Difference between revisions of "Gyro"

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==Balance==
 
==Balance==
The gyro is be able to help establish center-of-mass equilibrium for the BattleMech in a variety of environments. In normal or high gravity, at least one full set of accelerometers is used. Piloting in zero-G is not inherently more difficult than in normal or high gravity. Since accelerometer have little use in low-G environments, gyros must also possess a traditional gyroscope for direction sense (see '''Note''').<ref>''Total Warfare'', pp. 59-61</ref><ref>''Tactical Operations'', pp. 23-24</ref><ref>''Strategic Operations'', pp. 119-120</ref><ref>[[w:gyroscope|gyroscope]]</ref> Neither accelerometers nor rudimentary gyroscopes require extensive amounts of space or mass within the BattleMech.<ref name=TM34>''TechManual'', pp.34-35</ref>
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The gyro is be able to help establish center-of-mass equilibrium for the BattleMech in a variety of environments. In normal or high gravity, at least one full set of accelerometers is used. Piloting in zero-G is not inherently more difficult than in normal or high gravity. Since accelerometers have little use in low-G environments, gyros must also possess a traditional gyroscope for direction sense (see '''Note''').<ref>''Total Warfare'', pp. 59-61</ref><ref>''Tactical Operations'', pp. 23-24</ref><ref>''Strategic Operations'', pp. 119-120</ref><ref>[[w:gyroscope|gyroscope]]</ref> Neither accelerometers nor rudimentary gyroscopes require extensive amounts of space or mass within the BattleMech.<ref name=TM34>''TechManual'', pp.34-35</ref>
  
However, gyroscopic orientation-sensing and accelerometer feedback is not enough to maintain control of the 'Mech.  Accelerometers and gyroscopes can not distinguish between intentional and hazardous changes in acceleration, for instance the jerk felt when accelerating from standing to running, or the sudden change of mass due to a lost limb.  In these situations, the MechWarrior's own equilibrium is monitored by the [[Neurohelmet]] and utilized by the gyro's computer. In the event both the MechWarrior and the balance-sensing mechanisms of the BattleMech agree, the gyro attempts to stabilize the machine.<ref name=TM34/>
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However, gyroscopic orientation-sensing and accelerometer feedback is not enough to maintain control of the 'Mech.  Accelerometers and gyroscopes can not distinguish between intentional and hazardous changes in acceleration or direction, for instance the jerk felt when accelerating from standing to running, or the sudden change of mass due to a lost limb.  In these situations, the MechWarrior's own equilibrium is monitored by the [[Neurohelmet]] and utilized by the gyro's computer. In the event both the MechWarrior and the balance-sensing mechanisms of the BattleMech agree, the gyro attempts to stabilize the machine.<ref name=TM34/>
  
 
==Angular Acceleration==
 
==Angular Acceleration==

Revision as of 17:52, 11 September 2012

The Gyro is an internal component of all BattleMechs and OmniMechs. The gyro is required to help establish balance and, in times of imbalance, prevent the 'Mech from falling.

Balance

The gyro is be able to help establish center-of-mass equilibrium for the BattleMech in a variety of environments. In normal or high gravity, at least one full set of accelerometers is used. Piloting in zero-G is not inherently more difficult than in normal or high gravity. Since accelerometers have little use in low-G environments, gyros must also possess a traditional gyroscope for direction sense (see Note).[1][2][3][4] Neither accelerometers nor rudimentary gyroscopes require extensive amounts of space or mass within the BattleMech.[5]

However, gyroscopic orientation-sensing and accelerometer feedback is not enough to maintain control of the 'Mech. Accelerometers and gyroscopes can not distinguish between intentional and hazardous changes in acceleration or direction, for instance the jerk felt when accelerating from standing to running, or the sudden change of mass due to a lost limb. In these situations, the MechWarrior's own equilibrium is monitored by the Neurohelmet and utilized by the gyro's computer. In the event both the MechWarrior and the balance-sensing mechanisms of the BattleMech agree, the gyro attempts to stabilize the machine.[5]

Angular Acceleration

The BattleMech gyro is able to assist with correcting falls through interactions with massive, rotating wheels, likened to "reaction wheels". At least three wheels spin within the active 'Mech, each stabilizing a different axis, x, y, or z. In the event both the gyro and the pilot's neurohelmet interface detect and imbalance, the gyro will attempt to correct the problem by interacting with the wheels, feeding off their angular momentum by pulling or pushing against their spin. The resulting change in angular acceleration is often enough to stabilize the 'Mech.[5]

The gyro will not be able to assist greatly in fall prevention unless the gyro's reaction wheels are both enormous and already moving with large amounts of angular momentum. However, gyroscopic effect of these wheels can impede 'Mech mobility greatly. Therefore the gyro is either housed in a freely moving sphere (which is immobilized in moments of imbalance), or even numbers of wheels, opposing one another, rotate on each axis.[5]

While these gyro's wheels have been likened to Reaction wheels, this analogy is not quite true, as traditional reaction wheels are set in motion in order to fix an orientation on an axis by conservation of angular momentum.

Note

While low-Gravity environments can alter ballistic trajectories, there is no mention of low-G or zero-G impairing 'Mech operation in Total Warfare, Tactical Operations, or Strategic Operations.

References

  1. Total Warfare, pp. 59-61
  2. Tactical Operations, pp. 23-24
  3. Strategic Operations, pp. 119-120
  4. gyroscope
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 TechManual, pp.34-35

Bibliography