Imagine that you’re trying to measure something fairly simple, like a toy wagon. Now imagine that you’re trying to measure that wagon while it’s rolling down a steep, curvy hill. Oh, and while you’re measuring the size of this hurtling wagon, you might also want to capture how fast it’s going and how much it is tilting on its axis as it goes around the curves. This may sound like a daunting task, but this is actually a procedure known as dynamic measurement, and Watson Industries carries a variety of instruments that can do just that. With these instruments, there are quite a few interesting tasks that can be accomplished and measurements that can be taken.
Trains
Trains hurtle their huge bulk down the track at high speed, and if there are track irregularities, these vehicles can potentially come off the track with catastrophic results. Watson Industries makes a device specifically to measure the speed, movement and tilt of a train car as it moves along the track, allowing you to spot irregularities before an accident happens. This sensor package includes an accelerometer and angular rate sensors. This particular device, the TMS-E232 is constructed specifically to withstand the punishment of being attached to a fast-moving train.
Road Vehicles
New cars and trucks need to be tested extensively for safety before they can be sold. One of the ways in which they’re tested is with dynamic measurement, checking to see how much the vehicles will tilt or if they will roll at high speeds. Sensor packages for these applications often include gyroscope sensors to detect movement from the axis and magnetic sensors or a GPS system to measure velocity and heading.
Marine Vessels
If you’ve ever been on a ship or boat, you know that movement is definitely not limited to one direction. In addition to the craft moving along its chosen heading, waves and current may cause it to slip sideways, and of course it can rock back and forth in the water. In order to be safe, the crafts must be built to withstand all of this movement without capsizing. Dynamic measurement sensors can help with testing these vessels, and can also monitor the crafts while in use to alert the crew when they are in danger.
