Summary
International Symposium on Nonlinear Theory and Its Applications
2015
Session Number:A5L-B
Session:
Number:A5L-B-1
Symmetry and Dynamics of a Coupled Gyroscope System
Pietro-Luciano Buono, Bernard S. Chan, Antonio Palacios, Visarath In,
pp.353-356
Publication Date:2015/12/1
Online ISSN:2188-5079
Summary:
Traditional gyroscopes are mechanical devices used for measuring and maintaining orientation. They consist of spinning discs enclosed in gimbal rings that allowed for free rotation in any orientation. New manufacturing techniques in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) allow for mass manufacturing of low-cost and miniaturized vibratory gyroscopes. At the same time, these smaller gyroscopes are more prone to external perturbations. Small disturbances, such as thermo interference, can increase phase drifts in the oscillatory signal and give inaccurate results, specially for guidance systems. To remedy the lowered sensitivity problem, we consider networks of coupled MEMS gyroscopes. We apply group theoretical methods and normal form techniques to simplify the governing equations. Analysis of the normal form equations allows us to unravel the nature of the bifurcations that lead a ring of gyroscopes of any size into and out of synchronization. From an engineering standpoint, the synchronization regime is of particular importance because it can lead to a significant reduction in phase drift.