A Fiber Optic Gyro Strapdown Reference System for Guided Weapons

Abstract : Experience with the gyro error behaviour made during the development of fiber optic gyros (FOG) at SEL(Standard Electrik Lorenz) is stimulating a number of new system implementations. Among them use of FOGs within strapdown reference systems for guided weapons looks very favourable because of the high FOG bandwidth, its low noise operation and the absence of maneuver-dependent gyro-errors (as opposed to mechanical sensors). System design considerations lead to an integrated strapdown reference system solution for guidance and line of sight stabilization. The principal error sources of such a system based on FOGs are investigated by means of simulations including original sensor signals. The investigations indicate that these systems can be realized on the basis of the SEL-FOG which is now under preparation for mass production.