Tied top

A control moment gyroscope is in a gimbal rapidly rotating centrifugal whose frame axes are not rotatably suspended, but will be initiated at the caused by rotation of the measurement axis in space moments in the suspension.

Most often, this is done by gravity , especially with the horizontally tethered gyros in ship and inertial navigation . In contrast, when controlling rockets , they are coupled to their longitudinal axis or freely suspended.

While a free top tries to maintain the alignment of its axis of rotation in space due to the gyroscopic stability or conservation of angular momentum , the frame of a tied top deviates perpendicularly to it when a force is exerted on it. This phenomenon, which often has amazing effects in everyday life, is called precession and also plays an important role in astronomy .

In technology , the tied top is used for the following purposes, among others:

Twist stabilization of "platforms" in systems of inertial navigation (INS)
Gyroscopic stabilization of missiles (first by Goddard ) and in the V2 rocket
Control of space probes , see interplanetary navigation
Gyro compass in larger ships ( but not the course gyro in aircraft)
Gyro theodolite and surveying top
Turn indicator in aircraft
Generation of manipulated variables when aligning automatic measuring instruments

While gyro systems require little weight for control impulses , heavy, highly motorized gyroscopes are also used in space travel , which actively ( generating impulses ) control orbit stabilization or the alignment of spacecraft and satellites .

In flight navigation , so-called laser gyroscopes (laser gyroscopes) are also used today, in which a mass does not rotate, but a light beam that interferes with itself is directed onto a rectangular or circular path.

Tied top

See also