Gyro-Orientation Determination Using Phosphorescent Materials

Abstract

The determination of the orientation of the spin axis of a spherical free gyroscope (i.e., electrostatic, low temperature, etc.) is usually performed optically by making use of some sort of pattern or marking on the rotor. This requires that the rotor have a preferred axis of rotation so that the relative orientation of the spin axis and pattern are known. This paper describes a method of ``attaching'' the pattern to the spin axis by making use of a phosphorescent coating on the rotor. This technique has the advantage of allowing the rotor to be manufactured as spherical as possible in order to eliminate torques caused by nonsphericity, while still having the capability of high accuracy readout.