British Aerospace Systems and Equipment (BASE) Limited has developed new solid state rotation sensors called the Vibrating Structure Gyroscope (VSG) and the VSG 2010. The VSG has been extensively tested in automotive trials in Europe and the Far East, the results of which have been published. The VSG has proved to be reliable and robust.
The VSG senses rate using a piezo-electric ceramic shell which is excited into a cos (2θ) vibration pattern. The direction of vibration pattern lags behind the shell when the shell is rotated. This enables rotation to be sensed. The electronics excites the shell into resonance, stabilise the vibration pattern direction with respect to the shell, and provides a DC signal proportional to rotation rate.
VSG 2010 was developed as a continuation of the Vibrating Structure Gyroscope family of products. The aim was to design a product that would improve the performance over temperature whilst retaining the inherent high levels of reliability and robustness. VSG 2010 extends the range of solid state sensors which BASE produces.
Both the VSG 2010 gyroscope and the VSG sense rotation through the use of resonating circular structures. The improvement in performance of the VSG 2010 arise through the replacement of the ceramic cup with a metalic structure. The VSG 2010 has been designed from the outset to be suitable for high volume production.
The paper will outline the basic principles of rotation sensing using resonating structures and their design. It will also consider the applications for which this new product is intended, and will also present data which illustrates the potential of the instrument.
