A gyrocompass points to True North without using magnets.

The gyrocompass was pioneered by inventors like Hermann Anschütz-Kaempfe in 1906 and Elmer Sperry in 1908. It relies on the principle of gyroscopic precession and the rotation of the Earth to find the geographic North Pole rather than the Magnetic North Pole. This is critical because Magnetic North shifts over time and is currently moving toward Siberia at about 55 kilometers per year.The device contains a wheel, or rotor, that spins at high speeds, typically between 6,000 and 12,000 RPM. When the rotor is mounted in a gimbal system that allows it to move freely, the torque from Earth's rotation forces the spin axis to align parallel to Earth's axis of rotation. This phenomenon ensures the compass always points to the fixed geographic pole.One of the greatest advantages of the gyrocompass is its immunity to 'deviation,' which is the magnetic error caused by the iron and steel in a ship's hull. During World War I and World War II, this technology was vital for the navigation of large battleships and submarines that would otherwise struggle with magnetic interference. Modern systems have evolved into fiber optic gyros, but the fundamental physics remains a cornerstone of maritime and aerospace navigation.