What engineering requirement, achieved in the mid-1860s, enabled the sustained high rotation speed needed for reliable gyroscope instruments?
Answer
The advent of the electric motor
For the gyroscope to transition from a short-lived laboratory demonstration into a reliable, functional instrument capable of sustained operation, the challenge of overcoming bearing friction and maintaining a high rotational speed needed to be solved. This practical engineering hurdle was overcome in the mid-1860s with the practical advent of the electric motor. The electric motor provided a practical, continuous source of power necessary to overcome natural energy dissipation through friction, allowing the rotor to maintain the high angular momentum required for consistent performance, which was essential before Ludwig Obry refined the system in 1895.
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