Electrostatic suspension system for gyroscopes with minimum electrical disturbing torque via non-linear pre-compensation

The new electrostatic suspension system (ESS) presented here is applicable to electrostatically suspended gyroscopes (ESG). The electrical disturbing torque (EDT) acting on the gyro rotor is reduced to much lower levels than possible with the conventional methods, thereby increasing the attainable accuracy of the instrument. This is achieved by eliminating the conventional pre-load voltage and instead applying only control voltages via an analogue non-linear pre-compensator to achieve linear position control system operation despite the square law relating the suspension force to the applied voltage. The transient and steady state performance of the complete system, with changes in position reference and external disturbing forces, are examined with the aid of computer simulations. © IMechE 1996.