E-Mail IMAGE: Researchers have incorporated a new type of hollow core optical fiber known as a nodeless antiresonant fiber to boost the performance of resonator fiber optic gyroscopes. These gyroscopes could one... view more Credit: Gregory T. Jasion, Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton WASHINGTON -- Researchers have taken an important new step in advancing the performance of resonator fiber optic gyroscopes, a type of fiber optic sensor that senses rotation using only light. Because gyroscopes are the basis of most navigation systems, the new work could one day bring important improvements to these systems. "High-performance gyroscopes are used for navigation in many types of air, ground, marine and space applications," said Glen A. Sanders, who led the research team from Honeywell International. "Although our gyroscope is still in the early stages of development, if it reaches its full performance capabilities it will be poised to be among the next generation of guidance and navigation technologies that not only push the bounds of accuracy but do so at reduced size and weight."