Gyroscope

A gyroscope or gyro (Greek gyros γύρος "Rotation" and σκοπεῖν skopein, see ) is a rapidly rotating, symmetric top, which rotates in a mobile camp. The bearing may be a gimbal or a frame in the form of a cage ( see figure). Due to conservation of angular momentum, the gyro on a high inertia against changes in position in space. If the rotational speed between centrifugal and cage measured, it is called a gyro. Gyroscopes are used as navigation instruments, and active attitude control, in particular for aerospace. The attitude control of spacecraft such as satellites is exploited, that the whole system of spacecraft and gyroscope maintains its angular momentum and thus can be controlled by angular momentum transfer between the two the situation.

Currently, the term gyro or gyro is used in transmitting manner for a variety of angular rate sensors, but no gyro included fulfill the same purpose as an actual gyroscope.

History

The gyroscope - today the terms gyroscope and Gyro are used interchangeably - in 1817 invented by the professor of astronomy, mathematics and physics Johann Gottlieb Friedrich von beans Berger at the University of Tübingen and in 1852 by Jean Bernard Léon Foucault to the invention, design and manufacture of the gyro developed, the first gyroscope of 1817 is indistinguishable as an idea and was essential basis for the invention of the gyrocompass in 1852.

Physical principles

Gyro systems can be regarded as a closed system, whose angular momentum remains constant. An external force attempting to tilt the axis of rotation of the gyro, therefore, results in a torque. In order to preserve the total momentum, the gyroscope axis tilts perpendicular to the applied force. The effect is known, among others from the toy top, the axis precesses by him tilting gravity along a cone surface.

Measurement principles

Therefore, the following measurement principles are available at the roundabout:

The two laws are the foundation of all gyro instruments: The first sentence is a consequence of inertia, the second set is a consequence of the spin rate ( set by the angular momentum ).

In a closed system in addition to the total momentum and the angular momentum is conserved. Stability and precession increases with the angular momentum of the gyroscope.

The effect is also referred to as centrifugal direction -retaining; important technical applications of artificial horizon and directional gyro aviation. In practice, even the smallest imbalance causes a slow migration of the gyroscope axis ( gyro drift ), which can be reduced more or less by certain measures.

The precession is applied in an even broader scale: inter alia, as a control variable in tasks of mechanical stabilization, the gyrocompass of nautical and surveying at the roundabout (direction- seeking or north-seeking gyro ) or the instrument flight on turn and bank indicator.

Technical Applications

Widespread are gyro instruments in the transport industry, especially for orientation and navigation.

  • In car gyro direction changes can be measured more accurately than is possible with the wheel position. Together with the measurement of the distance traveled is a fairly accurate position determination possible ( dead reckoning ), which continues even today in some GPS navigation systems, the display when the satellite signal fail ( for example in tunnels). These usually contain a vibration gyro.

Each gyro system but every little imbalance would over longer periods lead to a growing gyro drift, which would be very annoying especially in aviation. Therefore, we developed magnet -based Gyrosyn devices which stabilize the direction of measurement, even over long periods of time.

  • In each airplane cockpit are usually several gyro instruments: The artificial horizon shows the pilot a line that is aligned horizontally before the start. During the flight, the gyro horizon keeps its axis stability due to this line in the horizontal plane, even when the aircraft tilts forward, back or to the side. Thus, one can determine the spatial position of the aircraft in the cockpit, even if darkness, clouds, and trajectory -related centrifugal forces complicate an immediate visual orientation (see instrument flight )
  • The turn indicator enables a precisely controlled turning flight.
  • The gyro enables compliance with the direction of flight.

Position control is in other areas of importance (with gyroscope here can also stand for gyroscopes, which are not actually based on gyroscopes ):

  • In model aircraft and helicopters gyroscopes are used to stabilize one or more axes to wind or against side effects of control because these are otherwise difficult to control. This first mechanical gyroscope were used, meanwhile piezo or SMM sensors ( Silicon Micro Machine ) is used; in both cases, the tax adjustments via integrated microcontroller can be calculated directly in the flight model.
  • On aircraft carriers to stabilize the Anflugleitstrahls is also used a gyroscopic bearing construction, in order not to transmit the wave movements of the ship on the beam.
  • Torpedoes or unmanned aerial vehicles such as ballistic missiles do not require artificial horizon. Instead, a gyroscope is connected directly to the controller, which first happened in the A4 ( V2 rocket ) in World War II. The centrifugal control serves to compensate for undesirable effects such as drift due to wind, or irregularities in the drive to maintain the programmed trajectory. Today, it is usually part of an inertial navigation system (INS ).
  • In space gyro are used for position control: These are stabilizing in almost force-free space, the inertia wheel and the reaction wheel itself Metrological aspects play only a secondary role. The hitherto most precise and technically demanding gyro instrument was designed for the started in April 2004, Gravity Probe satellite, the first results were announced in April 2007.
  • Also used are gyroscopes in gyro-stabilized binoculars, where the gyroscope has allowed monitoring by speedboats or helicopters or motor vehicles out.
  • The BMW S 1000 RR also uses two gyroscopes for inserting the Dynamic Traction Control ( DTC short ).
  • In 2009, gyroscopes in Nintendo's Wii Motion Plus extension for the first time in the entertainment industry.
  • Also, the " Playstation 3 Move Controller " uses a gyroscopic sensor.
  • Already in the 1970s, the cinematographer Jost Vacano has developed the so-called Joosticam, a kind of Steadicam with which he filmed and the film Das Boot.
  • This technique is most recently used in the on-board camera in the FIM MotoGP World Championship and was first used at the Sachsenring on the bike of Valentino Rossi.
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