irs ring laser gyros
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: chicago
irs ring laser gyros
Question is do all modern irs systems use some form of ring laser gyro or fiber optic gyro? I believe these systems also have solid state piezo-electric accelerometers, but I thought they also need the rlgs.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 376
Likes: 0
From: A long way from home
They have two types of component, ring laser gyros and accelerometers. One of each for each axis. The RLGs sense the attitude of the plane and the accelerometers sense which way (and how fast) it's accelerating. From these six parameters the IRS extrapolates attitude, position and speed.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 8
From: FL 600. West of Mongolia
welliewangler
errr yes, you'll need accelerometers as well. On a per axis basis a single integration WRT gives you velocity and a second integration gives you displacement. And as a matter of point, all RLGs and FOGs are essentially rate gyros also.
What really is fascinating is that the Honeywell ADIRU fitted to the Boeing 777 has the equivalent integrity of a triple IRS but instead of using 9 RLGs and accelerometers it has only 6 of each. The integrity comes from having non-orthogonal axis', so in theory even the loss of more than one axis has no operational effect. Amazes the hell out of me.
Dude
errr yes, you'll need accelerometers as well. On a per axis basis a single integration WRT gives you velocity and a second integration gives you displacement. And as a matter of point, all RLGs and FOGs are essentially rate gyros also.
What really is fascinating is that the Honeywell ADIRU fitted to the Boeing 777 has the equivalent integrity of a triple IRS but instead of using 9 RLGs and accelerometers it has only 6 of each. The integrity comes from having non-orthogonal axis', so in theory even the loss of more than one axis has no operational effect. Amazes the hell out of me.

Dude
Last edited by M2dude; 15th September 2010 at 17:07.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 10
From: France
flybubba,
The gyros sense angular rate, the accelerometers sense acceleration.
In a basic system, that's three gyros and three accelerometers for each of the X, Y and Z axes.
Whether they're ring l@ser gyros, fiber optic gyros or the good old spinning tops is only a matter of technology, and totally irrelevant to the principle; same for the accelerometers.
CJ
The gyros sense angular rate, the accelerometers sense acceleration.
In a basic system, that's three gyros and three accelerometers for each of the X, Y and Z axes.
Whether they're ring l@ser gyros, fiber optic gyros or the good old spinning tops is only a matter of technology, and totally irrelevant to the principle; same for the accelerometers.
CJ
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 463
Likes: 8
From: FL 600. West of Mongolia
The Delco Carousel 4A system did not use rate gyros and I am fairly certain that the pre-Type 82 Litton systems did not either. RLGs and FOLGs are rate gyros in concept (the outputs can only ever be proportional to angular rate) but what is basically required for an inertial system is angular DISPLACEMENT and not rate. The IRU/ADIRU software integrates the rate output to obtain the required angular displacement.
The accelerometer principle however I agree is identical.
Dude
The accelerometer principle however I agree is identical.
Dude
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: chicago
So the RLG measures angular rate or rotational rate (not accel) and then one must integrate to get angular displacement (or angle change). This is in contrast to accelerometers which one must do the double integration to get distance.




