Precision Gyroscopes for Gyro-Compassing in Man-Portable Target Locator Systems

SA Photonics is pleased to propose our Navigation-Grade Fiber Optic Gyro (NFOG). The target application for this NFOG is to provide high accuracy azimuth data for Far Target Locator systems. For this program, the goal is to replace current Digital Magnetic Compass systems with an inertial product that can provide the accuracy required by the Army. NFOGs are attractive for this type application because in addition to their high performance, they are rugged, long lasting, and compact. Prior to the recent developments made by SA Photonics, users of fiber optic gyros had to make a choice between a gyro being low-cost with moderate performance or high cost and having navigation-grade performance. The techniques developed by SA Photonics will facilitate the production of a navigation-grade FOGs (NFOG) at a significantly reduced cost (NFOG performance at standard FOG cost). These improvements are achieved through SA Photonics EPI, DR and MLS techniques. In addition to these improvement methodologies, SA Photonics has two additional gyro performance enhancements developed prior to this program that will ensure program success and early hardware production.