Article
Article
Gyrocompass
Article By:
Cannon, Robert H., Jr. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
Buell, Heinz Plessey Electronic Systems Corporation, Wayne, New Jersey.
Last reviewed:December 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.303700
A north-seeking form of gyroscope used as a directional reference in navigation. The first practical gyrocompasses were developed by H. Anschütz (Germany) in 1908, E. A. Sperry (United States) in 1911 and S. G. Brown (England) in 1916. Modern gyrocompasses are so reliable and so much more accurate than magnetic compasses that they are now used as the prime navigational instrument on nearly every ship and on major aircraft and missiles. See also: Magnetic compass
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