Nano Gyroscope
At Tel Aviv University researchers could further the usefulness and ability of gyroscopes. Scientists have developed nano-sized optical gyroscopes small enough to fit on the size of a pin—without sacrificing accuracy.Gyroscopes, also called rotation sensors, are used in most airplanes and ships as navigational tools. Engineers are also starting to add gyroscopes to cell phones and other devices, in which they detect the direction of rotation and adjust the screen accordingly. But in such small devices, the accuracy of gyroscopes—which measure rotation rates on three axes—is reduced.
"Conventional gyroscopes look like a box, and weigh two or three pounds," Professor Koby Scheuer of Tel Aviv University's School of Physical Engineering explained in a statement. "This is fine for an airplane, but if you're trying to fit a gyroscope onto a smaller piece of technology, such as a cell phone, the accuracy will be severely limited."
Working closely with Israel's Department of Defense, Scheuer's team has significantly improved the accuracy of miniature gyroscopes. The research was recently described in the journal Optics Express.
The innovative gyroscope is equipped with nano-sized semiconductor lasers, which emit small beams of light. As objects rotate, the light's intensity and wavelength change. The gyroscope measures these changes to determine rotation rate and direction.
While the traditional gyroscope measures at least six to eight inches, the new optical gyroscope will be about the size of a grain of sand—just 0.04 x 0.04 inches. It will be able to be integrated into a small computer chip with all necessary electronic components.
The optical gyroscope promises to be smaller and more accurate than micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes, which utilize tiny vibrating bars to measure movement against the Coriolis effect. MEMS gyroscopes are the type currently used in mobile devices, including the iPhone 4, which could have improved functions with the optical gyroscope. For example, devices with the new gyroscope could have highly sensitive, offline GPS systems. "If you find yourself in a place without reception, you would be able to track your exact position without the GPS signal," Scheuer says.
But the optical gyroscope could have even broader, more futuristic applications. The scientists envision incorporating gyroscopes into the tiny cameras currently used in some diagnostic medical procedures. This addition would allow the cameras to have built-in navigation systems for more precise movements throughout the body.
"Conventional gyroscopes look like a box, and weigh two or three pounds," Professor Koby Scheuer of Tel Aviv University's School of Physical Engineering explained in a statement. "This is fine for an airplane, but if you're trying to fit a gyroscope onto a smaller piece of technology, such as a cell phone, the accuracy will be severely limited."
Working closely with Israel's Department of Defense, Scheuer's team has significantly improved the accuracy of miniature gyroscopes. The research was recently described in the journal Optics Express.
The innovative gyroscope is equipped with nano-sized semiconductor lasers, which emit small beams of light. As objects rotate, the light's intensity and wavelength change. The gyroscope measures these changes to determine rotation rate and direction.
While the traditional gyroscope measures at least six to eight inches, the new optical gyroscope will be about the size of a grain of sand—just 0.04 x 0.04 inches. It will be able to be integrated into a small computer chip with all necessary electronic components.
The optical gyroscope promises to be smaller and more accurate than micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes, which utilize tiny vibrating bars to measure movement against the Coriolis effect. MEMS gyroscopes are the type currently used in mobile devices, including the iPhone 4, which could have improved functions with the optical gyroscope. For example, devices with the new gyroscope could have highly sensitive, offline GPS systems. "If you find yourself in a place without reception, you would be able to track your exact position without the GPS signal," Scheuer says.
But the optical gyroscope could have even broader, more futuristic applications. The scientists envision incorporating gyroscopes into the tiny cameras currently used in some diagnostic medical procedures. This addition would allow the cameras to have built-in navigation systems for more precise movements throughout the body.
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