An inertial measurement unit uses gyroscopes and accelerometers to measure motion and rotation. Here’s how aircraft, spacecraft and drones use that data. IMUs contain three accelerometers and three ...

I remember a gyroscope toy my Dad bought me and showed me how to use. I could make it balance on a string, support it by only its end (like magic), and feel it resist when I tried to rotate it. Now I ...

Paul Ceruzzi, Chair of the Space History Department at the National Air and Space Museum, discusses how gyroscopes work. For more information about navigation in ...