Sensor

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Hybrid Rocket Propulsion Pressure Monitoring

 

How it Works
  1. A PFT Series pressure sensor is threaded in and mounted flush with the inner walls of the oxidizer tank.
  2. During operation, tank pressure is measured by the pressure sensor.
  3. Output can also be streamed and logged via the USB530 to a PC running SENSIT or connected to a PLC or DAQ with the IAA300.

Desalination System Monitoring

 

How it Works
  1. A PFT510 miniature pressure sensor is inserted between the water pump output and reverse osmosis filter input.
  2. The output signal from the pressure sensor is amplified with the IAA series or IDA100 amplifier and fed into a PLC.
  3. The PLC regulates the motor output in response to changing pressures maintaining a constant output pressure.
  4. By maintaining a consistent pressure, filter life is increased and system efficiency is maximized.
  5. Additionally, with the IDA100, amplifier output can be monitored and adjusted accordingly over USB connection with FUTEK's SENSIT™ software.

Ghost Containment Monitoring

 

How it Works
  1. Once the Ghostbusters have locked a ghost (a Class V Full-Roaming Vapor or weaker) into place with a one or more confinement beams, they need to capture it. This is where their patented Ghost Trap comes into play.
  2. Once inside the trap, the ghost is broken down and held in place with a laser containment grid.
  3. However, no ghost wants to stay trapped for eternity, so they attempt to break free from their prison by reforming themselves.
  4. The reforming process exerts pressure on the trap walls which is measured by the PFT510 Pressure Sensor.
  5. The pressure measurement is then fed into the trap’s controller enabling it to adjust its containment field in real time.

MSL Mars Rover Cryogenic Multi-Axis

 

How it Works
  1. Many applications require customized solutions. Thus, FUTEK knows that when NASA approaches us, a standard off-the-shelf product won't fully fit their bill of requirements. But being that we are in the business of providing solutions, if there's a will there's a way for FUTEK to design and develop the necessary sensor needed for the job. And that's exactly what we did.
  2. For the MSL Mars Rover Curiosity mission, FUTEK was commissioned by NASA JPL to develop a space/flight qualified cryogenic three component sensor. With capabilities of measuring torque and force, this sensor operates within the rover's robotic arm. As the arm maneuvers, the multi-axial sensor provides feedback to the operating device identifying the levels of torsion and force applied. The necessity of this multi-axial sensor is to alert the rover if over-exertion on the arm occurs.

Automated Capping Press

 

How it Works
  1. Operators have installed a biaxial sensor into their production line to monitor the actuator/motor powering the capping press.
  2. Installed directly underneath the capping press' actuator, this biaxial sensor measures the torque and thrust exerted as each cap is sealed onto its respective container.
  3. These torque and thrust measurements can be amplified through FUTEK's IAA Series Amplifier to a PLC, shown on a digital display (IPM650 or IHH500) or streamed directly to a PC using FUTEK's USB Solutions.
  4. If the instrument is paired with FUTEK's SENSIT™ Test and Measurement Software operators can log, graph and capture all the data on the PC.

Helicopter Cyclic Control Sensors

 

How it Works
  1. Helicopter cyclic controls (joysticks) are responsible for lateral and longitudinal movements of the aircraft.
  2. To ensure that these mechanism are operating properly, quality assurance engineers can install FUTEK's MAU300 Multi-Axis Gear Shift Load Cell into the shaft of each joystick.
  3. The MAU300 performs measurements in both the Fx and Fy directions.
  4. These force measurements can be read upon a digital display, such as FUTEK's IPM650 Panel Mount Display or IHH500 Intelligent Digital Hand Held Display, or streamed to a PC utilizing FUTEK's USB Solutions.
  5. Once streamed to a PC, that data can then be monitored by FUTEK's SENSIT™ Test and Measurement Software. SENSIT™ can monitor up to 16 channels of measurement readings, as well as live graph and data log.

Aircraft Control Column Torque Measurement

 

How it Works
  1. Pilots rely heavily on the control column (yoke) to guide the pitch and roll of a plane. By rotating the yoke, a pilot maneuvers on the roll axis. By propelling the yoke forward and backward, that pilot can adjust the elevation and pitch axis.
  2. To ensure that the control column is operating properly, quality assurance engineers can install FUTEK's MBA500 Torque and Thrust Biaxial Sensor into the yoke.
  3. The MBA500 performs measurements in both the Mz (the roll) and Fz (the pitch) directions.
  4. These torque and thrust measurements can be read upon a digital display, such as FUTEK's IPM650 Panel Mount Display or IHH500 Hand Held Display, or streamed to a PC utilizing FUTEK's USB Solutions.
  5. Once streamed to a PC, that data can then be monitored by FUTEK's SENSIT™ Test and Measurement Software.

Wind Tunnel Testing

 

How it Works
  1. Researchers use wind tunnels to learn more about the relationship between airflow and an object. Precise measurement modules are needed to accurately record findings.
  2. The MTA400 is fixed on a test stand to quantify the force placed on a model. The model is then fastened onto the Tri-Axial Load Cell which will record precise pressure measurement in response to the conditions of the wind tunnel.
  3. These force measures can be streamed to a PC utilizing FUTEK's USB Solutions.
  4. Once streamed to a PC, that data can then be monitored by FUTEK's SENSIT™ Test and Measurement Software. SENSIT can monitor up to 16 channels of measurement readings, as well as live graph and data log.

Industrial Automated Robotic Arm

 

How it Works
  1. In order to automate an industrial robotic arm, control engineers will program a PLC to specify response triggers.
  2. In the above diagram, a full-bridge strain-gauge-based load and torque sensor resides within the claw of the robotic arm measuring torque and load of an object.
  3. The IAA Series amplifies a mV/V signal coming from the strain-gauge-based sensor.
  4. The output of the IAA amplifier will produce an accurate and low noise signal to the PLC to complete the feedback loop. (Because this application is utilizing a multiple channel sensor, the operations engineer will require one IAA amplifier per channel output.)

Quadcopter Propeller Torque and Thrust Testing

 

How it Works
  1. In order to characterize the thrust and torque generated by each motor and propeller, a MBA500 is fixed to the motor's end.
  2. When the motor is powered on and rotating, the thrust of the propellers will be measured by the MBA500’s Fz channel, and the back-torque of the motor is measured by the Mz channel, all while maintaining low crosstalk.
  3. This multi-axial sensor, when used with a USB220, allows for a portable setup where a hobbyist/test engineer can use a laptop to analyze the live data of a test both in an outdoor setting or in a more controlled, indoor environment.