Calculating Gyroscope Torque for Stabilization Design

[mullenc525]

Hello,

I think what i have is a simple question and yet it is not answered by most of the articles on gyroscopes.

I am wondering how I can calculate the amount of resistance a gyroscope develops to an applied torque on the primary axis when the secondary axis is fixed. Ie, torque is applied perpendicular to the spin axis, and this axis perpendicular to the spin axis is the only degree of freedom of the gyro.

I am guessing the applied torque, angular velocity about the perpendicular axis, and angular momentum about the spin axis are related through a simple formula - I don't want to work my way through all the cross products though!

I am using this to design a gyro to stabilize a 2 wheeled vehicle. I want the vehicle to be able to self stabilize against a moderate impact such as another vehicle of similar size colliding with it at low speed.

Cheers!

 

[mullenc525]

Basically I want to build something that has similar capabilities to the vehicle in the video on this page: http://thrustcycle.com/ See about second 44. I'm trying to estimate what sort of angular momentum that gyro has.