A Vision-Based Micro-Newton Static Force Sensor Using a Displacement-Amplifying Compliant Mechanism (DaCM)

Baichapur, Gautham S and Gugale, Harshala and Maheshwari, Ashveen and Bhargav, Santosh DB and Ananthasuresh, GK (2014) A Vision-Based Micro-Newton Static Force Sensor Using a Displacement-Amplifying Compliant Mechanism (DaCM). In: MECHANICS BASED DESIGN OF STRUCTURES AND MACHINES, 42 (2). pp. 193-210.

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Abstract

A micro-newton static force sensor is presented here as a packaged product. The sensor, which is based on the mechanics of deformable objects, consists of a compliant mechanism that amplifies the displacement caused by the force that is to be measured. The output displacement, captured using a digital microscope and analyzed using image processing techniques, is used to calculate the force using precalibrated force-displacement curve. Images are scanned in real time at a frequency of 15 frames per second and sampled at around half the scanning frequency. The sensor was built, packaged, calibrated, and tested. It has simulated and measured stiffness values of 2.60N/m and 2.57N/m, respectively. The smallest force it can reliably measure in the presence of noise is about 2 mu N over a range of 1.4mN. The off-the-shelf digital microscope aside, all of its other components are purely mechanical; they are inexpensive and can be easily made using simple machines. Another highlight of the sensor is that its movable and delicate components are easily replaceable. The sensor can be used in aqueous environment as it does not use electric, magnetic, thermal, or any other fields. Currently, it can only measure static forces or forces that vary at less than 1Hz because its response time and bandwidth are limited by the speed of imaging with a camera. With a universal serial bus (USB) connection of its digital microscope, custom-developed graphical user interface (GUI), and related software, the sensor is fully developed as a readily usable product.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	MECHANICS BASED DESIGN OF STRUCTURES AND MACHINES
Publisher:	TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC
Additional Information:	copyright for this article belongs to TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC, 520 CHESTNUT STREET, STE 850, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106 USA
Keywords:	Compliant mechanism;Vision-based force sensing;Micro-newton force sensor
Department/Centre:	Division of Mechanical Sciences > Centre for Product Design & Manufacturing Division of Mechanical Sciences > Mechanical Engineering
Date Deposited:	28 May 2014 05:56
Last Modified:	28 May 2014 09:30
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/49074

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