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Does a gyroscope need to be free rotating or can it be propelled by a source of some sort?

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i am currently on a project that has brought me to the thought of a gyroscope as a source of balance. I am wondering if it matters whether i have the gyroscope free rotating or if I can have a small light weight motor rotate it to insure it will never stop unless the source is extinguished. the project is a balanced humanoid robotic organism but i have pondered on how to balance it for some time. finally i thought of the gyroscope or "the mighty cheese" ( an older popular gyroscope used by a circus known to never be pushed over do to a gyro scope in the outer plastic cheese shell.) if i have two gyroscopes rotating forward and to the side i can make a robot that will never fall over or be pushed over as long as the gyroscopes stay rotating. will it truly matter if i have a power source to the gyroscopes. i thank you for your answers and hope they help me in my search for answers.