Quote:
Originally posted by Lloyd Burns
The big problem with the gyro, if it is used for dead reckoning, is that it goes non-linear at turn rates less than 90 degrees/second. This is the turn rate of your forearm as you raise it from horizontal to vertical over a whole second ("one steamboat"). If your robot turns only that fast, it will appear quite sedate. If it turns faster, your robot can't tell where it is heading.
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It's actually worse than that.
The GyroChip which we got in the kit, for a few seasons, until 2003, actually had a maximum detectable rate of 64deg/sec, after which it's maxed out. This year's GyroChip is only marginally better at 75deg/sec.
Basically, if you're planning on having a quick drivetrain, and using it to its full potential, you're not going to be able to use the GyroChip to dictate your rate of turn, without some tweaking.
references:
http://www.systron.com/prodinfo/AQRSSpc.html
http://www.systron.com/GyroChip%20Theory.pdf (page 5)