JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD B.Tech II Year TRANSDUCERS AND INSTRUMENTATION Previous Question Paper (July/August - 2021 - R13)

A gyroscope is a device based on the principle of conservation of angular momentum, consisting of a rotor spinning at high speed about an axis. Its performance features that make it suitable for measuring angular displacement and torque include:

1. Gyroscopic Inertia (Rigidity in Space): A spinning rotor maintains its orientation in inertial space regardless of the motion of its support frame. This property allows it to serve as a stable reference for measuring angular displacement relative to an initial orientation.
2. Precession: When an external torque is applied to the spinning rotor about an axis perpendicular to the spin axis, the gyroscope responds by rotating about a third axis, known as the precession axis. The angular velocity of this precession is directly proportional to the applied torque, which is the fundamental principle used in gyroscopic torque sensors.
3. Sensitivity to Angular Motion: Gyroscopes exhibit high sensitivity to small angular changes. By measuring the precession rate or the displacement of the gimbal assembly, one can precisely quantify angular velocity or displacement.
4. Dynamic Response: Gyroscopes provide a rapid response to changes in orientation or applied torque, making them ideal for real-time measurement systems in navigation and control.

For angular displacement measurement, the gyroscope is typically configured as a directional gyro where the orientation of the spin axis is tracked relative to a fixed frame. For torque measurement, the device acts as a rate gyro where the magnitude of the precession torque or the precession angle is measured against a calibrated spring or transducer, providing a direct reading of the input torque.