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1 Introduction
Sensors that detect acceleration are called accelerometers. These devices take advantage of
instrumented spring-mass seismic structures that can be understood using Newtons law. Ac-
clerometers detect the motion of an object or point in inertial space. Note that this is different
from a displacement-type sensor that senses the relative motion between two points. Interestingly,
a displacement-type sensing element is required inside most accelerometers to provide a measure
of displacement or force, which can then be used to infer acceleration.
The basic element of any accelerometer is a seismic mass, m, which is sprung within a
casing that is attached to a test object. The elastic structure (e.g., spring) that supports the mass
and a displacement-sensing element are used to infer the force required to give the seismic mass
the same motion as the test object.
x = relative position
m
x
b vo
k
u(t)
By sensing force or displacement (and thus force through use of elastic element) the sensing
arrangement gives an indication of the acceleration of the object to which the accelerometer casing
is attached (through F = ma). Measured accelerometer signals can be integrated to provide velocity
or displacement information as well.
2 Modeling
The basic structure and operation of a translational accelerometer may be modeled as a spring-
mass-damper seismic structure as shown in Figure 2. The displacement of the seismic mass
1
ME 244L: Dynamic Systems and Controls Lab, Spring 2000 2
x I: m C: 1/k
m .
V x
k b F . 0 1 R: b
u(t) u(t)
x = relative position
From: U(1)
20
10
20
30
40
50
To: Y(1)
100
150
200
1 0 1
10 10 10
Frequency (rad/sec)
4 Applications
Absolute acceleration measurements play a vital role in many feedback control systems and pro-
cesses. In autonavigators (inertial guidance systems) accelerometers sense the general motion of
spacecraft, airplanes, and missiles. In active dampers, they supply stabilizing feedback signals.
In environmental and simulation tests, they help control the level and spectral content of motion.
In testing and perfecting the structural behavior and performance of products, accelerometers
measure the shock, vibratory, and general motion experienced. Accelerometers also fumish valu-
able infor- mation for monitoring the health, testing the behavior, and checking the quality of
ME 244L: Dynamic Systems and Controls Lab, Spring 2000 4
5 Rotational Accelerometers
Rotary accelerometers for measuring the rotational components of motion operate on similar
principles. They employ either an instrumented seismic mass having a moment of inertia and a
rotational degree of freedom or use two opposite polarity linear accelerometers spaced apart on
a diameter to measure the tangential components of acceleration. However, these are difficult to
actually build because the tranlational components can often make the rotational components
difficult t o m e a s u r e . T h i s e f f e c t i s r e f e r r e d t o a s c r o s s - t a l k .
6 Further Reading
Figliola and Beasley, Ch. 12, p. 545 (Section 12.5).