Abstract: A two degree of freedom gyro having an axial gap, permanent magnet motor. The gyro motor includes a stator having two sets of series connected coils wound in quadrature. The motor further includes a rotor which is adapted for continuous rotation about a spin axis, and for rotational displacements about the two orthogonal input axes. The rotor includes a set of permanent magnets supported so that the moment of each of the magnets is substantially parallel to the spin axis, with the magnetic moment of adjacent magnets being oppositely directed. The rotor is positioned with respect to the stator so that flux from the magnets is coupled to the coils. The rotor also includes a return ring for establishing a magnetic flux return path for completing a circuitous path for flux passing through the coil. An excitation network for the coils detects back emf in the respective coils, and generates control signals for driving alternating currents in the respective sets of coils. The alternating currents have a 90.degree.

Abstract: An axial gap, permanent magnet motor. The motor includes a stator affixed to a motor housing. The stator has two sets of series connected coils wound in quadrature. Each set of coils is disposed in an annular configuration about a spin reference axis, with the principal axis of each coil being substantially parallel to the reference axis. The motor further includes a rotor which is adapted for continuous rotation about a spin axis. The rotor includes a set of permanent magnets and a member for supporting the magnets in a substantially annular configuration about the spin axis. The magnetic moment of each of the magnets is substantially parallel to the spin axis, with the magnetic moment of adjacent magnets being oppositely directed. The rotor is positioned with respect to the stator with the configuration of magnets being adjacent to the configuration of coils so that flux from the magnets is coupled to the coils.