What is Fiber Optic Gyroscope

A fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) is a device that measures angular velocity using the interference of light passing through a coil of optical fiber. It is an important type of gyroscope used in navigation, guidance systems, and other applications where precise angular velocity measurements are required.

The FOG works by sending a beam of light through a coil of optical fiber, which is wound around a rotating element. The Coriolis effect causes the light to shift as the coil rotates, creating a phase difference between the two beams of light that can be measured and used to calculate the angular velocity.

FOGs have several advantages over other types of gyroscopes, including their high precision, low power consumption, and lack of moving parts, which makes them more reliable and durable. They are used in a wide range of applications, including aerospace, robotics, navigation, and geophysical exploration.

There are two main types of FOGs: the open-loop FOG and the closed-loop FOG. Open-loop FOGs use a single coil of optical fiber and are simpler and less expensive, but may be less accurate and more susceptible to errors. Closed-loop FOGs use multiple coils of optical fiber and a feedback mechanism to reduce errors and improve accuracy, but are more complex and expensive.

FOGs are an important technology for many modern applications that require precise measurements of angular velocity, and they continue to be a focus of research and development in the field of optics and photonics.