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Gyroscopes (simply called gyros) are used to measure the rotational values without using external coordinates. Most single axis gyros are used to calculate the rotational speed from one axis and speed of rotation is measured in degree per second or hour. The mechanical gyros and optical gyros are used to make this operation. Gyros are said to be very perplexing objects and they can also be used to defy gravity. Due to these special features of gyroscopes, they are proved as extremely important part in everything even from your bicycle to the highly advanced navigation systems used on space shuttle. Around a dozen gyros are used in a typical aircraft which is used in everything from its compass to the autopilot. In order to keep its position and orientation to the sun, 11 gyroscopes are used by the Russian Mir Space station. Precession in gyroscopes If you remembered playing with toy gyroscopes, you definitely know about all types of its interesting tricks on this they perform. A finger or string is enough to balance them and motion can resist on the axis of their odd ways and precession is the most important aspect in this way. Actually, the main work of precession is to defy the gravity of gyroscope. The uses of gyroscopes When the gyroscope spins, it keeps pointing on the same direction with its axle. It can keep pointing in the same axis if gyroscope is mounted in a series of gimbals and this is based on gyro-compass. If two gyroscopes are mounted with each other in a platform at right angle with their axles and platform is placed on the series of gimbals, it keeps the platform rigid completely because the gimbals want to keep moving in any way. And this is all done with Inertial Navigation Systems (INS). When the platform starts rotating, the sensors on the axles of gimbals detect the rotation in INS. These signals are used by the INS to evaluate the rotation of the vehicle related to its platform. This becomes easy to determine how the motion of vehicle is changing and where it is heading in all direction if the three sensitive accelerometers are added on the platform. The autopilot of an airplane can keep it flying safely and the guidance system of the rocket can launch it into the desired orbit with INS. Bottom Line The disc gyroscopes used in the mechanical group is mostly remembered by the people. The image of high precision gyros is still mechanical rotating gyro among the people. However, the today’s mechanical gyro is mostly depends upon the linear accelerations due to its principle of mechanical determination. When it comes to optical gyro, it can be laser or fiber-optic one. Unlike mechanical gyros, optical gyros are generally free from acceleration. The Sagnac Effect is used on one of these gyros which make the transit time different whenever the sensor is turned. However, optical gyros are used in most systems and this is one of the biggest advantages. Visit inertiallabs.com to know more about position and orientation of gyroscopes.
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