Gyro
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The Gyro is an internal component of all BattleMechs and OmniMechs. The gyro s required to help establish balance and, in times of imbalance, prevent the 'Mech from falling.
Balance
The gyro must 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 can be 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 traditional gyroscopes for direction sense (see Note)[1][2][3] Neither accelerometers nor rudimentary gyroscopes require extensive amounts of space or mass within the BattleMech.[4]
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 dangerous 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 can be , the MechWarrior's own equilibrium is utilized by the gyro's computer throught the Neurohelmet. In the event both the MechWarrior and the balance-sensing mechanisms of the BattleMech agree, the gyro attempts to stabilize the machine.[4]
Angular Acceleration
The BattleMech gyro is able to assist with correcting falls through a set of Reaction wheels. At least three reaction wheels are spin while the 'Mech is active, each set on a different axis, x, y, or z. In the event either the balance-sensing acceleromenters or gyroscopes and the pilot's neurohelmet interface agree the 'Mech is not stable, the gyro will attempt to correct the problem by using the angular momentum of the reaction wheels to alter the angular acceleration of the 'Mech.
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.
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
Bibliography
- TechManual, pp. 34-35