The Response of a Hooke's-Joint Gyroscope to Linear Vibration

Abstract

The response of an unbalanced Hooke's-joint gyroscope to linear vibration is considered. Six major resonant frequencies are identified.

It is shown that, if the gyroscope is subjected to linear vibration either along the spin axis at the spin frequency, or perpendicular to the spin axis at twice the spin frequency, measurement errors may be generated as a result of mass unbalance. These errors are shown to depend not only upon the degree of unbalance but also upon the amplitude and phase characteristics of the vibration. Compensation by the application of suitable control torques is shown to be possible.