RING-LASER GYROSCOPE

This research examines ring-laser gyroscopes and their applications. The findings of this research are presented in discussions of (1) the history and development of the ring-laser gyroscope, (2) applications of ring-laser gyroscope technology, and (3) the future of the ring-laser gyroscope.

The ring-laser gyroscope is based on the following characteristics of light: ôWhen two contrarotating beams of light are subject to an angular rotation in their planes, that motion causes one of the beams to transit a slightly greater path length than the other. This creates a shift in the relative phase of the two beams that is proportional to the rotation rate.ö This effect was discovered in 1913. Honeywell Corp. developed a practical application of the concept in the form of a ring-laser gyroscope in the early-1960s.

The ring-laser gyroscope was introduced into real-world applications in the mid-1960s as an alternative technology to the spinning-mass gyroscope. Because the accuracy of the effect upon which the ring-laser gyroscope is based ôis proportional to the length of the optical path, achieving more accurate laser gyros generally requires going to larger sizes.ö

The ring-laser gyroscope is used in inertial reference systems (IRSs), inertial reference units (IRUs) and global positioning systems (GPSs). In turn, data processed by integrated GPS/IR

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y of military applications continue in both use and development. ôGPS satellite technology has been adapted to become the navigation technology of choice for the world aviation community. With the completion in early-1998 of the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) contract, GPS will be available to provide all of the en route navigation and Category I precision approach guidance as a primary means source within North America. The accuracy, reliability and availability of GPS navigation is the cornerstone upon which the architecture of the Future Air Navigation System (FANS) is to be built, bringing with it the promise of great leaps of flight efficiency, economy, capacity and safety.ö Rockwell International Corp., developer of GPS technology for military and space applications, ônow is marketing the æVision SystemÆ GPS package through farm implement dealers for use in agricultural applications. The æVision systemÆ uses military satellites to position and map farm fields.ö Mobile satellite services are the newest services market, and growth in this market segment will depend on the allocation of adequate portions of the radio frequency spectrum to accommodate multiple communications systems. ôMarket growth will depend in
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Green Mowry, Honeywell Corp, SystemÆ GPS, Space Technology, HRG HRG, Italy WAAS, History Development, NASA Shuttle, Hughes FAA, Communication GP&C, ring-laser gyroscope, ring-laser gyroscopes, space technology, aviation week, week space, week space technology, aviation week space, inertial reference, applications ring-laser gyroscope, ring-laser gyroscope technology, gyroscope technology, reference systems, application ring-laser, global positioning, inertial reference systems,
Approximate Word count = 1807
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)