Design of an electrostatic suspension system with minimum electric disturbing torque: for precision electrostatic gyroscopes

An electrostatic gyroscope (ESG) requires an electrostatic suspension system (ESS) to keep its rotor suspended in a vacuum cavity. The conventional ESS operates with high standing voltage on opposing electrodes that causes a large electric disturbing torque (EDT) applied to the gyro rotor, with consequent loss of accuracy. In the newly-designed ESS the suspension voltage is applied to one electrode only, whilst the opposing electrode is kept at zero potential. With no standing voltage the EDT is kept to a minimum. The new system has an inherent square-root compensation. Theoretical analysis and computer simulations show that the new system meets the requirements for marine applications.