Yost Labs

Yost Labs is a U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of compact inertial sensing and motion tracking technologies for military and defense applications. Designed and manufactured in Portsmouth, Ohio, the company’s 3-Space™ sensors deliver precise attitude, heading, and motion measurements for navigation, stabilization, control and tracking.

Trusted by leading defense primes and OEMs, Yost Labs products are ideal for integration into a wide range of mission-critical platforms and equipment. The company also works with customers to develop modified and custom sensors for challenging bespoke application requirements.

3-Space™ Inertial Sensing Technology

The 3-Space™ sensor family brings together triaxial gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers with onboard sensor fusion to deliver a complete attitude and heading reference system (AHRS). Raw, corrected, and normalized measurements can be output for systems that require direct access to sensor data.

Yost Labs’ proprietary QGRAD sensor fusion algorithms significantly outpace traditional Kalman filtering, providing exceptional accuracy at up to ten times the computation efficiency with update rates of up to 2,000 Hz. Tunable filtering, oversampling, and orientation error correction allow developers to configure the response for their application, and a dynamic sensor confidence algorithm adjusts processing to changing operating conditions.

Orientation outputs include quaternions, Euler angles, rotation matrices, axis angles, and two-vector representations, referenced to an absolute or user-defined frame. The latest V3 sensors incorporate the World Magnetic Model for onboard magnetic declination correction and heading referenced to true, magnetic, or grid north.

Evaluation kits are available for the 3-Space™ Embedded, LX3, and Nano sensors, providing convenient USB connectivity for bench testing, prototyping and configuration before integration into final production designs.

 QGRAD2 Sensor Fusion Performance Analysis >

Embedded IMUs & AHRS

3-Space™ Embedded

Surface-mount 10-DOF AHRS/IMU/VRU with barometric pressure sensing

Combining gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer measurements with barometric pressure sensing, the 3-Space™ Embedded delivers 10-DOF AHRS/IMU/VRU functionality in a surface-mount module. Its 23 x 23 x 1.95 mm footprint and 1.3-gram weight make it ideal for stringent SWaP budgets.

Selectable acceleration ranges span ±2g to ±16g as standard. An optional second accelerometer extends measurement capability to ±320g, with automatic selection between the two sensors for high-dynamics and impact measurements.

3-Space™ LX3

Compact 9-axis surface-mount AHRS for navigation, stabilization & control

The 3-Space™ LX3 integrates nine-axis inertial sensing and onboard orientation processing into a 16 x 15 x 1.7 mm surface-mount module. Weighing 0.9 grams, it provides a compact AHRS solution for mission-critical electronics with limited PCB space.

Advanced QGRAD3 algorithms and Extended Kalman filtering provide update rates of up to 2,000 Hz. An integrated World Magnetic Model supplies heading information referenced to true, magnetic, or grid north.

3-Space™ Nano IC

Ultra-lightweight single-chip AHRS in 24-pin DFN package

The 3-Space™ Nano IC combines triaxial gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer measurements with onboard sensor fusion in a single 24-pin DFN package. At just 0.01 grams, it is ideal for electronic assemblies where component weight and PCB area are critical.

The chip delivers filtered orientation at up to 200 Hz alongside raw, corrected, and normalized measurements. SPI, I2C, and asynchronous serial interfaces provide access to sensor data, with adjustable filtering, oversampling, and reference axes.

An optional Nano Carrier Board places the IC on a castellated surface-mount module, providing SPI, I2C, and serial connections for simpler PCB integration.

More info: 3-Space™ V3 Sensor Family

Packaged & Ruggedized Sensors

3-Space™ USBC

USB-connected 10-DOF inertial sensors with dual auto-selecting accelerometers

The 3-Space™ USBC combines 10-DOF sensing with onboard AHRS/VRU/IMU processing in a compact package that accommodates screwdown or strapdown mounting. The cased USBC-H-C includes a triaxial gyroscope, dual auto-selecting accelerometers, a magnetometer, and a barometric pressure sensor, with USB-C, UART, and RS232 interfaces.

Acceleration measurements cover ±2g to ±16g at low range and extend to ±320g at high range. QGRAD3 or Extended Kalman filtering delivers update rates up to 2,000 Hz. The USBC-H-B board-level version adds SPI and I2C connectivity for OEM electronic assemblies.

3-Space™ Watertight

IP68-rated AHRS for rugged defense & naval applications

The 3-Space™ Watertight combines 10-DOF inertial sensing with an IP68-rated cast aluminum enclosure for rugged field and marine use cases. It provides attitude and motion measurements for vehicle navigation, robotic stabilization, monitoring, and impact analysis.

Dual-range acceleration measurements extend to ±320g, with QGRAD3 and Extended Kalman filtering at up to 2,000 Hz. An onboard World Magnetic Model enables tilt-compensated heading referenced to true, magnetic, or grid north.

A locking watertight connector and screwdown or strapdown mounting accommodate different installation requirements. Both models offer USB, with 3.3V UART on the HU1 or RS232 on the HU2. Compatible cables are available in 2-meter and 4-meter lengths, with custom lengths on request.

Inertial Data Loggers

The 3-Space™ Data Loggers integrate an AHRS/IMU/VRU, microSD storage, and a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery into a self-contained recording unit. They are ideal for unmanned platform testing, motion analysis, vibration monitoring, and event capture without a separate logger or external power source.

Time-based and event-based recording options allow users to configure data capture for the test, with an onboard real-time clock providing timestamps. USB gives access to live measurements, configuration, and recorded files.

The Quick-Mount System provides screwdown or strap clips for moving portable Data Loggers between measurement locations. A keyed interface maintains the same sensor orientation each time the logger is inserted. Units can also utilize an integrated screwdown/strapdown case for permanent mounting on equipment exposed to high vibration or shock.

The product range includes:

• Data Logger Core: Combines standalone inertial recording with high-speed USB-C, providing virtual COM port and mass-storage access for live sensor data and file retrieval. Standard and long-life batteries are available.
• Data Logger Link: Adds Bluetooth Low Energy for wireless access to measurements and recorded data, including simultaneous BLE streaming and microSD logging. Dual auto-selecting accelerometers cover low-range measurements and high-range events up to ±320g.
• Data Logger Nav: Integrates GPS/GNSS with the Link’s inertial sensing and wireless connectivity to record position and motion together. A 700 mAh battery powers the unit, with USB and BLE access to measurements and files.

GPS-Denied Personnel Tracking

Extended Embedded Pedestrian Tracking System

Self-contained inertial tracking for dismounted personnel

Yost Labs’ Extended Embedded Pedestrian Tracking System (EEPTS) extracts personnel motion paths in real time using a single body-worn inertial sensor and onboard AI processing. Designed for integration into defense systems, it provides warfighter tracking without GPS, RF, optical references, or other external infrastructure. All path processing takes place within the sensor, without an external processing host or post-processing.

The sensor can be worn on the chest, shoulder, waist, or back, with tracking independent of wearer, mounting position, and orientation. EEPTS recognizes walking, jogging, running, and crawling across indoor, outdoor, urban, forested, and subterranean environments. Specified positional error is no more than 3% of distance traveled, equivalent to 3 meters per 100 meters CEP.

Motion paths are output as latitude and longitude or positional offsets in meters, with full AHRS/IMU/VRU functionality available simultaneously. EEPTS is available as an embedded solution within the 3-Space™ Sensor V3.0 family or as a linkable/loadable binary module for qualified users.

Motion paths are output as latitude and longitude or positional offsets in meters, with full AHRS/IMU/VRU functionality available simultaneously. EEPTS is available as an embedded solution within the 3-Space™ Sensor V3.0 family or as a linkable/loadable binary module for qualified users.

More info: GPS-Denied Personnel Tracking