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What is a Gimbal?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A gimbal, also called a gimbal ring, is a mechanical device consisting of two or more rings mounted on axes at right angles to each other. An object mounted on a three ring gimbal will remain horizontally suspended on a plane between the rings regardless as to the stability of the base. Gimbals have a wide range of practical uses ranging from film to aerospace applications.

A gimbal may be used to keep objects level in unstable environments--for example, many dashboard mounted cup-holders are gimbals. Gimbals are also extremely valuable in shipboard and aircraft environments, when measuring instruments such as chronometers and compasses must be kept level with the horizon. Gimbals may also be used for aerospace navigation, as they can be set to provide a stable measurement from a specific reference point such as the earth or sun regardless as to their actual position in space. Gimbals employed in aerospace navigation utilize Euler angles to orient an object such as a spacecraft.

Space shuttle orbiters used gimbals to vector the thrust from their main engines during launch.
Space shuttle orbiters used gimbals to vector the thrust from their main engines during launch.

When used for aerospace navigation, gimbals are configured in sets of three gyroscopes measuring pitch, roll, and yaw. Pitch refers to rotation of the craft around the transverse axis. In the example of an airplane, the nose of the plane is pointed up to increase the pitch, and down to lower it. Roll, also know as bank, is rotation of the craft along a longitudinal axis, while yaw refers to rotation around the center of mass. The gimbals are oriented with a base, for example, the moon, and the gimbal angles measure the position of the craft relative to the base.

Occasionally, a condition known as gimbal lock can occur, when the measurement capacities of a gimbal system may be exceeded, requiring an operator to reset the gimbals. This happens when a rotation along one axis writes out another, for example when an aircraft climbs straight up into the air, making any reading of the yaw meaningless because the two axes are aligned in the same direction. Gimbal lock can be overcome with the addition of a redundant gyroscope.

Because gimbals allow objects to move through three dimensions, they are often used in film to recreate sudden motion caused by turbulence or rough seas. Gimbals also appear in situations where an object needs to pivot or swivel widely as is often the case with movie cameras or rocket engines. Gimbals are extraordinarily useful tools in a wide range of industries.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllTheScience researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllTheScience researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

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Discussion Comments

anon286697

But what does a gimbal have that reduces the up and down motion of walking with a camera?

everetra

@NathanG - I’ve seen those gimbal systems. I tried a cheaper solution since I prefer to use stuff I already have. I take my monopod and thread it between my fingers, letting it hang instead of putting it down, and put the camera on that.

I can let my fingers be loose a little so the camera will rock gently as I move but it’s still fairly steady, my hands acting as the gimbal in this case. It’s a cheap gimbal system for less than $20.

NathanG

A gimbal stabilizer is a hot item among videographers. It lets you stabilize the camera so that you can walk, run or jog with it, and the camera will stay steady, using the gimbal as a gyroscope to balance out your movements.

I’ve seen a lot of do it yourself projects on the Internet that show you how to build one using parts from a hardware store, or you can buy a complete gimbal stabilization unit online already assembled and fairly cheap.

You’ll be amazed at the difference they can make to your finished productions. Your video will be rock steady and look professional.

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    • Space shuttle orbiters used gimbals to vector the thrust from their main engines during launch.
      By: Mike Brown
      Space shuttle orbiters used gimbals to vector the thrust from their main engines during launch.