A tilt sensor is an accelerometer that uses the principle of inertia to measure changes in horizontal tilt. Tilt sensors are characterized by high accuracy, precise monitoring, and timely alarms. They are suitable for various application environments unaffected by external factors and are easy to operate. Therefore, they are widely used for measuring various angles.
What is a tilt sensor?
Tilt sensors are commonly used to measure changes in the horizontal angle of a system. This level represents a development in automation and electronic measurement technology from simple bubble-level measurements to the previous electronic level. As an observation tool, it has become an indispensable measurement tool in fields such as bridge installation, railway installation, civil engineering, oil drilling, aerial navigation, industrial automation, intelligent platforms, and mechanical handling. An electronic plane is a highly accurate detection tool capable of measuring small angles and allowing for the measurement of the horizontal position, vertical direction, and slope of a plane relative to two components.
Basic principle of tilt sensor
The theoretical basis of a tilt sensor is Newton's second law: according to fundamental physical principles, velocity cannot be measured in a system, but acceleration can. If the initial velocity is known, the linear velocity can be calculated through integration, and then the displacement of the line can be calculated; therefore, it is essentially an accelerometer using the principle of inertia. When the tilt sensor is in place, there is no horizontal or vertical acceleration; only the acceleration due to gravity affects it. The angle between the vertical axis of gravity and the sensitive axis of the accelerometer is the tilt angle.
Three common tilt sensors
Tilt sensors are commonly used to measure the horizontal distance of a system and the height of an object. Based on their working principle, they can be categorized into three types: solid vibration, liquid vibration, and gas vibration. These three types of tilt sensors utilize Earth's gravity to convert the physical quantity of the position angle between the sensor and the Earth into an analog or pulse signal. Each type of tilt sensor, based on the principles of solid vibration, liquid vibration, and gas vibration, has its own advantages.
1. Solid-state tilt sensor
The sensitive mass of a solid vibration is the mass of the vibration itself; a steady-state equilibrium tilt sensor has a clear length and center, and its mechanism is basically the same as that of an accelerometer. In fact, electromagnetic pendulums and similar products are diverse, with wide measurement ranges, high accuracy, and strong overload resistance, and are widely used in weapon systems.
2. Liquid tilt sensor
The vibration sensitivity of liquids is similar to that of electrolytes; liquid angle sensors fall somewhere in between, but the systems are stable and widely used in high-precision systems. Most domestic and international products belong to this category.
3. Gas vibration angle sensor
The gas is the sensitive mass for gas vibration; it is the only moving part in the gasket assembly, possessing low mass, high impact force or inertia under overload, and strong vibration or impact resistance. However, monitoring gas movement is complex, influenced by many factors, and its accuracy cannot meet the requirements of military weapon systems.
