Exoskeletons that enhance a human’s capabilities or enable a human to more readily perform normal tasks are being pursued by several organizations. The former design requirements are the military’s goals, but backpackers and other healthy individuals can take advantage of these designs as well. The latter are desired by individuals with disabilities or physical limitations. […]
Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)
How sensors help you play ball: part 2
A FIFA-compliant match ball from Adidas has a TDK InvenSense 6-axis MotionTracking device and other electronics mounted in the center of the ball. As shown in Figure 1, the Adidas patented suspension system stabilizes the electronics module. Instead of having the sensing/communication module mounted on the surface of the ball near the inflator valve, the […]
What’s the difference between sensors used in underwater, flying, and creeping robots or drones? part 4
Multimodal robots that can fly and walk or crawl have been the basis of research for many years. In 2016, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s GRASP Laboratory reported the development of the Picobug with multimodal characteristics of climbing, jumping, and gliding, or even flying and swimming. With a research paper detailing many executed and […]
What’s the difference between sensors used in underwater, flying, and creeping robots or drones? part 3
The abilities of robots continue to advance with highly capable products performing a variety of tasks, looking almost humanlike as they speak, and even garnering appearances in movies. Perhaps less attractive but equally or even more useful, creeping or crawling robots bring drones down to earth and, in fact, inside the earth. Unlike the micro […]
SmartIndustrial™ product family expanded with thermal stable IMU
TDK Corporation announces the expansion of the InvenSense SmartIndustrial™ sensor platform family with the introduction of the IIM-20670. The IIM-20670 features a robust monolithic 6-axis IMU, 3-axis accelerometer, and a 3-axis gyroscope, with proven shock robustness and capability to simultaneously measure all six axes with a current consumption below 10 mA under all operating conditions. […]
MEMS inertial-sensing module provides six synchronized channels
The STMicroelectronics ASM330LHB automotive-qualified MEMS inertial-sensing module provides accurate measurements for a wide variety of vehicle functions and, with the dedicated software provided, addresses functional-safety applications up to ASIL B[1]. The module contains a 3-axis digital accelerometer and 3-axis digital gyroscope, designed for a lifetime on the road, and provides a six-channel synchronized output. Its high-accuracy inertial […]
Audio sensor detects voice through bones
STMicroelectronics’ LSM6DSV16BX is a unique highly integrated sensor that delivers tremendous space savings inside hearable devices including sports and general-purpose earbuds. It combines a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) for head tracking and activity detection with an audio accelerometer for detecting voice through bone conduction in a frequency range that exceeds 1KHz. In addition, the LSM6DSV16BX contains […]
IMU measures six axes while drawing less than 10 mA
TDK Corporation announces the expansion of the InvenSense SmartIndustrial sensor platform family. With its support for an extended temperature range of -40 oC to 105 oC, this new 6-axis IMU targets industrial applications that require extreme stability over temperature and great vibration immunity. The IIM-20670 features a robust monolithic 6-axis IMU, 3-axis accelerometer, and 3-axis […]
Fault-tolerant 6-axis IMUs target industrial apps
TDK Corporation extends the SmartIndustrial line of robust and accurate motion sensors and announces the availability of InvenSense IIM-46234 and IIM-46230 new high-performance fault-tolerant inertial measurement units (IMU) targeted at navigation applications that require accurate, stable, and best-in-class bias instability at an affordable price. IIM-46234 and IIM-46230 are modules that include multiple 6-axis sensors, each […]
What sensors are used in AR/VR systems?
A wide range of sensor technologies is required to support augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) systems. Today’s AR/VR implementations are mostly focused on visual and audio interfaces and rely on motion tracking and listening/voice recognition sensors. That’s beginning to change with new types of sensors and various types of haptics being introduced. This FAQ […]