Hybrid Sensor System for Integrated Structural Motion Measurement

Abstract

Over the last three decades, gyroscopes have become increasingly miniaturized and have enabled the design of very small, light, and cost-effective inertial measurement units (IMUs). This allows new applications of inertial sensors. The motion measurement or motion capture of structures which, in contrast to classic inertial navigation, are no longer single rigid bodies but can show a variable shape is such a new application. However, this approach is only realizable if such a “flexible” structure is equipped with several spatially distributed and closely networked IMUs. At the same time, this measurement approach, similar to classic inertial navigation, requires the use of additional, complementary aiding sensors, which must also be distributed across the structure. Such systems or networks, which consist of inertial and structural sensors in parallel, are novel and not state of the art. This letter, therefore, presents a modular, experimental sensor system of this type designed as a demonstrator for basic research purposes, describes the specific challenges in designing the system, and reports on initial practical experiences in using the system on a test rig for the motion measurement of a flexible beam.