Ring laser gyroscopes for ground motion sensing

ongoing

Sensors for rotation are ubiquitous in our daily life, ranging from consumer electronics to navigation systems. Applications that require highest sensitivity for very small rotation rates rely on active ring laser gyroscopes (RLGs) or fiber-optic gyroscopes (FOGs). These devices, however, suffer from intrinsic bias drift and do not reach the sensitivity requirements of applications such as seismology and monitoring of ground motion. Out of the parent ERC project on optical precision measurements grew the innovative concept of a three-dimensional array of so-called passive RLGs which would be entirely fiber-coupled and digitally controlled. This concept circumnavigates the shortcomings of previous designs and has the potential to reach the low drift rates at high sensitivity required in the field of environmental sensing. Such a scalable device would have a revolutionary impact on natural disaster early warning systems, in particular earthquakes and landslides, and structural health monitoring, each with a market size in excess of 2 bn USD. In preliminary work, we demonstrated the feasibility of our approach and tested individual technology packages outside the lab. A market analysis has been issued, and the IPR situation has been clarified. With no patents close to our innovation, we filed patent applications for a total of six individual inventions and methods of our approach. Within this project, we will prepare the ground for a successful market entry. Objectives of GyroRevolutionPlus include the removal of remaining uncertainties related to FPGA selection and performance, operation of the RLG outside the lab (TRL 5-6), drafting a go-to-market strategy, and selecting business partners for a reliable supply chain. We will assemble a powerful team to drive the founding of a spin-out company. Promising technology developments and a favorable IPR situation in combination with large market volumes create an exquisite starting point for the transition.