Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 13, 2026
11:44
Real-Time DC-dynamic Biasing Method for Switching Time Improvement in Severely Underdamped Fringing-field Electrostatic MEMS Actuators
Published on: August 15, 2014
10.8K
A New MEMS Gyroscope Used for Single-Channel Damping
Zengping Zhang1, Wei Zhang2, Fuxue Zhang3
1School of Computer and Information Management, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, Hohhot 010070, China. 100002170@imufe.edu.cn.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 6, 2015
Summary
This novel silicon microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) gyroscope uses aircraft spin for sensing angular velocity. Its unique design enables automatic carrier frequency adjustment, ideal for rotating aircraft control systems.
Area of Science:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
Background:
- Traditional MEMS gyroscopes often require a dedicated drive structure.
- Rotating aircraft present unique challenges for attitude and motion sensing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel MEMS gyroscope concept that utilizes the inherent spin of a rotating aircraft.
- To demonstrate its suitability for single-channel control systems in rotating aircraft.
Main Methods:
- Derivation of the MEMS gyroscope's motion equation.
- Analysis to solve the motion equation and determine dynamic parameters.
- Experimental validation using a precision three-axis rate table.
Main Results:
- The novel MEMS gyroscope operates without a drive structure, relying solely on its sense structure.
- It generates an amplitude-modulation signal where the envelope is proportional to angular velocity.
- Experimental results showed high correlation (0.9969, 0.9872, 0.9842) between theoretical and tested values.
Conclusions:
- The proposed MEMS gyroscope design and sensing mechanism are validated.
- Its ability to sense transverse angular rotation and adapt carrier frequency makes it suitable for rotating aircraft control systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Magnetic Damping
1.3K
Eddy currents can produce significant drag on motion, called magnetic damping. For instance, when a metallic pendulum bob swings between the poles of a strong magnet, significant drag acts on the bob as it enters and leaves the field, quickly damping the motion.
If, however, the bob is a slotted metal plate, the magnet produces a much smaller effect. When a slotted metal plate enters the field, an emf is induced by the change in flux; however, it is less effective because the slots limit the...
If, however, the bob is a slotted metal plate, the magnet produces a much smaller effect. When a slotted metal plate enters the field, an emf is induced by the change in flux; however, it is less effective because the slots limit the...
1.3K
01:02Gyroscope
4.7K
A gyroscope is defined as a spinning disk in which the axis of rotation is free to assume any orientation. When spinning, the orientation of the spin axis is unaffected by the orientation of the body that encloses it. The body or vehicle enclosing the gyroscope can be moved from place to place, while the orientation of the spin axis remains the same. This makes gyroscopes very useful in navigation, especially where magnetic compasses cannot be used, such as in crewed and crewless spacecraft,...
4.7K
01:24Gyroscope: Precession
6.0K
Precession can be demonstrated effectively through a spinning top. If a spinning top is placed on a flat surface near the surface of the Earth at a vertical angle and is not spinning, it will fall over due to the force of gravity producing a torque acting on its center of mass. However, if the top is spinning on its axis, it precesses about the vertical direction, rather than topple over due to this torque. Precessional motion is a combination of a steady circular motion of the axis and the...
6.0K
01:20Types of Damping
8.1K
If the amount of damping in a system is gradually increased, the period and frequency start to become affected because damping opposes, and hence slows, the back and forth motion (the net force is smaller in both directions). If there is a very large amount of damping, the system does not even oscillate; instead, it slowly moves toward equilibrium. In brief, an overdamped system moves slowly towards equilibrium, whereas an underdamped system moves quickly to equilibrium but will oscillate about...
8.1K
01:07Damped Oscillations
7.7K
In the real world, oscillations seldom follow true simple harmonic motion. A system that continues its motion indefinitely without losing its amplitude is termed undamped. However, friction of some sort usually dampens the motion, so it fades away or needs more force to continue. For example, a guitar string stops oscillating a few seconds after being plucked. Similarly, one must continually push a swing to keep a child swinging on a playground.
Although friction and other non-conservative...
Although friction and other non-conservative...
7.7K
01:30RLC Circuit as a Damped Oscillator
2.7K
An RLC circuit combines a resistor, inductor, and capacitor, connected in a series or parallel combination.
Consider a series RLC circuit. Here, the presence of resistance in the circuit leads to energy loss due to joule heating in the resistance. Therefore, the total electromagnetic energy in the circuit is no longer constant and decreases with time. Since the magnitude of charge, current, and potential difference continuously decreases, their oscillations are said to be damped. This is...
Consider a series RLC circuit. Here, the presence of resistance in the circuit leads to energy loss due to joule heating in the resistance. Therefore, the total electromagnetic energy in the circuit is no longer constant and decreases with time. Since the magnitude of charge, current, and potential difference continuously decreases, their oscillations are said to be damped. This is...
2.7K