Answers.Body: <p>I haven't personally used the HiTechnic sensors, but the difference between a gyroscope and a compass is that one measures <strong>absolute orientation</strong> and the other measures <strong>change in orientation</strong>.</p>
  
  <p>The compass measures absolute orientation via a magnetometer that measures the effect of the Earth's magnetic field on the sensor. The gyro sensor uses some form of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microelectromechanical_systems" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MEMS</a> to detect changes in orientation. The compass also only works in two dimensions, while the gyro likely operates in all three dimensions of orientation.</p>
  
  <p>You might also be interested in <a href="https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/36591/6359">this answer</a> from electronics.se which includes more detail than mine and also compares accelerometers to compasses and gyros.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-10-04T20:16:26.600Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-10-05T23:26:47.010Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2017-04-13T12:33:11.463Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: jncraton
Body: <p>Does the HiTechnic compass perform the same function as the gyro sensor? I have been trying to find out the difference.</p>
  
Tags: <technic><3rd-party>
Title: Difference between gyro sensor and compass sensor
UserDisplayName: Harmony
ThreadText: # Difference between gyro sensor and compass sensor
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-10-04)
  
  Does the HiTechnic compass perform the same function as the gyro sensor? I have been trying to find out the difference.
  
  **Tags:** technic, 3rd-party
  
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  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2015-10-04. Score: 4
  
  I haven't personally used the HiTechnic sensors, but the difference between a gyroscope and a compass is that one measures **absolute orientation** and the other measures **change in orientation**.
  
  The compass measures absolute orientation via a magnetometer that measures the effect of the Earth's magnetic field on the sensor. The gyro sensor uses some form of [MEMS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microelectromechanical_systems) to detect changes in orientation. The compass also only works in two dimensions, while the gyro likely operates in all three dimensions of orientation.
  
  You might also be interested in [this answer](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/36591/6359) from electronics.se which includes more detail than mine and also compares accelerometers to compasses and gyros.
  
  
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