High bandwidth tilt measurement using low-cost sensors

Abstract

In this paper, a state estimation technique is developed for sensing inclination angles using low-cost sensors. A low-bandwidth tilt sensor is used along with an inaccurate rate gyro and a low-cost accelerometer to obtain the measurement. The rate gyro has an inherent bias along with sensor noise. The tilt sensor uses an internal pendulum and therefore has its own slow dynamics. These sensor dynamics were identified experimentally and combined to achieve high-bandwidth measurements using an optimal linear state estimator. Potential uses of the measurement technique range from robotics, to rehabilitation, to vehicle control.