Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does the Brown gyrocompass use oil to produce pendulosity?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
gyrocompass
The gyrocompass aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) ship Rainier. Gyrocompasses are navigational instruments that use a continuously driven gyroscope to accurately seek the direction of true (geographic) north.
In the Brown gyrocompass, the system is supported by a pulsing oil column. Because the unit is naturally antipendulous—or top-heavy—it requires a mechanism to generate the necessary pendulosity for north-seeking operation. This is achieved through the flow of oil between two tanks, where air pressure generated by the rotation of the gyro wheel forces the oil uphill to create the required pendulous effect.1