Embedded, real-time DSP control of an electrostatically suspended gyroscope

The electrostatically suspended gyroscope (ESG) is a rotating mass, high precision, two axis inertial angle sensor manufactured by Boeing. The ESG is currently the inertial angle sensor deployed on the inertial measurement unit (IMU) of the electrostatically suspended gyro navigator (ESGN) on strategic U.S. Navy submarines. The rotating mass, or rotor, is suspended in vacuo by controlled electrostatic fields inside a spherical capacitance actuation chamber. The existing ESG rotor suspension controls are aging 1970s analog electronics. This project mechanizes state-of-the-art, embedded digital signal processor (DSP) technology as a prototype drop-in replacement of the old analog ESG rotor suspension control electronics. Embedded DSP software algorithms, for suspension and rotation control of the ESG rotor, provide improved performance, reliability, disturbance rejection, and continuous monitoring for sustainment of the ESG into the next generation.