Hemispherical resonator gyroscopes (HRGs) fabricated out of fused silica (FS) offer high quality-factor (Q-factor) properties making the sensors suitable for high-precision gyroscope operation. Typically, metal-coating is required for electrical conductivity to enable capacitive actuation and detection of motion. This method of transduction is relatively simple, but reduces the Quality-factor of FS HRGs (increases mechanical damping). To eliminate metallization and preserve the high Q-factor for FS hemispherical resonator dual-shell gyroscopes (DSGs), an indirect excitation method is explored in this project. The DSG contains a central stem, an inner device shell as the sensing element, and an outer packaging cap shell. The method uses the mechanical coupling between the sensing element and the outer shell. The energy induced by deformation of the outer shell transfers to the inner device shell and excites it at resonance, thus enabling gyroscope operation.
