A gimbal is a pivoting support that lets an object stay level no matter how much its base tilts or rotates. Picture a ship's compass mounted in metal rings: as the ship rocks back and forth on the waves, the rings swing freely, keeping the compass face perfectly horizontal so sailors can always read it accurately.

Gimbals work by using two or three rings nested inside each other, each able to rotate on a different axis. This clever design means the innermost ring (holding whatever needs to stay steady) can maintain its position even when everything around it is moving. Ancient sailors used gimbals to keep their oil lamps from spilling and starting fires on the ship. Modern spacecraft use gimbals to point their engines in exactly the right direction.

You'll find gimbals in movie cameras that create perfectly smooth shots even when the camera operator is running, in phone camera systems that reduce blur from shaky hands, and in the gyroscopes that help airplanes know which way is up. Drone cameras use gimbals too, which is why aerial footage looks so stable and professional even when the drone is being buffeted by wind.