Remote fiber optic gyroscopes for a broad range of applications

Fibersense Technology Corporation has completed the development of a new type of Fiber Optic Gyroscope (FOG) configuration in which the sensing element-the fiber coil-is separated from all other gyro elements. This configuration allows fiber coils to be located on the device of interest, without requiring any electrical connections to the rest of the gyro or system. A production version of this configuration, now being manufactured for a missile application, uses a sensing coil 1.3 inches in diameter and 0.3 inches thick. Without data compensation this FOG is capable of a dynamic range in excess of 10,000/spl deg//sec, an angle random walk of less than 0.03/spl deg///spl radic/h, and a bias stability over temperature and day-to-day of less than 2/spl deg//h. This FOG requires only /spl plusmn/5 volts to operate its low cost, all-digital signal processing electronics which produce a digital output proportional to rotation rate. Variations of this configuration, capable of 0.01/spl deg//h bias stability, have also been developed and demonstrated.