New approaches in magnetic sensing for tracking devices

摘要

Abstract: Sensor Applications, Inc. has developed a variety ofnovel approaches in the use of low-cost, passivemagnetic sensors, referenced to the earth's magneticfield, to provide a true measurement of roll, pitch,and yaw, and, as a derivative, angular acceleration andvelocity. These sourceless, non-inertial sensors have astrong potential to replace existing inertial, gravityor mass-based technologies in a multitude ofapplications. The novel geometric arrangement of solidstate magnetic sensors and the associated algorithmsinvolved in resolving the earth's magnetic fieldvectors, provides a non-inertial 3-axis sensor capableof monitoring in realtime roll, pitch, and yaw. Thispaper also describes the current development of a solidstate, adaptive, self-calibrating sensor, alsoreferenced to the earth's magnetic field, that isimmune to local field strength variations. Promisingresults outlined in this paper from pilot projects invirtual reality headtracking, biomechanical gaitanalysis, suggests that this new technology has thepotential to meet the angular tracking requirements ofboth large volume consumer applications, and smallcost-conscious research efforts. !1