Lecture 4 - Sensors and Actuators Flashcards
How are electrical biosignals transferred to data processing?
Electrodes, SQUIDs
How are non-electrical biosignals transferred to data processing?
Sensors, transducers
Define what a sensor is.
A sensor is an element of a mechatronic or measurement system which produces a measurable change in response to a physical condition.
Define what a transducer is.
A transducer is an active element of a sensor that transforms a signal from a physical domain to another physical domain.
How can sensor systems be classified? Give examples.
- By Modality
- position & motion recording
- force & moment recording
- physiological data recording - By Attachment
- body mounted
- desktop/ground/wall mounted
- contact-free, non-intrusive
Give examples of sensors for physiolocal data recordings.
- muscle activities = EMG
- nerve activities = ENG, EEG
- cardiovascular function = ECG, blood pressure cuff
- metabolic function = blood gas concentration
- respiration = oxygen concentration
Give potential uses for EMG data.
- Gait analysis
- Input signal to drive arm prostheses
- Input signal to control another device (e.g. facial interface)
Give potential uses for EEG data.
- Diagnostics
- Brain Computer Interface
State the different segments of an ECG wave.
P wave - atrial depolarization
QRS complex - ventricular depolarization
T wave - ventricular repolarization
Give 5 approaches to position and motion recording.
- Resistive sensors, i.e. Potentiometers (change of resistance)
- Capacitive sensors (change of capacity)
- Inductive sensors (position change inductance or motion induces voltage)
- Optical methods (cameras, photoelectrical methods)
- Ultrasound methods (exploiting running time differences or Doppler effect)
Describe what a Goniometer is.
A goniometer is a device used to measure joint angle or ROM. The degree between endpoints represents the entire range of motion. It can be triangular or flexible.
What is an IMU?
Intertial Measurement Unit. It is comprised of:
- accelerometers
- gyroscopes
- (magnometer, etc.)
What is the difference between a gyroscope and an accelerometer?
Gyroscope: recording of angular speed (rate)
Accelerometer: recording of linear accelerations
Give advantages and disadvantages of accelerometers and gyroscopes.
+ cheap
+ can be used to determine relative positions
+ can be used to determine orientation (exploiting earth gravity field)
- singularities are possible
- very prone to noise & drift
Compare the accuracy of optical vs. acoustic vs. magnetic motion tracking systems. (All are contact free!)
Optical: <1mm
Acoustic: ~2mm
Magnetic: ~10mm
Compare the DOF of optical vs. acoustic vs. magnetic motion tracking systems. (All are contact free!)
Optical: 2-3
Acoustic: 3
Magnetic: 6
Give one advantage and one disadvantage of optical vs. acoustic vs. magnetic motion tracking systems. (All are contact free!)
Optical: \+ cable-free - challenging tracking Acoustic: \+ cheap - sound reflections = noise Magnetic: \+ no occlusion at obstacles - field deformations
Give possible approaches to force and moment recording.
- Resistive methods based on strain gauges
- Piezoelectric methods
- Optical markers/system
- Capacitive method
Define what an actuator is.
An actuator is a mechanical device which coverts energy into some kind of force and/or motion.