Technology Assessment of Ring Laser Gyroscopes,
Abstract
The fundamental problems which have been encountered in the development of the laser gyroscope are discussed and the methods currently used to overcome them are reviewed. In its purest form and without any corrections, the laser gyroscope would be characteristically unsuitable for tactical weapons use; but, with suitable mechanical or optical biasing accessories it becomes quite useful for short range tactical requirements and platform stabilization. The laser gyroscope presents a radical approach to the design of position measuring instruments. Unlike its predecessor, the gimbaled gyroscope with all of its mechanically moving parts, the laser gyroscope is a solid state device with no moving parts, and as such is especially suited for strapdown inertial guidance system application. Besides its design simplicity, it possesses many other attractive features, such as ruggedness, instant-on capability, insensitivity to temperature and environmental variants, an extremely broad measurement range, consistency from turn on to turn on, a longer shelf and operational life, longer recalibration intervals, and lastly, a lower lifetime cost of ownership. Because of these desirable features, the laser gyroscope has generated a great deal of excitement leading to a number of development programs aimed at applications throughout the guidance and control community for both commercial and military uses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA096390
Entities
People
- John A. Tekiela