Earl Benser, Director, Advanced Sensors and Microsystems, Honeywell Aerospace, USA
Title: Trends in Inertial Sensors and Applications
Abstract: Inertial sensors have become ubiquitous and many devices and systems rely on them to serve a broad variety of applications. Inertial sensors were once characterized as expensive precision instruments, but today, billions of units of lower performance inertial sensors are manufactured each year for a few cents each. Higher performance gyros and accelerometers have achieved unprecedented performance and reliability at much reduced prices. This proliferation of inertial sensing has been driven by, and has enabled, advances in sensor technology as well as an interesting diversity of applications.
This paper provides observations about the historical trends in inertial sensing and devices. It describes significant applications that have stimulated and supported their development and manufacture. The paper also discusses a group of promising future inertial sensor technologies and potential new applications as we attempt to extrapolate these trends into the future.
Andrea Cereatti, Assistant Professor, University of Sassari, Italy
Title: Accurately measuring human movement using magneto-inertial sensors: techniques and challenges
Abstract: Walking efficiently is fundamental to maintaining an independent style of life. In this context, instrumented gait analysis is a powerful tool to assess motor capacity and performance as well as to diagnose and plan for intervention. The intent of this talk is to present an overview of conceptual, analytical and experimental elements to quantitatively describe human movement, with specific focus on gait using magneto-inertial sensors. It includes a review and a taxonomy scheme of the techniques for the estimation of the spatio-temporal gait parameters and joint kinematics.
Marc Weinberg, Draper Laboratory, USA
Title: How to Invent (or not Invent) The First Silicon MEMS Gyroscope
Abstract: Draper designed and constructed traditional mechanical gyroscopes for Apollo and for strategic guidance systems. In 1984, Draper started the double gimbal gyro, which led to the silicon-on-glass tuning fork gyroscope which reported the first useful performance of a silicon MEMS gyroscope in 1992. This work became the basis for the successful Honeywell MEMS inertial measurement units and the starting point for other MEMS angular rate sensors.
This paper will discuss considerations which were factored into the first tuning fork. These known factors included the thin, available proof masses, efficient mass use, quadrature stiffness, fluid gas “surf boarding”, noise sources, frequency variation, and modal response. Unconsidered phenomena, such as glass charging, stiffness non-linearity, comb drive cross-coupling, and electrical feed through were designed around on the fly. Other fortuitous events such as material and parameter selection which avoided thermoelastic damping, which was not understood in MEMS until 2003, the introduction of the silicon-on-glass process, and the addition of key personnel will be covered. In summary, demonstrating the first silicon MEMS gyroscope required well-applied engineering and a bit of serendipity.
Unfortunately Jean-Cristophe Eloy will no longer be able to attend IEEE Inertial Sensors & Systems 2015. Thank you for your understanding.