Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!apple!well!nagle From: nagle@well.sf.ca.us (John Nagle) Newsgroups: comp.robotics Subject: Re: ideas for inclination sensors Message-ID: <21244@well.sf.ca.us> Date: 19 Oct 90 05:36:40 GMT References: <3717@media-lab.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> <15845@csli.Stanford.EDU> Lines: 18 An excellent 2D inclination sensor is manufactured by Etak, Inc, in Menlo Park, California, but it is not generally available for retail sale. They will sometimes sell them to researchers, along with a 2-axis rate gyro and appropriate electronics, for about $200 each. The device is normally used as part of the Etak vehicle navigation system. The inclinometer is a small cylinder of liquid, about 15mm across, equipped with four capacitance level sensing plates. The liquid has been carefully chosen to have the right poise to make the device relatively insensitive to vibration. Etak has the electronics which causes the output to be provided as a variable audio frequency, for convenience in digital handling. I have one of these, and this is definitely the way to go. The whole unit runs on 5VDC. John Nagle