Position Tracking based on Linear Acceleration Measurements Only

Position tracking based on pure linear acceleration measurements is a difficult problem. To result in actual position values, linear acceleration (i.e. data from an accelerometer minus gravity) needs to be integrated twice. If there is only a minimal bias on the data of one of the tracked axes, the resulting position values will rapidly drift off.

Although it is well possible to increase the performance of such positioning information by sensor fusion with external reference signals (optical system, barometric pressure etc.), in many cases direct forward calculation of position from linear acceleration is required.

Lately we have been working on gradually improving our linear acceleration measurements in accuracy and tried to tune these measurements with various filters in order to gain relatively reliable displacement information.

The video below shows an exmaple of displacement tracking on the vertical axis using an LPMS-B device. Except for the sensor’s gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer, no external references have been used.

Collaboration with Omni Instruments Ltd.

We are happy to announce that we are starting a collaboration with Omni Instruments Ltd. in the UK. Omni Instruments Ltd. is developer and distributor of high definition measurement and logging systems. We have started the collaboration with offering two versions of the LPMS sensor system under the Omni Instruments brand. Please see the below links for further information:

LPMS-CU 9-Axis IMU AHRS Motion Sensor with CANbus and USB Connectivity
LPMS-B 9-Axis IMU AHRS Motion Sensor with Bluetooth Connectivity

LPMS-B and LPMS-CU OEM Versions

We also offer a so-called OEM version of our sensors. That means a bare bone version of the sensor without case and (in the case of LPMS-B) battery. We recommend buying a full development kit for testing of the sensor for first-time customers. However if you intend to integrate the sensor into your special design, the reduced space requirements of the OEM version might be very attractive.

Additionally to connectivity provided by the daughterboard, the LPMS-CU and LPMS-B mainboard can communicate by RS-232 (TTL levels). The RS-232 levels can be accessed through the SMD connector (as shown below) between sensor mainboard and communication daughterboard. Please contact us, if you need further information about this connector.

LpGlass and Head Tracking Revisited

We had the opportunity to try out one of the new augmented reality glasses AiRScouter produced by the Japanese company Brother. We first tried one at a Brother product exhibition here in Tokyo. Although the glasses are a little heavier than normal glasses, they fit quite well and the overlay image is well visible.

LP-Glass

We experimented with the glasses a bit and set-up a prototype application for augmented reality using our LPMS-B sensor for head tracking, codename: LpGlass. The video below shows a demo of our LPMS-B IMU attached to the AiRScouter.

Similar to the Google glasses there seem to be a huge number of applications, especially for augmenting task environments for medical procedures, industrial assembly, education etc.

LPMS-CU Rugged

So far we have offered our customers only one packing option for the LPMS-CU, our standard blue plastic casing. The plastic case is small, very light and fairly robust. However, in harsh environments or in places that engineers regularly access with larger tools, we thought that a more rugged case for the LPMS-CU might be desireable. Therefore we have designed a new Aluminium casing option for LPMS-CU: the LPMS-CU-Rugged. Customers can from now on order this casing as an option when purchasing the LPMS-CU. The case is slightly larger and heavier than the plastic case, but made from 2mm Aluminium, it is almost indestructable.

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