Collection: SBG Systems

SBG Systems: MEMS inertial sensors for onboard attitude and navigation

SBG Systems is a French manufacturer, founded in 2007 and based near Paris, which designs, manufactures, and supports its inertial sensors. Its Ellipse range includes miniature MEMS-based inertial sensors, available in an IP68 waterproof enclosure with serial connectors or as an OEM version for board integration.

Onboard, two uses dominate. The Ellipse-A is an AHRS: it provides attitude—roll, pitch, and heading—but no position. The Ellipse-D is an inertial navigation system that integrates a dual-antenna, dual-frequency, multi-constellation, RTK-compatible GNSS receiver: it adds position, velocity, and time. In the Skysat catalog, SBG covers MEMS inertial navigation; Exail covers fiber optic gyroscope-based systems.

Why Skysat distributes SBG

An inertial sensor is only installed correctly if its integration is prepared using documentation. SBG publishes free access to the pinouts, interfaces, output protocols, and accessories of the Ellipse range: wiring and configuration are validated before ordering, not after.

Main product lines

• Ellipse-A Marine (AHRS) — attitude (roll, pitch, heading) and heave, without position. Sold by quote.
• Ellipse-D Marine (dual-antenna GNSS INS) — adds position, velocity, and time thanks to its dual-antenna, dual-frequency, RTK-compatible GNSS receiver. Sold by quote.
• Ellipse-D Kit — Ellipse-D Marine sensor in an enclosure and two TW3972 GNSS antennas. Antenna connections are defined according to the installation. Sold by quote.
• GNSS TW3972 Antenna — triple-band antenna with L-Band, manufactured by Tallysman, which SBG recommends when the sky is not entirely clear and RTK coverage is important.
• USB to RS-232 Cable, 3 m (CA-ELI-USB-3M) — connects an Ellipse to a computer for configuration; its USB plug integrates an RS-232 to USB converter and powers the sensor. SBG declares it mandatory for the first purchase of a boxed Ellipse.

Highlighted technical features

Marine Version

Accelerometers ±8 g, gyroscopes ±450 °/s, and heave measurement. Land/Air and High Dynamics versions do not measure heave.

Interfaces

The two sensors in the catalog, the Ellipse-A 100-2489 and the Ellipse-D 100-2422, are B1 revisions, without a CAN bus. Their main port operates in RS-232, or in RS-422 when its pin 5 is connected to ground; SBG provides the CA-ELI-RS422-3M cable for this mode. In an enclosure, they offer up to three serial links (ports A, B, and E). Outputs use the sbgECom binary protocol or standard and third-party protocols, including NMEA, RTCM, and TSS1.

Power and enclosure

Power supply from 5 to 36 V. Power consumption at 12 V: 300 mW for the Ellipse-A, 900 mW for the Ellipse-D without antennas, and 1,050 mW with. IP68 waterproof enclosure.

Origin

A French company, SBG Systems designs, manufactures, and supports its sensors.

Skysat Advice

Start with the need: the Ellipse-A is sufficient when only attitude matters; the Ellipse-D is justified when position, velocity, and time provided by its dual-antenna GNSS receiver are also required. Our two references are B1 revisions: plan for an RS-232 or RS-422 connection, no CAN. For configuration, the CA-ELI-USB-3M cable powers the sensor via USB; the CA-ELI-D-USB-3M, with a separate power plug, is only for older generations of Ellipse-D. No bus or driver is compatible by default: each link is validated against the protocol and frames expected by the receiving device. Skysat installs inertial sensors onboard, primarily SBG and Exail. Our design office can arrange a call to choose the model, interfaces, mounting, and configuration. The sensors are sold by quote. For comparison, see the Exail collection and all inertial sensors.

Target markets

• Offshore racing and performance sailboats
• Professional vessels and workboats
• Shipyards and integrators, for new builds and refits
• Onboard measurement and instrumentation projects