A prototype large ring laser gyroscope (RLG) with a side length of 2.5 meters has been developed in Hunan and achieved closed-loop operation. This marks the first domestic independent prototype implementation of this globally advanced practical technical solution. Developed by the technical team of Hunan 208 Advanced Technology Co., Ltd., the prototype fills China’s gap in large ring laser gyroscope development and lays a solid foundation for further research in this field.
Ring laser gyroscopes are high-precision inertial sensors used to detect angular motion. Their core component is a triangular or quadrilateral ring laser cavity. Combined with accelerometers to form inertial navigation systems, they can calculate the spatial position of moving carriers without GPS and serve as critical components for aerospace and marine navigation. Due to their great value in navigation, guidance and military applications, ring laser gyroscopes are listed on export control regimes worldwide.
There are two main categories of ring laser gyroscopes. Small-size RLGs are widely adopted for navigation, with side lengths ranging from several centimeters to more than ten centimeters. They are applied in numerous military platforms and civilian aircraft such as the F-22, F-35, Airbus and Boeing planes. China became the world’s fourth country capable of mass-producing small ring laser gyroscopes around 2010.
Large ring laser gyroscopes refer to meter-scale devices. Their large cavity area delivers extremely high measurement sensitivity and precision far exceeding small RLGs. They support unique applications including UT1 measurement, geodetic survey and seismology. However, scaling up brings tremendous engineering challenges, requiring an extra 5–10 years or longer development cycle and heavy investment compared with small RLGs. Only a few research institutions in New Zealand, Germany, the United States and China carry out such research. China previously faced bottlenecks in large RLG technology.
Large ring laser gyroscopes enable high-precision UT1 measurement. UT1, one of the Earth Orientation Parameters (EOP), changes continuously and is difficult to predict accurately. Its precise determination relies on real-time measurement of the Earth’s instantaneous rotation rate. Large RLGs provide an independent, real-time approach for UT1 observation, carrying strategic value for scientific research, economic construction, national defense and aerospace.
To meet domestic development requirements, the R&D team of Hunan 208 Advanced Technology proposed an innovative modular assembly scheme for large RLGs and a precision cavity collimation system based on long zoom imaging. The team overcame difficulties in ultra-large material processing and long optical path alignment. With limited funding, they built an ultra-clean and vibration-isolated platform and successively constructed 1 m, 1.5 m, 2 m and 2.5 m prototypes within a compact laboratory. Preliminary targets were achieved, including laser threshold below 1 mA, autonomous unlocking by Earth rotation rate and short-term precision retention. Critical data on structural parameters and laser mode selection were accumulated.
Experiments verify that the modular assembly method can rapidly build resonant cavities for large RLGs of various sizes at much lower cost than overseas schemes. This original innovation has been granted patents. The current technical framework supports the fabrication of 3 m or even larger ring laser gyroscopes.
Many technical hurdles still remain for large RLG research. Western teams have spent decades constructing such facilities. The manufacturing methods and error mechanisms of large RLGs differ drastically from small inertial gyros. Further performance improvement remains a long-term but meaningful task.
Against the backdrop of “navigation warfare" and the U.S. DoD’s 2021 initiative to develop new Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) technologies as GPS alternatives, high-end inertial devices have grown increasingly important. They also act as fundamental components for autonomous vehicles, UAVs, indoor navigation and the Internet of Things. Wider adoption depends on improved cost performance and mass production capacity.
Hunan 208 Advanced Technology Co., Ltd. was founded by Lu Guangfeng and Wang Fei, former members of the National University of Defense Technology RLG team. The company inherits over 40 years of research experience in ring laser gyroscopes. Few domestic enterprises specialize in high-performance inertial sensors. Supported by top inertial researchers and materials scientists, the company integrates basic research and engineering practice to develop, industrialize and optimize mass-production processes for next-generation gyroscopes and accelerometers. It aims to build China’s most capable and complete general inertial device platform.
The enterprise has established joint laboratories with leading domestic universities to form a full industrial chain covering fundamental research, engineering and manufacturing. It keeps advancing next-generation inertial device development to contribute technological innovation to national development.
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