Advanced Uses And Application Of Accelerometers

Accelerometer is an instrument that is used to measure and record the rate of proper acceleration. This is a special type of acceleration that is somehow different from the normal acceleration with velocity. This is an acceleration experienced by an object and is relative to a free-fall or inertial. The observer can actually be momentarily at rest compared to an object whose acceleration is being determined.

The Proper type of acceleration is special in the sense that it is associated with the phenomenon of weight that is experienced by a mass test. This measurement has a close relationship with objects falling freely from a higher ground towards the center of the earth due to gravitational pull. It has been noted that accelerometer reads a value of zero when measuring the acceleration of an object under free-fall. Although the object falling has an increasing velocity, it is assumed weightless and this is why the device will read zero acceleration since for it to detect any change in acceleration, the object must have some weight.

This device is actually designed to measure weight per unit of mass. Most of these devices have been made in such a way that they do not display the value that they measure but instead supply to other devices where the rate can be read. Due to advancement in the technology, current built devices are able to measure the acceleration rate and display results right away.

These devices are calibrated in that they respond to specific changes in the acceleration. This calibration is up to a certain level in such a way that they cannot respond to changes above a certain frequency of change. These accelerations are measured in terms of gravitational force, calibrated as (g) and research indicates that at rest on the earth's surface, accelerometer will actually read 1g upwards.

This kind of device behaves just like a damped mass on a spring in that when an acceleration is experienced, the mass is displaced to a point that the spring is in a position to accelerate the mass at the same rate. Therefore, the displacement is then measured to give the rate of acceleration.

There exists different models of accelerometer; single and multiple-axis models. These models are able to detect both the magnitude and the direction of proper acceleration in terms of a vector quantity. Apart from these models, we also have micro-machined accelerometers that are found in portable electronic devices and also in video game controllers.

These devices have got a wide range of application. They are used in various places for example in engineering are used to measure vehicle acceleration. It is also used to measure vibration on cars, machines and also in the building process by engineers. These devices are also used in measuring inclination and machine vibration.

These devices are also applicable in biological sciences for measuring the dynamic body acceleration. We find that this device can be connected to an amplifiers so as to give clear results through amplifying the signal. The movement of wild animals can be studied by use of these devices whereby they determine the frequency of the limb-stroke for various animals.

In the industry for example construction industry, this device is also used accordingly. It is used for to monitor machinery performance especially for the rotating equipment such as pumps, cooling towers and compressors. In general, the device is used in rotating equipment in an industry.

We also have medical applications with accelerometer. Doctors are able to measure CPR chest compressions using this device especially for the athletes. We can therefore conclude that this device has application in almost every field and this increase its demand.

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