The Tritech Intelligent Fibre-Optic Gyro (iFG) uses a single axis fibre-optic gyro sensor, mounted inside an extruded aluminium housing and can typically reduce heading drift errors more effectively than most magnetically referenced aircraft gyros.
An on-board processor manages the gyro sensor interface, mode selection, power supplies and water ingress sensing (for use if the iFG is mounted inside its own pod).
The iFG provides internal compensation for pitch and roll angles using data from the iGC attitude sensors. The iFG receives magnetic heading, pitch and roll data from the iGC.
Using proprietary slaving algorithms it then provides an output of stabilised heading with low drift rate optimised for pitch and roll angles up to 10°. Output data is transmitted to the three serial ports provided.
Additional (external) interface cards are available when an iGC/iFG is fitted to an existing ROV to replace a mechanical gyro compass. This provides specific communication protocol compatibility and analogue (autopilot) functionality. Currently available with Scorpio, Diablo/Demon and Pioneer interface cards.