Abstract: The invention is directed to an electrostatically supported ball type gyroscope pickoff system for determining the attitude (i.e., angular orientation) of the ball spin axis relative to the gyroscope case for any arbitrary attitude. The gyroscope case is provided with a set of electrostatic electrodes arrayed in three-dimensional space. A levitating electric field is maintained between the ball and the electrodes. The ball is so constructed as to be unbalanced about its spin axis. Under such conditions, as the ball spins, it orbits, and its surface alternately advances towards and recedes from any given electrode at the spin frequency, producing a field modulation signal. The phase pattern of the modulation signals at the several electrodes is a unique function of the attitude of the spin axis relative to the electrodes. Means are provided for processing the modulation signals so as to determine the attitude of the ball.