Test & measurement
MEASURING VIBRATION, LINEAR AND ANGULAR MOTION
n consumer devices, motion sensors offer an additional layer of functionality to provide a more user-friendly and immersive experience. They are what allow game controllers to recognise tilting and rotational movements, as well as to register when you turn your phone sideways to watch a video or view a landscape image. Accelerometers can recognise these movements by measuring proper acceleration, with both single and multi-axis accelerometers available to determine magnitude, direction and orientation. In the manufacturing plant, accelerometers may be deployed to perform a range of tasks, including tilt and inclination measurements and impact recognition and logging. It is also possible to facilitate machinery
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Applications that require precise information on the linear or angular movement of an object rely on the accuracy of motion sensors within. Accelerometers and gyroscopes can be used to provide this movement data, and utilising developments in MEMS technologies means this is all possible within a much smaller space envelope. But as we push for increased functionality in smaller spaces, what can custom ICs do to benefit? Here, Richard Mount, director of Sales at ASIC design and supply company Swindon Silicon Systems explains.
health and condition-based monitoring (CBM) in this way, by converting acceleration into vibrational information. Misalignments or faults with shafts or bearings are likely to cause changes in vibration that can be picked up by the system. Therefore, combining strategically placed accelerometers around the plant with IoT technologies helps to enable predictive maintenance, by allowing the system to flag any potential issues before they become serious. For information on angular velocity, it is preferable to employ a gyroscope. Able to measure rotation around one, two or three axes, gyroscopes are commonly used in applications that require stability. This includes military applications to provide stabilised launch and landing platforms for unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs), as well as aviation applications to monitor aircraft altitude. It is also possible to combine accelerometers with gyroscopes for more accurate data on the object’s movement. It is clear that the applications of these motion sensors stretch far beyond consumer devices. Yet all these sensors must be able to perform these measurements with precision for meaningful results. So, what can we do to optimise their performance? First, let us delve into the technology behind these sensing systems.
BUILDING MICRO SENSORS One of the most common accelerometers is the MEMS capacitive type. Offering low temperature sensitivity, they are ideal for industrial environments where conditions can be harsh
October 2023 Instrumentation Monthly
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