Laser gyro factory test automation

Laser gyros are often applied in safety of flight and/or mission critical situations. This means that a very high assurance of performance is required before they are shipped from the factory. This assurance is provided with comprehensive and historically expensive factory acceptance testing. Honeywell has developed a gyro test facility which improves test quality and reliability, improves data handling and storage, while reducing testing costs. When compared to the original computer controlled test complex to support Honeywell´s laser gyros of the last decade, this new gyro test facility: had a sharply lower initial cost; costs less to operate and maintain; handles many orders of magnitude of additional data at much higher speeds; was developed, certified and placed in use several calendar months sooner; is much more reliable; eliminates operator error from the final product; and is completely modular (hardware and software) to allow rapid response to both product and technology change.