In 1959 the USSR Minister of Higher Education signed the order for opening the specialty 0609 "Gyroscopic Devices"in Tomsk Polytechnic Institute. The Department of Gyroscopic Devices was founded in 1960. Associate Professor, Ph.D. A. Astafurov was the first head of Department. Then Ph.D. V. Kopytov headed the Department during 38 years.
V. Kopytov decided a complicated task of providing the high-quality engineers training on a completely new and complex specialty. During this period Y. Kamashev (TPI), M. Shumsky (TSU), A. Chapkovich (TPI), Y. Nefedov (TPI), A. Studenikin (Leningrad Institute of Aviation Instrument Making), L. Belozerov (TSU) were invited to the Department. Also Doctor of Science, Professor of Leningrad Institute of Aviation Instrument Making Vsevolod Pavlov played a significant role in the development of the Department.
The first graduation of electromechanical engineers of the Department was in 1965.
The Department of Gyroscopic Devices became a part of the Faculty of Automation and Electromechanics in 1970.
In 1966 the Department of Gyroscopic Devices signed its first commercial contract.
In 1967 in the Department postgraduate studies were opened.
During 1965-1984 the evening classes was organized in the Department mostly for the employees of Tomsk Instrument Making Plant.
That period the Department provided 16 subjects: "Introduction to Specialty", "Aerodynamics and Flight Dynamics", "The Aircrafts Design", "Aviation Devices", "The Oscillations Theory", "The Probability Theory", "Theory of Gyroscopes and Gyroscopic Stabilizers", "Theory and Design of Gyroscopic Devices", "The Aircraft Stabilization and Autopilots", "The Aircraft Control Systems", "Design of Gyroscopic Devices", "Systems of Inertial Navigation", "Systems of the Spacecrafts Orientation and Stabilization", "Instrument Making Technology" and also 2 special courses. Students performed the three projects. Study and research work of students was obligatory. Laboratory works were conducted in 5 academic labs, where more than 40 installations for 8 laboratory cycles were placed.
Instead of "Gyroscopic Devices” the specialty "Instrument Making" was in 1992. Department has received new title "The Department of Precision Instrument Making". During 1998-2013 V. Dmitriev, Doctor of Science, "Scientific & Industrial Centre "Polyus" Chief Researcher, the member of the International Academy of Navigation and Motion Control, a graduate of the Department (1968) was the head of the Department. Since 2002 the Educational laboratory of the Department has been operating in the Institute of Atmospheric Optics of the Tomsk branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Siberian Division.
From 2013 Valeriy N. Borikov, Doctor of Science is the Department’s head. Today, the Department is a unique one in the Siberian region, which trains engineers in the field of design and production of precise electromechanical devices. The main feature of our graduates is the ability to work both at large and small enterprises engaged in design and production of various devices.
