Dynamical Characteristics of Gyroscopic Weight Measuring Device

This paper describes analytical and experimental studies about an entirely new system for measuring forces using a gyroscope(called Gyroscopic Weight Measuring Device, or simply “GWMD” throughout this paper) which provides precise direct digital output proportional to the single axis weight applied. In spite of the complexity of the servo-mechanism, the action of the GWMD is inherently linear, hysteresis, and drift free. Topics in this paper are summarized as follows: 1) The principal dynamical characteristics of the GWMD using a two-degree-of-freedom mathematical model for a gyroscope are analyzed theoretically. 2) The GWMD is designed with suitable parameters and constructed. Some systematic errors caused by various influences are examined. 3) Performance tests are promising for practical applications. The GWMD constructed in this study offers a repeatable accuracy up to 1/15,000 for weight in the range 0 to 150 N.