Laser gyro factory test automation

Laser gyros are often applied in safety of flight and/or mission critical situations. This means that a very high assurance of performance is required before they are shipped from the factory. This assurance is provided with comprehensive and historically expensive factory acceptance testing. Honeywell has developed a gyro test facility which improves test quality and reliability, improves data handling and storage, while reducing testing costs. When compared to the original computer controlled test complex to support Honeywell's laser gyros of the last decade, this new gyro test facility: had a sharply lower initial cost; costs less to operate and maintain; handles many orders of magnitude of additional data at much higher speeds; was developed, certified and placed in use several calendar months sooner; is much more reliable; eliminates operator error from the final product; and is completely modular (hardware and software) to allow rapid response to both product and technology change.