There are a huge number of inventions that are characterized by a long and very rich history of use in various devices and devices. Often you can hear the name of something, but not even have an idea of what it is intended for. This is where the question arises, what is a gyroscope? Worth looking into.
Basic definition
A gyroscope is a navigation device that uses a rapidly rotating rotor as its main element, fixed in such a way that its axis of rotation rotates. Two gimbal frames provide three degrees of freedom. In the absence of any external influences on the device, the axis of its own rotation of the rotor maintains a constant direction in space. If it is affected by the moment of an external force that tends to rotate the axis of its own rotation, then it begins its movement not around the direction of the moment, but around an axis perpendicular to it.
Device Features
If we talk about what a gyroscope is, it is worth noting that in a qualitatively balanced and fairly fast rotating device mounted on highly advanced bearings, with low friction, there is practically no moment of external forces, so the device is able to maintain its orientation in space almost unchanged. Therefore, it is able to indicate the angle of rotation of the base on which it is fixed. This is how the rotation of the Earth was first clearly demonstrated by the French physicist J. Foucault. If the rotation of the axis is limited by a special spring, then when the device is installed on an aircraft that performs a turn, the gyroscope will deform the spring until the moment of the external force is balanced. In this case, the force of tension or compression of the spring will be proportional to the angular velocity of the aircraft. This is the principle of the aviation direction indicator and many other gyroscopic devices. Since there is very little friction in the bearings to keep the gyroscope rotor spinning, a lot of energy is not required. Usually, a low-power electric motor or a jet of compressed air is enough to set it in motion, as well as to maintain this movement.
Gyroscope: application
Most often this device is used as a sensing element for indicating gyroscopic devices, as well as a sensor for the angle of rotation or angular velocity for devices operatingunder automatic control. In some cases, the gyroscope can serve as an energy or torque generator.
At the moment, the principle of operation of the gyroscope allows its active use in aviation, shipping and astronautics. Almost every seagoing vessel has a gyrocompass for automatic or manual control of the vessel, and some also use gyrostabilizers. The fire control system of naval artillery is usually equipped with many additional gyroscopes, which are designed to provide a stable frame of reference or to measure angular velocities.
If you understand what a gyroscope is, then you should understand that without it, automatic control of torpedoes is simply unthinkable. Helicopters and airplanes are also necessarily equipped with these devices in order to provide reliable information on the operation of navigation and stabilization systems. Such devices include the attitude indicator, gyroscopic turn and roll indicator, vertical gyro. If we consider a helicopter with a gyroscope, then this device can serve both as a pointing device and as an autopilot sensor. Many aircraft are equipped with gyro-stabilized magnetic compasses and other equipment - cameras with gyroscopes, gyrosectants, navigation sights. In military aviation, gyroscopes are actively used as components in bombing and aerial firing sights.
Use in modern gadgets
So, considering thatsuch a gyroscope, it should be noted that this device is actively used not only in the previously mentioned areas. Modern smartphones and tablets are equipped with a ton of additional features and modules, some of which turn out to be very useful, while others can interfere with the comfortable use of the device, annoying users. One of them is the gyroscope in the phone, which becomes clear when you use your device. On the one hand, it turns out to be very useful, although on the other hand, most users prefer to simply turn it off.
Gyroscope in the phone: what is it?
First you need to decide what kind of device it is and what functionality it is characterized by. So, a gyroscope in a phone - what is it? This element is necessary to determine how the device is oriented in space. In some cases, this sensor can be used to protect individual elements of the device from falling in the future. In fact, this sensor is designed to determine the change in position, and in the presence of an accelerometer - and acceleration during a fall. The information is then transferred to the computing unit of the gadget. With certain software, the device decides how it should react further to changes that have occurred to it.
What else is it for?
So, if everything becomes clear with the question of what a gyroscope is, then it remains to find out why it is used in phones. Protection of the insides is not herethe only task. In combination with a variety of software, it has a number of different functions. For example, a smartphone can be used for games that are controlled by tilting, shaking or turning the device. Such controls make games truly fun and in high demand.
Interesting Features
It can be noted that Apple products are equipped with gyroscopes, and they play a very significant role, since many applications are tied to them. A mode called CoverFlow was specially developed for it. There are a very large number of applications that work in this mode, but you can stop at a few that most clearly demonstrate it. For example, if you use a calculator on the iPhone, then in portrait position only simple actions will be available to the user, namely: addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. But when you rotate the device 90 degrees, everything changes. At the same time, the calculator switches to advanced mode, that is, engineering, in which much more functions will be available.
If you understand how the gyroscope works, then it should be noted that its functions can also be used to determine your own location on the ground.
You can view a map of the area using GPS navigation on such a device, and in this case the map will always turn in the direction your gaze is directed. So if you are facingfor example, to the river, then it will be displayed on the map, and if you turn around, the position of the map will also change. Thanks to this, orientation in the area is greatly simplified and can be quite useful for people who are passionate about outdoor activities.
Problems with the gyroscope in the phone
One can also say about the shortcomings inherent in gyroscopes. Very often they are turned off due to the fact that programs react to a change in position in space with some delay. For example, if you decide to read while lying on the couch, from the screen of a smartphone or tablet, then the gyroscope and the program associated with it will change the page orientation every time you turn or change your posture. This causes a lot of inconvenience, since very rarely the device is able to correctly interpret the position in space, and the situation is aggravated due to the belated reaction of the program.
Modern varieties
The first gyroscopes were mechanical. This type of device is still in use today, but with some improvements to make it more useful. At the moment, there is a laser gyroscope, which is devoid of the disadvantages inherent in mechanical ones. And just such a device is used in modern technology.
