Performance characterisation of a new photo-microsensor based sensing head for displacement measurement

This paper presents a robust displacement sensor with nanometre-scale resolution over a micrometre range. It is composed of low cost commercially available slotted photo-microsensors (SPMs). The displacement sensor is designed with a particular arrangement of a compact array of SPMs with specially designed shutter assembly and signal processing to significantly reduce sensitivity to ambient light, input voltage variation, circuit electronics drift, etc. The sensor principle and the characterisation results are described in this paper. The proposed prototype sensor has a linear measurement range of 20 μm and resolution of 21 nm. This kind of sensor has several potential applications, including mechanical structural deformation monitoring system

The trade-off characteristics of acoustic and pressure sensors for the NASP

Results of a trade study for the development of pressure and acoustic sensors for use on the National Aerospace Plane (NASP) are summarized. Pressure sensors are needed to operate to 100 psia; acoustic sensors are needed that can give meaningful information about a 200 dB sound pressure level (SPL) environment. Both sensors will have to operate from a high temperature of 2000 F down to absolute zero. The main conclusions of the study are the following: (1) Diaphragm materials limit minimum size and maximum frequency response attainable. (2) No transduction is available to meet all the NASP requirements with existing technology. (3) Capacitive sensors are large relative to the requirement, have limited resolution and frequency response due to noise, and cable length is limited to approximately 20 feet. (4) Eddy current sensors are large relative to the requirement and have limited cable lengths. (5) Fiber optic sensors provide the possibility for a small sensor, even though present developments do not exhibit that characteristic. The need to use sapphire at high temperature complicates the design. Present high temperature research sensors suffer from poor resolution. A significant development effort will be required to realize the potential of fiber optics. (6) Short-term development seems to favor eddy current techniques with the penalty of larger size and reduced dynamic range for acoustic sensors. (7) Long-term development may favor fiber optics with the penalties of cost, schedule, and uncertainty

Magnetic sensors and gradiometers for detection of objects

Disertační práce popisuje vývoj nových detekčních zařízení s anizotropními magnetorezistoryThis thesis describes development of innovative sensor systems based on anisotropi

Effects of the target on the performance of an ultra-low power eddy current displacement sensor for industrial applications

The demand for smart, low-power, and low-cost sensors is rapidly increasing with the proliferation of industry automation. In this context, an Ultra-Low Power Eddy Current Displacement Sensor (ULP-ECDS) targeting common industrial applications and designed to be embedded in wireless Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices is presented. A complete characterization of the realized ULP-ECDS operating with different metallic targets was carried out. The choice of the considered targets in terms of material and thickness was inspired by typical industrial scenarios. The experimental results show that the realized prototype works properly with extremely low supply voltages, allowing for obtaining an ultra-low power consumption, significantly lower than other state-of-the-art solutions. In particular, the proposed sensor reached the best resolution of 2 \ub5m in case of a carbon steel target when operated with a supply voltage of 200 mV and with a power consumption of 150 \ub5W. By accepting a resolution of 12 \ub5m, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption of the sensor to less than 10 \ub5W. The obtained results also demonstrate how the performances of the sensor are strongly dependent on both the target and the demodulation technique used to extract the displacement information. This allowed for defining some practical guidelines that can help the design of effective solutions considering application-specific constraints

Gravity gradient stabilization system for the applications technology satellite Eighth monthly progress report, 1-28 Feb. 1965

Gravity gradient stabilizing boom and dampers and attitude sensor systems for applications technology satellit

Design and Characterization of Tri-axis Soft Inductive Tactile Sensors

Tactile sensors are essential for robotic systems to safely and effectively interact with the environment and humans. In particular, tri-axis tactile sensors are crucial for dexterous robotic manipulations by providing shear force, slip or contact angle information. The Soft Inductive Tactile Sensor (SITS) is a new type of tactile sensor that measures inductance variations caused by eddy-current effect. In this paper, we present a soft tri-axis tactile sensor using the configuration of four planar coils and a single conductive film with hyperelastic material in between them. The working principle is explained and design methods are outlined. A 3D finite element model was developed to characterize the tri-axis SITS and to optimize the target design through parameter study. Prototypes were fabricated, characterized and calibrated, and a force measurement resolution of 0.3 mN is achieved in each axis. Demonstrations show that the sensor can clearly measure light touch (a few mN normal force) and shear force pulses (10 to 30 mN) produced by a serrated leaf when it is moved across the sensor surface. The presented sensor is low cost, high performance, robust, durable, and easily customizable for a variety of robotic and healthcare applications

Design, Development and Performance Evaluation of Eddy Current Displacement Sensor Based Pressure Sensor with Target Temperature Compensation

In Aerospace applications, pressure measurement plays a vital role as it serves as one of the input to onboard controller to aid decision- making on initiating or terminating some of the critical events. In this paper, the design aspects of pressure sensor using linear eddy current displacement sensor (ECDS) are presented along with its performance evaluation. The static calibration is carried out to select the best position of ECDS in the proposed pressure sensor. The effect of target temperature on sensor output is presented with test results to aid compensation. A compensation algorithm is developed to minimise the error due to target temperature. The developed compensation algorithm is validated using thermal calibration. The designed pressure sensor is calibrated using Arson dynamic pressure calibrator to evaluate its bandwidth. The calibration results are analysed to aid future sensor design towards improvement of accuracy, bandwidth and miniaturisation

An investigation of eddy-current damping of multi-stage pendulum suspensions for use in interferometric gravitational wave detectors

In this article we discuss theoretical and experimental investigations of the use of eddy-current damping for multi-stage pendulum suspensions such as those intended for use in Advanced LIGO, the proposed upgrade to LIGO (the US laser interferometric gravitational-wave observatory). The design of these suspensions is based on the triple pendulum suspension design developed for GEO 600, the German/UK interferometric gravitational wave detector, currently being commissioned. In that detector all the low frequency resonant modes of the triple pendulums are damped by control systems using collocated sensing and feedback at the highest mass of each pendulum, so that significant attenuation of noise associated with this so-called local control is achieved at the test masses. To achieve the more stringent noise levels planned for Advanced LIGO, the GEO 600 local control design needs some modification. Here we address one particular approach, namely that of using eddy-current damping as a replacement or supplement to active damping for some or all of the modes of the pendulums. We show that eddy-current damping is indeed a practical alternative to the development of very low noise sensors for active damping of triple pendulums, and may also have application to the heavier quadruple pendulums at a reduced level of damping

Feasibility Study of Radiation Pyrometer for Nuclear Rocket Application Final Report

Radiation pyrometer for nuclear applicatio

Parameters affecting inductive displacement sensors

An investigation of the limitations of inductive displacement sensors (IDSs) was conducted with the use of electromagnetic finite element analysis (FEA). A comparison of displacement sensing technologies highlighted the advantages of EDSs in harsh industrial environments, but an understanding of the operation of IDSs showed that they are limited by the influence of target material, width and offset. It was proposed that studying the electromagnetic field around IDSs could reveal more information than was available from the simple impedance measurements employed by a commercially available IDS.A test coil sensor and signal processing system was designed and the result was a reliable system for measuring the magnetic field around the IDS. Experiments showed that the 1 MHz field had an amplitude of 5 x 10(^-6) T at the base of the IDS and two- and three-dimensional FEA models were constructed that gave closely matching central field values. The unreliability of the IDS for different target materials was demonstrated experimentally. FEA simulations showed that changing target permeability and varying target displacement both altered the whole field amplitude uniformly. This showed that it was not possible to counteract the target dependence by monitoring the field with the test coil system in this way. Further FEA simulations revealed field patterns that changed with target offset. An experiment with the test coil system confirmed that it was possible to use the change in lobe amplitude to measure the offset of the target; for example when target displacement d, = 25 mm and offset = 1.2 times the IDS coil diameter, the distance error was 3.6 %, which corresponded to a normalised test coil output of 0.54. A similar effect was found from target width FEA simulations. Hence it was possible to correct the output signal from the IDS coil to counteract the effect of an offset small target