typical controller system

•sensors•acquisition system (Doepfer box,)•mapping software (Max)•Output (Reason)

useful resources

•Fraden, A Handbook of Modern Sensors

•MSI piezo manual

•sensorwiki.org•Datasheets for components

Parts sources•Digi-Key catalog•Sparkfun.com•Mouser catalog•Mcmaster-Carr catalog•Acroname Robotics

what to sense?

•position, velocity, acceleration, rotation

•temperature, light, sound•pressure, torque, bending•ON/OFF, constant or toggle

Switches•discrete output•Toggle,normally

on, OR normally off

•can provide visual and tactile feedback

Potentiometers•common

types: linear taper, audio taper (log)

•rotary, linear, multiturn

+Vref

GND

Vout

Other variable resistors:

V output

Variable resistor

R2

R1

Vout = Vref R2/(R1+R2)

If sensor range is 10k-35kΩ, and R2=20kΩthen Vout range is .66Vref

=> .36Vref

• Bend Sensorresistance increases when bent

• FSR(Force-Sensing Resistor)

resistance drops when pressed

accelerometers•inclination, acceleration

Typical data sheet for accelerometer

Specs & pricing table for accelerometers

IR distance sensors Sharp GP2D12

(AKA the toilet sensor)

Devantech SRF04 RangerUltrasonic distance sensor

•pulse length proportional to distance

Hall effectMagnetic field sensors

Allegro 1321 linearamplifier in chip!

Piezoelectric materials

•PZT•PVDFSensitive to vibration. Excellent

drum triggers, contact

microphones.