & Unmanned Systems

Why moving platforms need a 3D dynamic compass

A plain magnetic compass is only reliable when it sits level and still: roll and pitch from hull motion or platform manoeuvres magnify magnetic azimuth error fast. The GDM350 carries a three-axis accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer; its dynamic inertial algorithms solve pitch and roll in real time and compensate magnetic azimuth over the full range — heading stays trustworthy even at ±85° pitch. Hard-iron and soft-iron calibration suppresses environmental magnetic interference, and a configurable 5~100 Hz output keeps heading refreshed in real time.

Typical use cases

One compass, four moving platforms

Marine navigation & surveying — a heading reference for shipboard navigation and survey equipment that does not distort as the hull rolls; magnetic variation and steel-hull interference are calibrated out.
GNSS-aided navigation & antenna servo — fills in the heading dimension when satellite signals drop, giving antenna pedestals a stable pointing attitude for the servo loop.
ROV & underwater vehicle navigation — no GNSS underwater and complex magnetic fields from the mother ship and tether, yet the compass still delivers reliable heading and attitude.
Payload pointing & unmanned systems — pointing compensation for thermal imagers, laser rangefinders and map-patching systems, plus heading for drones and unmanned ground vehicles.