The ARINC 704 Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Reference System

Ronald R. Shoquist

Abstract:	The world's first ARINC 704 Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Reference System (RLG IRS) entered airline revenue service 8 September 1982. This system, developed by Honeywell Inc., meets all performance requirements and far exceeds reliability expectations, having attained more than 10,000 hours MTBF during the first year in airline revenue service. This paper provides a description of the RLG IRS hardware and defines the steps which were taken to design-in reliability. Those steps include: part selection; electrical and thermal design margins; part application analysis; failure mode and effects analysis; and a rigorous "test, analyze, and fix" type test program. Summary test results are presented from the following four key test programs (which were conducted to ensure a reliable product at the onset of revenue service): qualification testing, reliability development testing, reliability demonstration testing, and flight testing. This system represents the culmination of over 20 years of research in laser gyros and more than 10 years in laser' inertial systems by Honeywell. The promise of laser gyros-high reliability and performance in a rugged self-contained package-has been realized. In-service reliability experience of the RLG IRS is presented, as well as vision for the future in related products.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1984 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 17 - 19, 1984 San Diego, CA
Pages:	11 - 19
Cite this article:	Shoquist, Ronald R., "The ARINC 704 Ring Laser Gyro Inertial Reference System," Proceedings of the 1984 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, CA, January 1984, pp. 11-19.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In