Gyros, accelerometers and actuators: the Thiruvananthapuram unit that tells a rocket where it is pointing

Background

A launch vehicle has no outside reference to steer by once it leaves the pad, so it must work out its own position and attitude from sensors it carries. Those sensors are designed and built at the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, which sits at Vattiyoorkavu in Thiruvananthapuram. The unit makes inertial navigation systems built on mechanical gyros and on optical ones, along with attitude reference systems and packages of rate gyros and of accelerometers, all developed within the country and flown on Indian missions. It also designs the actuators and mechanisms that move parts of a spacecraft once it is in orbit. Alongside production it runs a continuing research and development effort, refining the present class of sensors while taking up newer technologies. The unit has started advanced technology programmes in narrow specialist areas with the aim of becoming a Centre of Excellence in inertial sensors and systems. Cost, reliability and the ability to actually build what is designed are the tests it sets itself.