IMpack is a single-board data-logging inertial measurement unit (IMU) designed for research applications where sampling rate, compactness, and cost effectiveness are paramount. The battery-powered device features an array of micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) accelerometer chips which allow it to achieve a maximum acceleration measurement range of ±400 g, sampling rates up to 26.6 kHz, and an angular rate measurement range of ±2000 deg/s. In this article we describe the hardware and software design of the device and present frequency response measurements using a shaker setup that validate the high-bandwidth performance of the IMpack. We demonstrate a research use case in which we embed the IMpack in an aluminum structure and measure the force of impact as the structure lands on the water surface, showing that the result compares favorably against an industry standard commercial IMU. This accessible low-cost IMU platform will enable highly resolved acceleration measurements in a range of engineering research and design areas, as well as in educational settings.
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Antolik et al. (2025) studied this question.
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