Abstract: Achieving high spatial resolution in contact sensing for robotic manipulation often comes at the price of increased complexity in fabrication and integration. One traditional approach is to fabricate a large number of taxels, each delivering an individual, isolated response to a stimulus. In contrast, proposed sensor includes a continuous volume of soft material, e.g., a piezoresistive elastomer with a number of terminals embedded inside. Piezoresistive effects can be measured between all pairs of terminals in the set, and this rich signal set can contain the information needed to pinpoint contact location with high accuracy using regression algorithms. Submillimeter median accuracy can be demonstrated in locating contact on a 10 mm by 16 mm sensor using only four terminals (creating six unique pairs).

Abstract: A wireless-enabled tension meter is disclosed. The wireless-enabled tension meter can include a pulley arrangement through which a portion of a guiding member is routed for use during a pull of conductor through a conduit network. A tension force is exerted on the guiding member during the pull as the guiding member is pulled through the pulley arrangement. The wireless-enabled tension meter can also include a sensor for measuring the tension force, a wireless network interface, and a control module for performing operations. The operations performed by the control module can include capturing data corresponding to the tension force and causing the wireless network interface to send the data to a wireless communication device.

Abstract: A capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer includes a first insulating film and a second insulating film disposed with a gap therebetween, a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on outer surfaces of the first and second insulating films, respectively, with the gap therebetween, at least one cell having an electrostatic capacitance between the first and second electrodes that varies with a variation of a thickness of the gap caused by displacement of the second insulating film and the second electrode, and a voltage applying unit configured to apply a voltage to between the first electrode and the second electrode. An electric field strength applied to the first insulating film is closer to an electric field strength that causes dielectric breakdown than an electric field strength applied to the second insulating film.

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for testing the degree to which meat (3) is cooked, which apparatus (2) comprises: (i) a body (4); (ii) a meat-engaging formation (6) which is fixed with respect to the body (4); (iii) a probe (8) which is movable with respect to the body (4), and which is configured such that in use it does not penetrate the meat (3); (iv) sensor means (10) for sensing the force applied by the meat (3) to the probe (8) when the meat-engaging formation (6) is placed on the meat (3); (v) processor means (12) which operates consequent upon the force sensed by the sensor means (10) to provide an indication of the degree to which the meat is cooked; and (vi) test result means (14) for giving the indication provided by the processor means (12) as a visual and/or audible test result.

Abstract: Provided is a torque sensor device to detect a torque between an input shaft and an output shaft through a relative rotation displacement therebetween. The torque sensor device includes: a housing to accommodate an end of the input shaft and an end of the output shaft: a magnet unit rotatably accommodated in the housing to be connected to one end of one of the input shaft and the output shaft; a collector unit rotatably accommodated in the housing to be connected to one end of the other of the input shaft and the output shaft, the collector unit forming a magnetic circuit together with the magnet unit; and a sensing unit including a torque sensor disposed at the outer circumference of the collector unit and configured to detect a magnetic field focused by the collector unit. The collector unit includes a lower collector including an annular lower collector ring.

Abstract: A reversible force measuring device for ascertaining the magnitude and/or direction of an applied load and having a cavity containing an indicating material such as a fluid, with the cavity configured such that when a load is applied to the device, it causes a reversible volumetric change to the cavity. This change causes the indicating material to move in or out of the cavity in a quantity which corresponds to the magnitude and/or direction of the applied load. By measuring the movement of the indicating material, a user can determine the magnitude and/or direction of the applied load. The device may include a component which generates an electrical signal from the measured movement and transmits this signal to another device to control the tensioning of one or more fastener components and or make other analytical measurements by combining this measurement with other measurements like torque and or angle.

Abstract: A torque sensor device disposed between an input shaft and an output shaft. The torque sensor device includes a housing, a magnet unit accommodated in the housing and including a magnet ring, a collector unit fixed in position to the housing, a sensing unit including a torque sensor disposed at the outer circumference of the collector unit, and a shield ring unit interposed between the collector unit and the magnet unit. The magnet unit includes: a magnet holder connected to the input shaft; a pair of magnet rings spaced apart from each other with the magnet holder interposed therebetween; a magnet cover formed in such a manner that the magnet ring is disposed between the magnet cover and the magnet holder so as to be connected to the magnet holder; and a magnet buffer disposed between the magnet cover and the magnet ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for flatness measuring and measuring of residual stresses in a metallic flat product (1): The method includes bending the flat product (1) in a bending device (3) such that a planar flat product (1) forms an arc (5) with a target bending radius r0 after bending; measuring the contour and the actual bending radii r(y), in the region of the arc (5) of the bent flat product (1) at a plurality of positions along the width direction of the flat product (1); and determining the flatness of the flat product (1) taking into account the measured contour of the bent flat product (1).

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pressure sensor includes a base, and a first sensor unit. The first sensor unit includes a first transducer thin film, a first strain sensing device and a second strain sensing device. The first strain sensing device includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a first intermediate layer provided between the first and the second magnetic layers. The second strain sensing device is provided apart from the first strain sensing device on the first membrane surface and provided at a location different from a location of the barycenter, the second strain sensing device including a third magnetic layer, a fourth magnetic layer, and a second intermediate layer provided between the third and the fourth magnetic layers, the first and the second intermediate layers being nonmagnetic. The first and the second strain sensing devices, and the barycenter are in a straight line.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for measuring a force and/or moment on a machine element extending along an axis, using the inverse magnetostrictive effect. The machine element has a magnetization region for magnetization, this region fully encompassing the axis. The arrangement includes at least one first magnetic sensor and one second magnetic sensor, each being designed to measure individually a first and a second direction component of a magnetic field that is caused by the magnetization and by the force and/or the moment. The direction components that can be measured using the first magnetic sensor have differing orientations. Likewise, the direction components that can be measured using the second magnetic sensor have differing orientations. The first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are arranged around the axis at different peripheral positions.

Abstract: A system for monitoring tension forces of tendons in post-tensioning includes a hydraulic jack to apply the tension force to the tendon, a hydraulic pump to supply a hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic jack, a digital elongation length measurement sensor to measure the elongation length of the piston, a measurement unit having a data logger adapted to receive and store the elongation length data measured by the digital elongation length measurement sensor and to send the elongation length data to a main server, a digital pressure measurement sensor, and a control module adapted to receive the elongation length data from the data logger or the main server, calculate the tension force, compensate for the coefficient of elasticity of the tendon according to the ratio of the real-time elongation length data to the pressure data, and compensate for the tension force calculated.

Abstract: Method for measuring residual strain in a cured composite part includes taking a first image of at least two spaced apart particles positioned on a side of the cured composite part with the side positioned transverse to a first face side. The cure composite part includes a first ply has fibers and a second ply has fibers wherein the first ply and the second ply are positioned in overlying relationship to one another. At least a portion of the fibers of the first ply are positioned in angular relationship with at least a portion of the fibers of the second ply. The at least two spaced apart particles are associated with the second ply. Further included is a step of removing at least a portion of the first ply and taking a second image of the at least two spaced apart particles.

Abstract: A force sensor including a sensing element and a circuit board is provided. The sensing element has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite to each other and has a sensing portion, wherein the sensing portion is located at the top surface. The circuit board is disposed above the top surface and electrically connected to the sensing element, Wherein the sensing portion is adapted to generate a sensing signal through an external force transferred from the circuit board to the top surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a torque sensor device disposed between an input shaft and an output shaft and configured to detect a torque between the input shaft and the output shaft through a relative rotation displacement therebetween.

Abstract: A multi-axis piezoelectric stress-sensing device, a multi-axis piezoelectric stress-sensing device polarization method, and a piezoelectric sensing detection system thereof are disclosed. The piezoelectric sensing detection system is used for a machining tool. The multi-axis piezoelectric stress-sensing device includes a piezoelectric sensing film, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode. The piezoelectric sensing film has four corners. The first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode and the fourth electrode are located at the four corners of the piezoelectric sensing film, and at least one electrode is used to polarize another electrode according to at least one polarization direction.

Abstract: There is provided a torque detector configured such that a magnetic shield is fixed to a holder without the need for a component for fixation of the magnetic shield, and no backlash is caused between the magnetic shield and the holder after the magnetic shield is fixed to the holder. The torque detector has engagement grooves into which a magnetic shield is to be inserted when the magnetic shield is fitted onto outer peripheral surfaces of a first holder and a second holder. The magnetic shield has end portions to be inserted into the engagement grooves, and each of the end portions is provided with engaging members that are always engaged with inner surfaces of the engagement grooves, respectively, while being inserted into the engagement grooves, to restrict movement of the end portions in the counter-insertion direction.

Abstract: A concrete temperature stress testing machine system and a testing method are provided, in which the concrete temperature stress testing machine system includes: a concrete temperature stress testing machine and a walk-in environment simulation laboratory system; and the concrete temperature stress testing machine includes a testing machine host and a concrete test specimen area. The testing machine host includes a rear fixed end, a front fixed end, and a pair of steel shafts connected between the rear fixed end and the front fixed end. The concrete test specimen area includes a moveable cross-head, a fixed cross-head, and a left side formwork, a bottom formwork and a right formwork connected between the moveable cross-head and the fixed cross-head.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to maximizing a signal to noise ratio of an accelerometer by inhibiting signals arising from movements of a proofmass in directions perpendicular to a direction of intended sensitivity. The direction of intended sensitivity of the accelerometer is along an axis of the proofmass. The accelerometer is rendered substantially insensitive to lateral accelerations of the proofmass by making the accelerometer axially symmetric. Two axially-asymmetric acceleration sensing devices are axially engaged in such a manner as to render the coupled sensing devices substantially axially-symmetric. In some embodiments, each acceleration sensor has an axially-thin membrane portion extending from a proofmass portion. The two acceleration sensors can be engaged in an antiparallel fashion at projecting ends of the proofmass portions.

Abstract: An adhesively coupled power-meter measures one or more of force, torque, power, and velocity of a mechanical arm. The power meter includes a plate with a first surface prepared for adhesively coupling to the mechanical arm. At least one strain gauge is physically coupled with a second surface, opposite the first, of the plate and with an orientation corresponding to an orientation of the adhesively coupled power meter such that mechanical forces are transferred from mechanical arm to the at least one strain gauge when the plate is adhesively coupled to the mechanical arm. The power meter also includes electronics for receiving a signal from the at least one strain gauge and for determining one or more of force, torque, power and velocity from the signal, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting one or more of force, torque, power and velocity to a receiving device.

Abstract: Examples of force sensors that may be incorporated into a number of devices or other objects are disclosed. In one example, a sensor includes a substrate including a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrode and the second electrode being spaced by an insulating gap, and a compliant material with plural conductive pathways disposed over the gap and contacting the first electrode and the second electrode such that a resistance of an electrical path passing through the compliant material between the first electrode and the second electrode changes in response to force of the compliant material against one or more of the first electrode and the second electrode.