Friday, December 29, 2023

Calibration Method of Accelerometer

 Accelerometer is a kind of equipment used to measure the acceleration of objects, in order to ensure the accuracy of the data in the process of vibration and shock test and measurement, according to the frequency of use and the use of environmental conditions to determine the calibration cycle, usually half a year or one year. In some critical tests or costly destructive tests, calibration is recommended before each use. This article will introduce the calibration method and use skills of accelerometers.

1.Calibration method

The calibration of the accelerometer is the key to ensure the accuracy of its measurement results. Here are some common calibration methods:

1.1 Static Calibration

Static calibration is a calibration performed in a stationary state. Place the accelerometer on a horizontal table and record its output value. Its zero drift and sensitivity can be determined by comparing it with known gravitational acceleration values.

1.2 Dynamic Calibration

Dynamic calibration is carried out when the object is moving in a straight line at uniform speed. Fix the meter on the object and record its output value during movement. The deviation can be determined by calculating the difference between its output value and the expected acceleration during movement.

1.3 Comparison Calibration

Comparative calibration is the calibration of an accelerometer by comparing it with a reference addition known to be of high accuracy. Place both of them on the same object, perform the same motion, and record their output value. By comparing the difference between the two, the error to be calibrated can be determined.

2.Using ways

Reasonable using ways can improve the measurement and analysis of the accelerometer, the following are some commonly used techniques.

2.1 Fixed Position

In the acceleration measurement, the accelerometers should be fixed on the measured object as far as possible, and ensure that its position is stable to avoid interference with the measurement result due to movement or vibration.

2.2 Increasing the sampling rate

The resolution and sensitivity of the accelerometer can be improved by increasing the sampling rate appropriately. When measuring rapid acceleration and deceleration, a higher sampling rate allows instantaneous changes to be more accurately captured.

2.3 Filter Processing

The output signal may contain noise or high-frequency vibration components, which can be filtered to reduce noise and extract useful signals. The commonly used filtering methods include low-pass filtering and high-pass filtering.

3.Calibration precautions

3.1 Installing of the Sensor

Different installation methods will significantly affect the resonant frequency of the sensor, that is, the high-frequency response of the sensor. The following figure illustrates the effect of the installation method on the resonant frequency. Screw installation is preferred, followed by hot melt adhesive or quick-drying adhesive, then double-sided adhesive and so on.

3.2 Selection of sensor cable

Calibrate the sensor cable as far as possible to choose a relatively soft cable, such as silicone or PVC cable, which can reduce the impact of the cable on the sensor, including the shaking table moving core. During the actual test, it is recommended that the cable and sensor be fixed on the same structure. Due to the limited mounting surface during the sensor calibration process, it is recommended to use a flexible cable connection.

3.3 Calibration of X axis of three-axis sensor

The X axis of most three-axis sensors is inverted, so the frequency response of the sensor X axis is usually narrower than the frequency response of the Y and Z axes. Moreover, when testing the X-axis, the top line is out, and attention needs to be paid to the fixing of the cable.

In summary:

Through the above content, you can understand the calibration method of the accelerometer, the use of skills and precautions. Ericco’s ER-QA-03A and ER-QA-01A can be calibrated using the above methods to ensure their accuracy and reliability, but also to improve the accuracy of the test and analysis.

The full text link:https://www.ericcointernational.com/application/calibration-method-of-accelerometer.html

Email : info@ericcointernational.com

Whats app:1399288487

Thursday, December 28, 2023

How the Inertial Measurement Unit Works?

 

How the Inertial Measurement Unit Works

Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) A device used to measure speed, direction, and gravity. Early on, IMU consisted of two sensors, accelerometer and gyroscope. Accelerometers measure inertial acceleration, while gyroscopes measure angular rotation. These sensors have three degrees of freedom and can measure from three axes. Later, IMUs introduced magnetometers, which measured the direction of magnetic forces and helped improve gyroscope readings. IMU applications include various fields such as tracking, navigation and robotics. IMU helps us determine the instantaneous position, speed, orientation and direction of movement of an object or vehicle.

1.IMU type

1.1 IMU with two sensors — This type of IMU consists of accelerometer and gyroscope. Each sensor has two or three degrees of freedom defined for the x, y, and z axes, and two sensors combined add four or six degrees of freedom. The acceleration values measured by the accelerometer and the angular velocity measured by the gyroscope are recorded separately, while the angles measured using both sensors are calibrated to obtain accurate data. If such an IMU is present around the sensor, it will not be disturbed by external magnetic fields. Its accuracy suffers due to sensor noise and gyroscope drift issues. ·

1.2 IMU with three sensors — This type of IMU consists of accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer. All sensors have 3 degrees of freedom, corresponding to 3 different axes, for a total of 9 degrees of freedom. The magnetometer measures yaw rotation (that is, rotation about the vertical axis) and is calibrated against gyroscope data to account for drift. It is mainly used for dynamic orientation calculation when the drift error is small. If the IMU is present inside a magnetic field, its measurements may be affected because it uses a magnetometer.

2.IMU working guidelines

2.1 Accelerometer

There are many types of accelerometers, and mechanical accelerometers and piezoelectric accelerometers are commonly used in IMU technology. Mechanical accelerometers consist of a spring-suspended mass. Measures the displacement of the mass, providing a signal proportional to the force F acting on the mass along the input axis. Calculate the acceleration acting on the device using Newton’s second law, F = ma.

Piezoelectric accelerometers work on the principle of the piezoelectric effect, which is the ability of a material to become electrically polarized when subjected to mechanical stress. PE accelerometers use a PE element with a load mass (seismic mass) attached to form a 1 DOF mass spring system. The system makes one for each direction (left and right, front and back, and up and down in a three-axis accelerometer). Transient changes in stress on the PE element produce a charge at the output terminals of the accelerometer that is proportional to the applied acceleration.

2.2 Gyroscope

Likewise, gyroscopes are also available in different types, but MEMS based gyroscopes (MEMS) are implemented in IMUs. MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) is a technology that uses micromachining technology to create miniaturized mechanical and electrical devices and structures, with sizes ranging from less than one micron to several millimeters.

Gyroscopes use the Coriolis effect, which states that in a reference frame rotating at angular velocity w, a mass m moving with velocity v experiences a force Fc = −2m(w× v). MEMS gyroscopes contain vibrating elements such as vibrating wheels and tuning fork gyroscopes to measure the Coriolis effect. The simplest geometry consists of a single mass driven at a specific speed to vibrate along the drive axis, and when an external angular rotation (secondary rotation) is applied, secondary vibrations are induced along the vertical axis due to the Coriolis force. The angular velocity can be calculated by measuring this secondary rotation.

2.3 Magnetometer

About 90% of magnetometers work using the Hall effect. The principle of the Hall effect states that when a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, a voltage will be generated perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field and the direction of the current.

When a constant current flows through a piece of semiconductor material, in the absence of a magnetic field, there is no potential difference at the output. However, when a vertical magnetic field is present, the direction of the current flow is disturbed, creating a potential difference between the output terminals. This voltage is called Hall voltage. Keeping the input current constant, measure the magnetic field strength proportional to the Hall voltage.

3.How to calibrate IMU during operation

IMUs combine input data from multiple different sensors to accurately measure motion. To obtain accurate values, the sensor must be calibrated rather than using raw data. Calibration parameters can be stored in the IMU’s memory and automatically reflected in the result data. Calibration can also be accomplished by using a magnetometer, which reduces directional drift (errors that accumulate over time). Some devices use proprietary sensor fusion algorithms to combine magnetometer and gyroscope data to determine the device’s orientation relative to a global reference frame. Sensor fusion is the process of using signals from two or more types of sensors to update or maintain the state of a system (direction, velocity, and displacement). Sensor fusion algorithms maintain this state using IMU accelerometer and gyroscope signals as well as signals from other sensors (such as magnetometers) or sensor systems. The most popular technique for performing sensor fusion is the Kalman filter.

The Kalman filter is an optimization algorithm for estimating the state of systems with noise and uncertainty. This filter accepts noisy imprecise measurements and it is able to estimate the current state and even predict future states with good accuracy. The Kalman filter uses all sensor axis contributions within the IMU to estimate the direction angle, thereby minimizing drift.

4 .Conclusion

In application fields, IMU is used in various tracking systems such as unmanned navigation systems, vibration control, and measurement. In unmanned navigation systems (drone, aircraft), the navigation-level IMU developed by ERICCO can independently seek north, such as ER-MIMU01 and ER-MIMU-05. Their advantages are: light weight, small size, low Cost, high performance, due to these characteristics they can be mass produced, and equipped with X, Y, Z three-axis precision gyroscope, X, Y, Z three-axis accelerometer, high resolution, can output X, Y, The original hexadecimal complement data of Z three-axis gyroscope and accelerometer (including gyroscope hexadecimal complement value temperature, angle, accelerometer hexadecimal temperature, acceleration hexadecimal complement value); It can also output floating-point dimensionless values of gyroscopes and accelerometers processed by low-level calculations. The angular velocity random walk in the gyroscope is less than 0.005, the paranoid stability is less than 0.01, and the accuracy is higher than that of other inertial navigation companies.

If you want to learn about or purchase an IMU, please contact our relevant personnel.

contact me:

website:https://www.ericcointernational.com/inertial-measurement-units

Email: info@ericcointernational.com
WhatsApp: +8613992884879

What are the Advantages of Tilt Sensor



The tilt sensor is a very accurate measuring tool for small angles. It can measure the inclination of the measured plane relative to the horizontal position, the parallelism and perpendicularity of the two components. It has become an indispensable and important measuring tool in bridge construction, railway laying, civil engineering, oil drilling, aviation and navigation, industrial automation, intelligent platform, mechanical processing and other fields.

1. The principle of tilt sensor

The working principle of the inclination sensor is based on microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology and accelerometer principle. It is equipped with tiny accelerometers, and by using gravity, inertia and other mechanical principles, to detect the object’s tilt angle relative to the Earth’s horizontal plane.

When the object is at rest, the tilt sensor is subjected to gravity, which causes the accelerometer to align with the vertical direction of the Earth. When the object tilts, the direction of the accelerometer changes accordingly, resulting in an electrical output indicating the angle and direction of the object’s tilt.

2. Advantages of tilt sensor

The main benefits of tilt sensors include:

2.1 High Precision

The tilt sensor adopts MEMS technology, which has the characteristics of high precision, high stability and low noise, and can realize the high precision measurement and control of the tilt angle of the object. ER-TS-12200-Modbus is a high-precision wireless inclination sensor, its accuracy can reach 0.001°, using industrial MCU, three-proof PCB board, imported cables, wide temperature metal shell and other measures, its industrial design has extremely high measurement accuracy and anti-interference ability. It is suitable for remote real-time monitoring and analysis of industrial sites, dilapidated buildings, ancient buildings, civil engineering, tilt deformation of various towers and other needs.

2.2 Compact and Lightweight 

The tilt sensor is small in size, light in weight, easy to install and carry, and is suitable for various occasions and environments. ER-TS-32600-Modbus its volume is 94*74*64mm, weight is only 460g, very easy to install and carry. Is an ultra-low power consumption, small volume, high-performance wireless inclination sensor, it uses lithium battery power, based on the Internet of Things technology Bluetooth and ZigBee(optional) wireless transmission technology, it meets the needs of users in industrial applications without power supply or real-time dynamic measurement of object attitude angle.

2.3 High Reliability

The tilt sensor has high vibration resistance, impact resistance, water and dust resistance, and can run stably in complex environment for a long time. For example, the ER-TS-3160VO, which has a seismic resistance higher than 20000g, is adopted IP67 protection grade, it has the characteristics of strong shock and vibration resistance, especially suitable for a variety of harsh industrial environments.

Summary: With the continuous development of technology, inclination sensors will have wider prospects and advantages.

1. High precision and stability: With the continuous improvement of measurement accuracy and stability requirements in various fields, the future development direction of inclination sensors will be to improve the accuracy and stability of induction components.

2. Multi-functional: the inclination sensor will gradually develop in the direction of multi-functional, such as integrating the functions of gyroscopes, magnetometers and other sensors to achieve the measurement of a variety of parameters.

3. Intelligent: inclination sensor will be combined with artificial intelligence, internet of things and other technologies to achieve intelligent perception and data processing, improve application efficiency and user experience.

4. Miniaturization: In order to meet the application needs of some special scenarios, the volume of the inclination sensor will gradually shrink and develop in the direction of miniaturization.

5. Wide application: With the continuous progress of inclination sensor technology and the expansion of application scenarios, its application in various fields will be more extensive, bringing more convenience to people’s life and work.

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

How the MEMS Inertial Measurement Unit works?

 The inertial measurement unit is a device that measures the three-axis attitude angle (or angular rate) and acceleration of an object. Generally, an inertial measurement unit contains three single-axis accelerometers and three single-axis gyroscopes. The accelerometer detects the acceleration signals of the object in three independent axes of the carrier coordinate system, while the gyroscope detects the angular velocity signal of the carrier relative to the navigation coordinate system. Measure the angular velocity and acceleration of the object in three-dimensional space, and use this to calculate the attitude of the object. It has very important application value in navigation. IMUs are mostly used in equipment that require motion control, such as cars and robots. It is also used in situations where precise displacement calculations using attitude are required, such as inertial navigation equipment for submarines, aircraft, missiles and spacecraft.

The principle of an inertial measurement unit is very similar to taking small steps in the dark. In the dark, due to the error between your estimate of the step length and the actual distance traveled, as you take more and more steps, the difference between your estimated position and the actual position will become farther and farther. When taking the first step, the estimated position is relatively close to the actual position; but as the number of steps increases, the difference between the estimated position and the actual position becomes larger and larger. This method is extended to three dimensions, which is the principle of the inertial measurement unit.

The academic expression is: Based on Newton’s laws of mechanics, by measuring the acceleration of the carrier in the inertial reference system, integrating it over time, and transforming it into the navigation coordinate system, the velocity in the navigation coordinate system can be obtained. , yaw angle and position information.

Therefore, in layman’s terms, the inertial measurement unit is a strapdown inertial navigation system. The system consists of three acceleration sensors and three angular velocity sensors (gyros). The accelerometer is used to feel the acceleration component relative to the vertical line of the ground. The speed sensor is used to get a feel for the angle information.

It is worth noting that the inertial measurement unit provides relative positioning information. Its function is to measure the movement route of the object relative to the starting point, so it cannot provide information about your specific location. Therefore, it is often combined with GPS. Used together, when the GPS signal is weak in certain places, the IMU can play its role, allowing the car to continue to obtain absolute position information and not get “lost.”

If you want to purchase an IMU please contact us.

concate me:

website:https://www.ericcointernational.com/inertial-measurement-units

Email: info@ericcointernational.com
WhatsApp: +8613992884879



How to Improve the Long-term Stability of the Quartz Accelerometer?

 


Quartz accelerometer is an inertial navigation device that uses Newton’s second law (Law of inertia) to measure acceleration, and is widely used in aerospace, aviation, navigation, transportation, oil and other fields. Because of its simple structure, small size, high precision and sensitivity, good stability, low power consumption, low cost, it is more widely used in the space field of missiles and launch vehicles. From the perspective of various models, the long-term stability of quartz accelerometers has also become a bottleneck restricting the development of inertial systems. Therefore, this paper will briefly introduce how to improve the long-term stability of quartz accelerometer from the following points.

Factors affecting long-term stability

Influence factors of partial value

It can be seen from the important indexes that affect the stability of the quartz accelerometer that the size of the offset value and the long-term stability play an important role in its accuracy. For example, the bias of ER-QA-03A1 is 3mg, and the bias repeatability is 10μg, which has the attribute characteristics of high precision. According to the main reasons affecting the occurrence of bias, in the current technical state, according to the quartz accelerometer error model, the main reasons affecting the stability of the offset value are the zero change of the differential capacitance sensor (the size drift of the support structure) and the change of the elastic recovery Angle of the pendulum plate beam (the slow release of the processing stress and the structural stress), which cause the direct cause of the offset error.

Scale factor influencing factors

Calculation formula of scale factor K1: K1=P/KT=mL/ BlL

It can be seen from the formula that the stability of the scale factor is determined by the torque coefficient and the pendulum property. Further analysis is determined by the stability of the detection mass m, the working air gap magnetic induction intensity B, the effective length of the coil wire l, the distance from the detection mass center of mass to the pivot L and the distance from the electromagnetic force center to the pivot L. The change of the performance of the pendulum component and the instability of the scale factor of the torquer are the main reasons leading to the change of the accelerometer factor stability, that is, increasing the scale factor stability of the torquer can improve the scale factor stability of the accelerometer.

Concrete measures for long-term stability

Application of new high performance permanent magnets

The role of a permanent magnet is providing the magnetic induction in the formula. Theoretically, as long as the mass, length and magnetic induction intensity do not change, the current value can accurately calibrate the acceleration value. However, in general, the magnetic properties of permanent magnets change with temperature and time. The change of temperature directly determines the accuracy parameters of the accelerometer, and the drift of time directly limits the stability parameters of the accelerometer. Therefore, temperature and time are the two most important factors restricting the application of accelerometers. Under the premise of ensuring the remanent temperature coefficient, the coercive force temperature coefficient is also more than one order of magnitude lower than that of traditional magnets, which can effectively reduce the magnetic field drift caused by the fluctuation of coercive force field, and the magnetic field will show better temperature stability and time stability, which is expected to ensure the long-term stable use of quartz accelerometers in variable temperature environments.

Temperature compensation technique

Temperature is an important aspect that affects the accuracy of quartz accelerometer. The fluctuation of the operating temperature inside the inertial device and the thermal gradient around the shell will cause errors. The thermal expansion and cold contraction of the material will deform the structural parts of the accelerometer and cause interference torque to the accelerometer. Temperature changes will also change the physical parameters of various materials inside the device, and the change of magnetic properties of the torquer will also directly affect the measurement accuracy of the accelerometer, so the accuracy of the accelerometer can be improved through magnetic temperature compensation. At present, the products represented by ER-QA-01A3 have applied this technology to ensure its accuracy in long-term use.

Through the analysis of the factors affecting the long-term stability of the quartz accelerometer, it is realized that its stability is closely related to the energy of the pendulum material and the magnetic field stability of the torquer. The long-term stability is improved by using new high performance permanent magnets and temperature compensation technology.

The full text link:https://www.ericcointernational.com/application/how-to-improve-the-long-term-stability-of-the-quartz-accelerometer.html

Email : info@ericcointernational.com




 Whats app:13992884879



Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Inertial Measurement Unit Error Calibration


North-Seeking MEMS IMU

The inertial measurement unit (IMU) is an inertial measurement device composed of a three-axis accelerometer, a three-axis gyroscope, and a three-axis magnetic sensor. It is mainly used to measure the angular rate, acceleration, and magnetic heading of the aircraft’s three degrees of freedom. The navigation-grade MEMS IMU independently developed by ERICCO can independently seek north. It adopts MEMS design and system integration methods. This product has the advantages of light weight, small size, low cost, and high reliability, and has been widely used in military and civilian fields.

The measurement accuracy of the inertial measurement unit is not only related to the detection accuracy of the inertial measurement component itself, but also to the processing technology and installation accuracy. Therefore, the research on the calibration and error compensation of the inertial measurement unit is of great significance.

The calibration methods of the IMU mainly include the traditional multi-position and angular rate calibration method based on the turntable and the on-site multi-position calibration method. Based on the position calibration method, a gyro calibration method that eliminates the north misalignment is given. The traditional calibration method is based on a high-precision turntable, and the calibration process is very complicated. On-site calibration can not only reduce the workload, but also effectively improve the calibration accuracy. Another calibration method is to combine the traditional static multi-position and rate calibration method and propose a 6-position calibration method based on a dual-axis rotating mechanism. This method is more convenient to solve the scaling factor and installation error, but it has a few steps when solving the constant drift. More cumbersome.

Next, the error sources of the IMU unit will be analyzed. An improved calibration method based on accelerometer and gyroscope is proposed. To understand this improved calibration method, we need to first understand the error model and calibration method of the inertial measurement unit. It will be further introduced from the accelerometer and gyroscope.

1.Inertial measurement unit error model

As shown in Figure 1, OXnYnZn is the orthogonal coordinate system, OXbYbZb is the coordinate system of the inertial measurement unit, and the three axes of the ideal gyroscope and accelerometer are respectively installed on three orthogonal surfaces to form a right-handed coordinate system. However, due to the working principles and structures of gyroscopes and accelerometers, as well as integrated manufacturing and installation, the input coordinate axes of the accelerometer and gyroscope in the inertial measurement unit cannot be orthogonal, and there are 6 orthogonal coordinate systems. Installation error angles θxy, θxz, θyx, θyz, θzx, θzy. The purpose of sensor calibration is to compensate for the calibration factor between the output value and the measured value, to compensate for the zero offset error, and to compensate for the installation coupling error caused by machining accuracy, assembly technology, etc.

                                             Figure 1. Installation error angle in non-normal coordinate system

1.1Gyro error model

The gyro output data is affected by the orthogonality of the coordinate system, installation accuracy and ambient temperature, which will cause changes in the gyro’s zero bias, scale factor, installation error angle and noise. Therefore, the gyro’s output model is. Therefore, the gyro’s output model is One part is the measured angular velocity vector of the sensitive axis, and the other part is the real angular velocity vector, which will include a linear scale factor, a non-orthogonal matrix, a constant drift (zero bias), and a gyro noise error. Considering that it has a small impact on the calibration results, the noise is ignored. The impact of errors on calibration. Let K = I + Sω + Nω, then the formula can be expressed as:

Among them, Kyx and Kzx are the coupling coefficients of the installation error angles θxy and θxz of the sensitive axis xg. Kxy and Kzy are the coupling coefficients of the installation error angles θyx and θyz of the sensitive axis yg. Kxz and Kyz are the coupling coefficients of the installation error angles θzx and θzy of the sensitive axis zg. Coupling coefficients, Kxx, Kyy, Kzz are the calibration coefficients of the sensitive axes xg, yg, zg, Dωx, Dωy, Dωz are the constant drift (zero bias) of the gyro sensitive axes xg, yg, zg.

1.2 Accelerometer error model

The accelerometer output data is affected by the orthogonality of the axis system in the coordinate system, installation accuracy and ambient temperature, which will cause changes in the accelerometer’s zero bias, scale factor, installation error angle and noise, so the output model of the accelerometer is part of Measure the acceleration vector for the sensitive axis, and part of it is the true specific force vector, which will include nonlinear scaling factors, non-orthogonal matrix constant drift (zero bias), and gyro noise errors. Considering that it has a small impact on the calibration results, the noise is ignored The impact of errors on measurement results. Let C = I + Sa + Na, then the formula can be expressed as:

Among them, Cyx and Czx are the coupling coefficients of the installation error angles θxy and θxz of the sensitive axis xg. Cxy and Czy are the coupling coefficients of the installation error angles θyx and θyz of the sensitive axis yg. Cxz and Cyz are the coupling coefficients of the installation error angles θzx and θzy of the sensitive axis zg. Coupling coefficient, Cxx, Cyy, Czz are the calibration coefficients of the sensitive axes xg, yg, zg, Dax, Day, Daz are the constant drift (zero bias) of the accelerometer’s sensitive axes xg, yg, zg.

2.Calibration of inertial measurement unit

2.1 Gyro calibration method

The scale factor and installation error of the gyroscope can be calibrated by the multi-position method. In order to minimize the calibration state, make the sensitive axis of the gyroscope point east or west during initial calibration, then the component of the earth’s rotation rate in this axis is zero. Based on this principle, 4 states are selected from 24 states for gyro calibration. Rotate the inertial measurement unit to four different positions as shown in the figure below, record the output data of the three axial gyroscopes in sequence, and calibrate the zero bias, scale factor and installation error of the gyroscope.

2.2 Accelerometer calibration method

In its natural state, the accelerometer is not affected by any external force or angular velocity input except the acceleration of gravity and the rotation of the earth. The accelerometer calibration adopts the static multi-position calibration method. The IMU is rotated to 6 different positions as shown in the figure below, and the three-axis accelerometer output data output at each position is recorded in turn, and the zero bias and scale of the accelerometer are calibrated. factors and installation errors.

This article proposes a calibration method for low-cost inertial measurement unit zero bias, scale factor and installation error angle, which simplifies the calibration process and improves calibration efficiency. The calibration method was applied to the inertial measurement unit, which met the expected test requirements and verified the correctness and effectiveness of the compensation method. A scale factor temperature model and a zero-bias temperature model can be established to further improve the accuracy of calibration. The ER-MIMU-01 and ER-MIMU02 independently developed by our company (ERICCO) are calibrated using the above calibration method, which effectively improves the accuracy of the product. If you want to learn about and purchase IMU, please contact our technical staff.

Monday, December 25, 2023

The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Transmission Mode of Tilt Sensor



In today's industrial and commercial environment, tilt sensors are increasingly used to measure and monitor the tilt angle of equipment or structures. Depending on the data transmission method, inclination sensors can be divided into wired and wireless types. In this article, we'll delve into both types of tilt sensors, including the pros and cons, and how to choose the best solution for your specific needs.

1. Wired tilt sensor

Wired inclination sensor built-in high performance MCU built-in algorithm, through a high oversampling rate, improve the high frequency characteristics of the data, through the data filtering algorithm to remove unreasonable accidental error data, Kalman filter algorithm for higher precision data processing, suitable for monitoring the structure deformation monitoring field with high monitoring frequency requirements. Wired inclination sensors usually use RS485 bus or other similar bus protocols to transmit inclination signals. RS485 is a serial communication protocol widely used in the field of industrial automation, which has the advantages of noise suppression and high signal quality. ER-TS-3160VO is a linear inclination sensor with an accuracy of 0.01°, its cable standard length is 1.5m, and it can output RS232 at the same time, RS485 can be customized, the measurement range can reach 0~±180°, and the impact vibration resistance is strong.

The main advantage of the wired inclination sensor is that the signal stability is high, and the signal quality is not easy to be disturbed because of the wired transmission mode. In addition, wired sensors have a long service life, lower maintenance costs, and a lower failure rate. However, this sensor also has some disadvantages, such as the need to lay cables, high requirements for the field environment, may exist in some application scenarios wiring difficulties.

2. Wireless tilt sensor

Wireless inclination sensors have become more and more popular in recent years, and common wireless inclination sensors include NB-IoT wireless inclination sensors and LORO wireless inclination sensors. These sensors transmit tilt signals via wireless communication technology without cable connections, making them highly flexible.

The main advantages of wireless tilt sensors are their flexibility and convenience. Since no wiring is required, the sensor can be easily installed anywhere it is needed, without considering the laying of cables. In addition, wireless sensors also have the advantages of high mobility, easy expansion and maintenance. However, wireless sensors also have some disadvantages, such as signal quality may be affected by radio interference, and signal stability and reliability may not be as good as wired sensors. ER-TS-12200-Modbus is a high-precision tilt sensor using Bluetooth and ZigBee wireless transmission technology of the internet of things, eliminating the complicated wiring and noise interference caused by long cable transmission, using lithium battery power supply, good long-term stability, zero drift, can automatically enter low-power sleep mode, get rid of the dependence on the use of environment.

Generally speaking, the mass of the building structure is huge, and the rate of change of inclination is relatively small, and there is a development process. The sampling frequency of conventional structural health monitoring is not high, and once a day can meet the requirements. In this case, the choice of the wireless inclination sensors with its own battery is the most appropriate, and the installation is very convenient.

3. How to choose the most suitable tilt sensor for you

When choosing an inclination sensor, you need to consider the following factors:

(1) Application scenarios: Different application scenarios have different requirements for sensors. For example, in some scenarios where long-term stability measurements are required, wired sensors may be preferred; Some use cases, such as house monitoring, basically have 220V mains power in the field, and low cost wired tilt sensors can be used. Of course, for monitoring scenarios with high acquisition frequency requirements, choosing a wired inclination sensor is a wise choice. In scenarios that require flexible deployment, easy scaling and maintenance, wireless sensors may be more suitable.

(2) Signal quality: For some application scenarios that require high-precision measurement, such as precision equipment monitoring or large-scale structure monitoring, it is necessary to choose a wired sensor with higher signal quality. For some application scenarios with low precision requirements, such as logistics and transportation, agricultural monitoring, etc., wireless sensors may be enough to meet the needs.

(3) Cost and maintenance: For some application scenarios that require a large number of sensors to be deployed, such as large-scale facility monitoring or logistics tracking, the deployment and maintenance cost of wireless sensors may be lower. For some cost-sensitive scenarios, such as small device monitoring or small structure monitoring, the cost of wired sensors may be lower.

(4) Durability and reliability: For some scenarios that require long-term continuous operation, such as equipment monitoring and fault warning systems in petrochemical, electric power and other fields, it is necessary to choose wired sensors with higher durability and reliability. For some scenarios that require portable and temporary use, such as construction sites, agricultural monitoring, etc., wireless sensors will be more suitable.

In short, when choosing an inclination sensor, it is necessary to choose according to actual needs and specific scenarios. Both wired and wireless sensors have their own advantages and scope of application. Only by fully understanding the characteristics and application scenarios of various sensors can we make the most appropriate choice.

High-precision IMU is coming to help in the fields of land, sea and air

  High-precision IMU is now widely used in many fields of sea, land and air. It can provide real-time and accurate information on the carrie...