There are three types of gyroscope
- Mechanical gyroscope.
- Optical gyroscope.
- Gas-bearing gyroscope.
1.Mechanical gyroscope
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- Mechanical gyroscope is the most common type of gyroscope. It consists of a spinning wheel or disc in which the axle is free to assume any orientation. This type of gyroscope mostly uses in toys as well as in navigation of large aircraft and missile guidance and control. It has some disadvantages like mechanical gyroscope is noisier than other forms of gyroscopes. Mechanical gyroscopes have moving parts. Because of this, it causes friction, which in turn causes the output to drift over time. And to minimize friction high-precision, bearings and special lubricants are used.
2.Optical gyroscope.
- Optical gyroscopes are not based on the conservation of angular momentum. It uses the interference of light to measure angular velocity. Such devices are based on the Sagnac effect. It works on the principle of interference of light which passes through the coils of the optic fiber. We inject two beams of light into the optic fiber from two opposite directions, and the phase shift can be measured through interferometer. It has some Advantages like it is durable and it does not have moving parts. The accuracy of an optical gyroscope is mostly dependent on the length of the light transmission path (larger is better).but it also has some drawbacks that it is sensitive to vibrations and it requires to be calibrated. It is mostly used in modern rocketry and spacecraft.
3.Gas-bearing gyroscope.
- These types of gyroscopes were used in the development of the Hubble Telescope by NASA. According to NASA, the gas-bearing gyroscopes are much quieter than other forms of gyroscopes and also have greater accuracy.