His invention is called the gyrocompass. Elmer's interest for engineering began at an early age and went on for the rest of his life. At the age of thirty he had founded two companies and was very prosperous. At that time, another inventor had finished inventing a device called the gyroscope, which was important to the making of the gyrocompass.
A gyrocompass is basically a compass on airplanes, ships
and submarines that gives very precise directional measurements. The
gyrocompass replaced the magnetic compass which was used before as a
navigational system, but was not very trustworthy. The reason for the replacement of the magnetic compass was because it needed to be leveled in order to work and if that's not enough it gave very slow readings. The gyrocompass is a very complicated device. It works by holding a gyroscope which is spun by a motor all being held by a special casing which allows it to rotate freely.
It impacted the American society so much because it improved traveling and survival. Traveling was made safer. It made it safer because the gyrocompass is more reliable because you can trust that you are heading in the right direction and wont end up lost at sea or in the air. You also have a greater chance at survival because if a boat at sea or a plane in the air get lost in a patch of fog you can easily pass through it with out getting worried that you will get lost or crash just by heading in the same direction until you able to see.
Still today the gyroscope is used in ships and planes because no new compasses have taken the place of the gyrocompass. Even though there have been no new compasses there has been change to the original gyrocompass. The only change is that it is now smaller which means that it weighs less and takes up less room. With more room you can fit more important stuff that is key to flying or sailing.
Still today the gyrocompass is used. That's why I consider it the best invention ever invented. The gyrocompass has passed the test of time and is the best compass today and it is all thanks to Elmer Ambrose Sperry.
