Angular Rate Gyros (ARS Models)

The ARS is our baseline gyro model. This angular rate sensor is small, low power, and high reliability. Rate ranges of up to 300° per second are supported.

Features:

  • All Solid State
  • Low Cost
  • Low Power
  • Light Weight
  • EMI Protection
  • High Reliability
  • One Year Limited Warranty
  • Engineering Support

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Description

This solid-state angular rate gyro has a sensing mechanism consisting of piezoelectric bender elements in a “tuning fork” configuration. The drive elements are resonantly driven in opposite directions. When a rotation occurs, the momentum stored in the vibrating elements causes an out-of-plane bending force (called Coriolis force) that is demodulated to accurately represent the rotation rate.

These angular rate gyros have no moving parts, no detectable hysteresis, quick startup, and are low cost since the gyro is electronic rather than mechanical. The preferred configuration made by Watson Industries is a piezoelectric assembly that senses angular rates about its long axis. There is no significant hysteresis or threshold in the angular rate gyro since there is no rotating mass or friction. Resolution is system noise limited to 15mV RMS maximum at 50 Hz bandwidth. The effects of external noise on the gyro are minimized with the unique “tuning fork” design that responds to rotational motion and rejects linear motion associated with vibration.

Since vibration normally contains angular motion as well as linear motion, care should be taken when mounting the angular rate gyro to keep this rotational signal isolated (a 0.01° rotation in 0.01 seconds is equivalent to 1° /second). The absence of moving parts gives the angular rate gyro sensor its durability and long life.

Multiple axis, custom power and special performance specification versions of this sensor are also available.

Watson angular rate gyros have traveled in space, visited the Titanic, and have been used by every major U.S. car company. Watson Industries, Inc. has sold tens of thousands of sensors all over the world. The Angular Rate Sensor is used for instrumentation and control for robotics, head and limb motion testing, virtual reality, ship stabilization, automotive testing, and remotely piloted vehicles.

Specifications

Angular Rate

Range: ±100°/sec Up to ±500°/sec available
Resolution: 0.1°/sec
Analog Scale Factor: 10°/sec/V (Typical) See table below
Scale Factor Accuracy: 1% Constant temperature
Scale Factor Temp Coefficient: 3% Over temperature range
Bias: < 0.5°/sec (Typical) See table below
Bias: Over Temp Range ±5°/sec (Typical) See table below
Warmup Drift: ±1°/sec (Typical) See table below
Non-Linearity: < 0.05% Full scale range
Bandwidth: 50 Hz
Noise: < 0.05°/sec rms (Typical) See table below

Environmental

Temperature: Operating -20°C to 50°C -40°C to 85°C w/ reduced spec
Temperature: Storage -55°C to 85°C
Vibration: Operating 2.5g rms 20 Hz to 2 KHz
Vibration: Survival 10g rms 20 Hz to 2 KHz
Shock: Survival 500g 10mS ½ sine wave

Electrical

Input Power: Positive 12 to 16VDC 0.2W
Input Power: Negative -12 to -16VDC 0.2W
Input Current: 10mA @ ±15VDC
Analog Output: ±10VDC
Analog Output Impedance: 1000 Ohm

Physical

Size: Including Mounting Flanges 1.13″W x 3.00″L x 2.07″H 2.9 x 7.6 x 5.3 (cm)
Weight: 2 oz 57 grams
Connection: Wire Bundle
Life: > 50,000 Hrs MTBF
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
This product may be subject to export restrictions. Export Classification ECCN 7A994.

Watson Industries ARS Models*

Bias Over
Temp
Warmup
Drift
Noise
Model Range Scale Factor Bias
ARS-C122 ±30°/s 3°/s/V <0.5°/s ±5°/s ±1°/s < 0.05°/s rms
ARS-C132 ±100°/s 10°/s/V <0.5°/s ±5°/s ±1°/s < 0.05°/s rms
ARS-C142 ±300°/s 30°/s/V <4°/s ±10°/s ±6°/s < 0.06°/s rms
ARS-C152 ±400°/s 40°/s/V <8°/s ±20°/s ±12°/s < 0.1°/s rms
*Custom ranges are available.

Applications

Documents

Title File Type
ARS Spec Sheet pdf Download
ARS-C122-1A Owner’s Manual pdf Download
ARS-C132-1A Owner’s Manual pdf Download
ARS-C142-1A Owner’s Manual pdf Download
ARS-C152-1A Owner’s Manual pdf Download