Sensitive fiber‐optic gyroscopes
OCT 01, 1981
DOI: 10.1063/1.2914329
Special relativity teaches us that no contrivance, mechanical or electromagnetic, confined in a closed vehicle, can detect the uniform rectilinear motion of that vehicle. But anyone who suffers from motion sickness can attest to the fact that nonuniform motion (acceleration or rotation) is a different story. Thus it is possible to direct ships, aircraft or missiles by inertial navigation systems, once an initial direction is established, without reference to magnetic compasses or radio beams.
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© 1981 American Institute of Physics
