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A Revolution in Rotation Sensing

Project description

Compact gyroscope technology poised to transform the market

Gyroscopes are essential components in consumer electronics, navigation and environmental sensing. Yet, they face limitations in compact devices owing to their drift and low sensitivity, which restrict their use in detecting small rotation rates. The ERC-funded GyroRevolution project plans to develop a novel type of ring laser gyroscope that circumvents limitations from current designs such as light scattering and acoustic noise. The proposed device will be compact, transportable, sensitive and with near-zero drift. It will have important implications for environmental ground motion sensing, structural health monitoring of large constructions and seismology – especially earthquake and tsunami warnings. The ultimate goal is to transition this technology from research to market, engaging end-users early on to adapt the innovative technology to their needs.

Objective

Rotation sensors, also called gyroscopes, are ubiquitous in consumer electronics, navigation, and environmental sensing. The most advanced gyroscopes are ring lasers that are based on the Sagnac effect.

All current compact and transportable devices, however, show significant drift and limited sensitivity, which precludes their usage in fields of application where extremely small rotation rates in the nrad/s to prad/s range need to be measured. These limitations are of purely technical origin: they derive from residual movement of the gaseous laser medium, light scattering, and acoustic fiber noise.

Within the scope of an ERC Starting Grant, we have implemented a disruptively different design of a ring laser gyroscope that circumvents these limitations, now allowing for a compact and transportable device with near-zero drift and improved sensitivity.

Such a device is in high demand for example in seismology, where it would benefit earth quake and tsunami early warning systems. Sensing of environmental ground motion is imperative in the context of climate change. Monitoring the structural health of bridges and other large-scale constructions is another pressing task, where highly precise acquisition of rotation and distortion will have a massive impact on the early and reliable detection of structural fatigue.

Within GyroRevolution, we will demonstrate the supremacy of our concept and show operation outside of the laboratory. We will develop an IPR strategy and prepare a patent application. A detailed competitor and market analysis will constitute the first step on the pathway of deployment via a spin-out company. We will intensify contacts with companies to prepare for future partnerships. Importantly, we will get involved with potential end-users early-on to adapt our innovative technology to their needs. GyroRevolution marks the first and decisive step in technology transfer from fundamental research to a scalable device with a wide range of applications.

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Topic(s)

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HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2023-POC

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Host institution

RHEINISCHE FRIEDRICH-WILHELMS-UNIVERSITAT BONN
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 150 000,00
Address
REGINA PACIS WEG 3
53113 BONN
Germany

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Bonn, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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Beneficiaries (1)

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