A Compact, Precision Atomic Spin Gyroscope for Inertial Navigation

The atomic co-magnetometer gyroscope uses polarized nuclear spin to provide the highest demonstrated rotation sensitivity in a package significantly smaller than the best commercial fiber optic gyroscopes. The Twinleaf gyroscope moves beyond existing designs by using of neon-21 in place of helium-3, enabling both higher sensitivity and commercial viability. In a Phase II development effort, Twinleaf proposes to build, test and deliver a two-axis prototype atomic spin gyroscope, ready for testing on moving platforms. BENEFIT: Both airborne and underwater platforms, especially smaller unmanned platforms, stand to significantly benefit from a higher performance and smaller gyroscope. The dual axis sensor is ideal for all manner of pointing, especially satellite pointing. For oil and gas exploration, the proposed sensor can measure the wander of borehole drilling, and is the only high performance system that can be engineered to tolerate high borehole temperatures.