Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Chip-scale optical gyroscope detects rotation nearly 2,000 times more slowly
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara and Caltech developed a chip-scale optical gyroscope that detects very slow rotation.
The experimental device uses light traveling in opposite directions around a ring-shaped circuit, rather than mechanical movement.
It detected rotation as slow as 37 degrees per hour, nearly 2,000 times slower than an earlier silicon nitride design.
That brings it closer to measuring Earth’s rotation rate of 15 degrees per hour, but the researchers have not yet shown it can measure Earth’s rotation directly.
The sensor could help make compact navigation systems for aircraft, vehicles and spacecraft where GPS signals are unavailable.
It is still a laboratory prototype, not a ready-to-use navigation device.
Researchers plan to reduce unwanted light scattering and combine the lasers, detectors and other parts into one system before testing it outside the lab.
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Caltech developed a chip-scale optical gyroscope that detected rotation as slow as 37 degrees per hour.
That is nearly 2,000 times slower than the rotation detected by an earlier silicon nitride design.
The sensor uses light travelling in opposite directions around a ring-shaped optical circuit to measure rotation.
Its sensitivity brings it closer to measuring Earth’s rotation rate of 15 degrees per hour, but it has not yet demonstrated that measurement.
The device remains a laboratory prototype, with researchers working to improve stability and integrate its components.
- Who
- Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Caltech developed the gyroscope.
- What
- A chip-scale optical gyroscope detected rotation as slow as 37 degrees per hour.
- When
- The findings were published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated
- Why
- The technology could eventually support compact navigation systems where GPS signals are unavailable.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Researchers mounted the packaged chip on a piezoelectric rotation stage and compared its readings with a separate optical interferometer.
The sensor produced a linear response and detected rotation as slow as 37 degrees per hour.
Researchers said they planned to reduce unwanted light scattering and integrate the lasers, photodetectors and other components into one compact system.
- Minimum detected rotation
- 37 degrees per hour
- Earlier design comparison
- 72,000 degrees per hour
- Earth’s rotation rate
- 15 degrees per hour
- Sensing circuit width
- About 24 millimeters
- Optical resonator quality factor
- More than 163 million
What people are saying
Our new gyroscope combines several advanced technologies to achieve a high level of sensitivity in a format that can be made with standard CMOS chip-processing methods and uses just milliwatts of optical power.