An extremely simple gyroscope for use in a strapdown system having a vibrating ring as the gyroscopic element. The ring is supported and vibrated by an electrostatic field, established by a voltage supplied to case-fixed electrodes. An additional pair of fixed electrodes senses the position of the nodes of vibration of the ring and an eddy current drive forces rotation of the ring to move the nodes back to a reference position. Optical sensing means provide the pick-off, sensing the direction and amount of rotation required to move the ring back to the nodal reference position.