Providing cost-effective form, fit, function replacement gyroscopes and electro-mechanical assemblies to support legacy and mature systems. USD has been providing products to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics for over 40 years.

Reliability

USD has greatly enhanced the performance of the spinning mass gyroscope, allowing customers to improve and sustain their legacy systems, without radical redesign or re-engineering. Through programs such as Continuous Improvement, Six-Sigma and Lean, we have been enhancing our line of rate and rate integrating gyros, with improved performance, quality and customer cost.

The reliability of USD gyroscopes is demonstrated in the long life of our standard spin motor bearings typically achieving over 4,000 hours of high speed operation. Utilizing specially designed components and materials, USD can provide a longer life bearing capable of over 12,000 hours upon request.

Interchangeability

USD's gyroscopes can be easily interchanged with the Honeywell GG1111, GG250, and GG445 family of gyros. We also provide drop-in replacements for the Condor Pacific / Northrop / Timex GI-G5, GR-G5 and GI-G6 gyroscopes, all benefiting from over 40 years of continuous improvement.

Value Added Support

Cable/connector assemblies, mounting brackets, heater and sensor assemblies, magnetic shielding, high linearity torquers for rate integrating gyros and self test features for rate gyros can be configured to meet your requirements.

USD can also provide any of the electronics required to interface with your current design and system. Whether a stand-alone circuit card or a full rate sensor package, USD will work with your systems engineers to provide a high quality, low cost solution.

Foremost among this division's responsibilities is the manufacture and repair of many different types of gyroscopes. Since 1962, USD has designed and produced a wide array of gyroscopes for both military and commercial uses, ranging from missile guidance systems to offshore oil platform stabilization. Over the years we have greatly enhanced the performance of the electromechanical gyroscope, allowing customers to improve and sustain their legacy systems, without radical redesign, re-engineering or re-qualification. Whether it is a drop-in replacement or an application that requires slight mounting changes, USD's talented engineering staff will work with you to achieve a cost effective solution to keep your system alive.

Principles of Laser-Based Sensors

July 28-30, 2008 | MIT Campus - Cambridge, MA

Overview

Laser-based optical sensors are not only replacing conventional sensors in many areas in science, engineering and medicine, but are also creating new kinds of sensors with unique properties that could not be achieved before. The course will cover the principles of a broad class of sensors, including fiberoptic sensors, relating to the measurement of physical, chemical, and biological phenomena. Techniques for remote, distributed, and multiplexed sensing will be included, as well as, sensors that must function in hostile and hazardous environments.

The objective of the course is to provide a comprehensive, yet easily understandable, coverage of the basics of optical sensors. The presentations will use simple language and the emphasis will be on the understanding, in real time, of the fundamental concepts involved. In this way, the material being covered can be followed without the need for a strong technical background, and without the heavy reliance on mathematical concepts and tools.

Numerous demonstrations will be shown to enhance the understanding of the material being presented.

In addition, the presentations will be highly interactive so that everyone will have the opportunity to ask, and be asked, questions to ensure that any material being presented is well understood by all.

The topics covered will include

• what is an optical sensor
• what can optical sensors sense
• why is there so much interest in optical sensors
• how do optical sensors sense
• basic types of optical sensors, with emphasis on interferometric- and spectroscopic-based sensors
• examples of sensing systems, including displacement, strain, flow, rotation (gyroscope), acceleration, temperature, pressure, current, voltage, acoustic, chemical, biological, and time/frequency
• techniques for remote, multiplexed, and distributed sensors
• applications to micromechanical systems
• fundamental limits on sensing with light
• challenges in the creation of optical sensors
• future developments in optical sensors

For Whom Is The Course Intended?

The course is intended for all those who want to find out and understand what optical sensors are all about, why there is so much interest in them, and what the future may bring, without the reliance on heavy mathematics that normally accompanies such treatments. The course is suitable for engineers, scientists, doctors, medical personnel, managers, architects and others who are either working in the optical sensor field and would like to enhance their background, or not working in the optical sensor field but are curious about what optical sensors can do for them and what the future may bring.

Benefits

The benefits that the participants can expect to derive from the course, include:

• a clear understanding of what the field of optical sensors is all about
• a clear understanding of the principles used in sensing with light
• a clear understanding of what the limitations are
• an exposure to various kinds of sensor systems
• an exposure to the future of optical sensors

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Principles of Lasers and Fiberoptics

July 14-16, 2008 | MIT Campus - Cambridge, MA

Overview

Lasers and fiberoptics are very essential to the development of many important high-tech products and systems today. They have created many new applications such as: bar code readers; compact discs; laser printers; wideband low loss fiberoptic communication systems; delicate medical procedures; medical diagnostic tools; unique sensors of physical, acoustic, magnetic, electric, and spectroscopic phenomena; novel methods for materials and chemical processing; novel methods for alignment and surveying; and numerous devices of particular interest to the military.

The question is what is so unique about lasers and fiberoptics that makes them so effective and revolutionary in so many areas?

In this course, the essential fundamentals that govern the behavior of lasers and fiberoptics will be explained using simple language. Emphasis will be on the understanding, in real time, of the fundamental concepts involved. In this way, the material being covered can be followed without the need of a strong technical background.

The topics covered will include

• why is there so much interest in lasers and fiberoptics
• what are the unique properties of lasers
• how the unique properties of lasers come about
• how light interacts with matter, including: absorption, scattering, stimulated emission, spontaneous emission, and nonlinear phenomena
• how a simple laser works
• what are some of the problems with lasers
• what types of lasers are available and how do they work, including: gas, liquid, solid, semiconductor, and Raman lasers
• what are the unique properties of optical fibers
• how the unique properties of optical fibers come about
• single mode and multimode fibers
• introduction to integrated optics
• how to manipulate laser light using electro-optic, magneto-opic and acousto-optic effects
• how to design laser-based systems
• discussion of important laser and fiberoptics applications in science, engineering, and medicine
• future developments in lasers and fiberoptics

Numerous demonstrations of laser and fiberoptics phenomena will be shown to enhance the understanding of the material being presented. In addition, the presentations will be highly interactive so that everyone will have the opportunity to ask, and be asked, questions to ensure that any material that is presented is well understood by all.

For Whom is the Course Intended?

The course is intended for all those who want to find out and understand what lasers and fiberoptics are all about and how they are, or might be, used in their areas of interest, without the reliance on heavy mathematics that normally accompanies such treatments. The course is suitable for engineers, scientists, doctors, medical personnel, managers, architects, and others, who work with lasers/fiberoptics, or are simply curious about the field of lasers and fiberoptics, yet have little or no background in the basics of lasers and fiberoptics.

Benefits

The benefits that the participants, without a specialized technical background, can expect to derive from the course include:

• a clear understanding of what lasers are, their characteristics, and their limitations
• a clear understanding of what optical fibers are, their characteristics, and their limitations
• a clear understanding of how lasers and fiberoptics are used to create existing devices and systems, and how they might be used to develop new devices and systems
• a good exposure to what the future might be of this exciting age of the "photon" that we are in

The all new MEMS G50Z High Performance Single Axis Gyro is a MEMS Rate Sensor with both excellent bias over temperature and low noise. Designed for commercial stabilization and aircraft applications, the unit utilizes standard +5V DC power and has a voltage output. The -200 model features a +/- VSG compatible signal.

• Download G50Z Data Sheet

Features:

• Low Cost & High Performance MEMS Single Axis Gyro

• VSG Compatible Signal (-200 Model)

• Excellent Bias, Bias Over Tempearture ≤0.3°/sec 2σ

• G-Sensitivity ≤0.005°/sec/g Typical

• Axis Alignment <4mrad Typical

• Low Noise 0.012°/sec/√ Hz Typical*

• Low Power < 35 mA Typical

• Light Weight < 30 grams

• Low Voltage +5V (single sided power)

• Bandwidth 50 Hz (other bandwidth options available)

• Voltage Output

• Internal Temperature Sensor

• Self Test

• Shock Resistant and Long Life

• Export Classification: Commerce ECCN7A994

The signature features of the G50Z are our low noise, impressive bias over temperature performance, low power consumption, excellent g-sensitivity and light weight. The unit is highly durable and can withstand environmental vibration and shock typically associated with commercial aircraft requirements. The unit has no inherent wear-out modes for long life and the rate output is also free from bias steps.

The MEMS G50Z offers a standard rate range of ±020°, ±100°, ±175° or ±350°/sec. Other rate ranges are available. The G50Z is designed for automotive testing, commercial aircraft applications, platform and antenna stabilization and pointing, general aviation as well as laboratory use. The G50Z is ideal where excellent bias over temperature performance, low noise, low power consumption, low g-sensitivity, light weight and rugged durability are desired for commercial environments and applications.

Please click on the links to the right or contact Gladiator Technologies today!

Measuring simultaneous acceleration signals in three orthogonal axis, the 8795A50 housed in a cube shaped package with a notched corner allows for convenient identification of the sensors orientation when working in blind areas. The patented K-Shear design employing quartz sensing element, provides a wide operating frequency range along with extremely low sensitivity to thermal transients, and base strain. Available in three model variations, this sensor can be used for measurements at cryogenic temperatures and applications up to 165°C.

With a measuring range of ±50 g, the triaxial accelerometers have a frequency response of 1Hz to 4 kHz and a 100 mV/g sensitivity. The sensor's cube shape, and welded titanium housing is easily installed by stud or adhesive. This voltage mode accelerometer is CE compliant and can be powered by a wide variety of Kistler Piezotron Coupler/Signal Conditioners or from any voltage mode piezoelectric sensor power source.

Kistler Instrument Corporation is pleased to announce the release of a New, Patented, Triaxial Ceramic Shear Accelerometer Series for measuring vibration in three mutually perpendicular directions. The 8798A features a unique annular shear sensor element that exhibits extremely low thermal transient response, a high immunity to base strain and transverse acceleration. An advanced hybrid charge amplifier design provides outstanding phase response as well as a wide operating frequency range. The lightweight aluminum housing is epoxy sealed and hard anodized coated to provide ground isolation.

The 8798A series is available in three ranges of 5,10 and 50g with sensitivities of 1,000, 500, 100 mV/g respectively. The three built-in IEPE electronic impedance converters provide a low impedance voltage output signal. These CE compliant accelerometers can be powered by any Kistler 5100 series Piezotron coupler/signal conditioner or by any commercially available IEPE voltage mode piezoelectric sensor power supply. They can be installed on a test object using wax or a mounting stud.

The low weight of the 8798A triaxial accelerometer series, is highly desirable in measurement applications on lightweight structures where mass loading must be kept to a minimum. The accelerometers are highly suited for multi-channel measurements; modal analysis measurements on automotive bodies and aircraft structures; and general vibration measurements.

Two entirely new sensors expand a family of lightweight low impedance, voltage mode accelerometers for OEM, multi-channel or general-purpose vibration measurements. Weighing only 4-grams, the Kistler 8774A50 and 8776A50 feature ceramic elements config-ured in a thermally stable K-SHEAR configuration, 100 mV/g sensitivity and low transverse sensitivity of 1.5%.

Types 8774A50 and 8776A50 have a measurement range of ±50g with a threshold of 0.0025 grms. The sensors are designed for high immunity to base strain and thermal transients. Powered from Kistler couplers, signal conditioners or any 2 to 20 mA constant current source, the 8774A50 and 8776A50 sensors feature high frequency response of 1 to 10 kHz and 1 to 7 kHz respectively. The accelerometers are hermetically sealed in a titanium case.