1860-1930. US engineer who developed various
devices using gyroscopes, such as
gyrostabilizers (for ships and torpedoes) and
gyro-controlled autopilots. The first
gyrostabilizers dated from 1912, and during
World War I Sperry designed a pilotless
aircraft that could carry up to 450 kg/990 lb
of explosives a distance of 160 km/100 mi
(the first flying bomb) under gyroscopic
control. By the mid-1930s Sperry autopilots
were standard equipment on most large ships.