At present time fiber-optic gyroscopes (FOGs) with closed-loop feedback scheme of operation are becoming widely used in inertial navigation systems. One of the main restrictions on FOG usage in the applications of inertial navigation is the limited range of measured angular rate (dynamic range). In this paper we present the results of the new high-precision FOG SRS-1001 development and test results. SRS-1001 FOG, which is the modification of serial SRS-1000 FOG, allows to overcome the observed restrictions and shows the extended dynamic range of 1000 °/s, compared with the dynamic range of 90 °/s for the standard SRS-1000. Furthermore, SRS-1001 has the potential of further dynamic range increase up to 2000 °/s with the retention of high scale factor stability in overall measurement range.
Strapdown inertial navigation systems (SINS) are basic parts of modern integrated navigation systems in various vehicles. Currently, fiber-optic gyroscopes (FOGs) with closed-loop feedback are finding increasing use for inertial navigation systems. The paper presents SINS-500K, SINS-500M and SINS-501 developed and produced by the Russian Research & Production Company Optolink with Optolink FOGs. The test results are discussed. Optolink FOGs and SINS’s are compared with similar devices of world leading manufacturers.
The operation of Fiber Optic Gyro is based on the Sagnac Effect which states that light beams propagating along opposite directions in a rotating frame experience an optical path length difference. These two counter-propagating waves propagate within a closed fiber coil, and when this coil rotates the resultant phase difference is proportional to the rotation rate Ω. Fiber optic gyroscopes are desirable devices for many navigation and guidance applications because, being solid state devices, they have several major advantages including light weight, long working lifetimes, no moving parts and operate using low voltage power. In this paper the Optolink's single-axis and three-axis fiber optic gyroscopes are described. The Optolink's FOGs consist of the light-emitting diode, one or three photodetectors, circulators and polarization maintaining fiber couplers to divide the light into two or three parts, one or three sets of ring interferometers to sense one or three orthogonal angular rates, and installed PCB signal processing circuits. The ring interferometer consists of a multifunction integrated optic chip and polarization maintaining fiber coil, both these components are designed and fabricated by Optolink. The results illustrate the versatility of the technology, showing its potential to meet both the low-cost, compact sized needs of tactical guidance, as well as the very high performance needs of inertial navigation and precision applications. The optic and electronic blocks of closed-loop gyroscopes with integrated optic components are also considered in this paper.
The design and industrial production of closed loop fiber optical gyroscopes with linear digital output for commercial, military and space applications is considered. These gyros characterized by high accuracy can be applied in high-grade (space, aviation, marine, land) inertial navigation systems.
The three-axis closed-loop fiber optic gyroscopes are described. The results illustrate the versatility of the technology, showing its potential to meet space grade requirements like compact size and high performance.
The interferometric fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) has evolved from pioneering physics experiment to a practical device that is now in production. Today, it is now accepted among inertial guidance and navigation specialists that FOG is strong contender for many civilian and military applications. The opportunity of commercial production of precision fiber-optical gyroscope is directly determined by the level of technological base and its main components like polarization maintaining optical fibers and integral optic components.
