AN ANGULAR RATE AND REACTION TORQUE ASSEMBLY

摘要

A device for both sensing an angular rate of an object and applying an angular rotation torque to the object. The device includes a rate sensing mechanism, such as a fiber optic gyroscope, which senses the angular rate of the object. The device also includes a reaction/momentum wheel mechanism, including a flywheel, for applying the angular rotation torque to the object. The rate sensing mechanism is contained within the reaction/momentum wheel mechanism or attached thereto such that the input axis of the rate sensing mechanism is coaxial with the spin axis of the reaction/momentum wheel mechanism.