Editing Schuler tuning (section)

{{Short description|Inertial navigation design principle}}
'''Schuler tuning''' is a design principle for [[inertial navigation system]]s that accounts for the curvature of the Earth.  An inertial navigation system, used in submarines, ships, aircraft, and other vehicles to keep track of position, determines directions with respect to three [[Coordinate axis|axes]] pointing "north", "east", and "down".  To detect the vehicle's orientation, the system contains an "[[inertial platform]]" mounted on [[gimbal]]s, with [[gyroscope]]s that detect motion connected to a [[servo system]] to keep it pointing in a fixed orientation in space.  However, the directions "north", "east" and "down" change as the vehicle moves on the curved surface of the Earth.  Schuler tuning describes the conditions necessary for an inertial navigation system to keep the inertial platform always pointing "north", "east" and "down", so it gives correct directions on the near-spherical Earth. It is widely used in electronic control systems.