Gyro compass

A Gyro compass is a form of gyroscope, used widely on ships

employing an electrically powered, fast-spinning gyroscope wheel
and frictional forces among other factors utilizing the basic
physical laws, influences of gravity and the Earth’s rotation to find
the true north.

The gyro is designed for high precision maritime applications such

as offshore operations and seabed mapping.

Simrad’s range of high-quality Gyro and GPS compasses offers

something to complete every electronics system. Providing
accurate and reliable data for safe navigation, our flexible IMO
and non-IMO system configuration options make both new and
retrofit installations into existing systems so simple.

The Simrad Gyrocompasses are the most reliable

gyrocompasses on the market. With no liquids to change every
other year like most other gyrocompasses, they are virtually
maintenance-free.

A wide range of control units provide complete flexibility of system

configuration for new installation and easy retrofit into existing
repeater systems.

The standard range of interfaces can easily be expanded to

provide signals for all vessel applications. The distribution of
power and heading signals from the control units enables
practical installation and easy retrofit.
Since the gyrocompass's north-seeking function depends on the rotation around the axis of the Earth
that causes torque-induced gyroscopic precession, it will not orient itself correctly to true north if it is
moved very fast in an east to west direction, thus negating the Earth's rotation. However, aircraft
commonly use heading indicators or directional gyros, which are not gyrocompasses and do not
align themselves to north via precession, but are periodically aligned manually to magnetic north. [5][6]