Tilt Sensors for axis movements

[Leo Bodnar]

It's just a friendly banter I'm not perfect and always like another point of view.
I had a look at accelerometers and gyros for another project (FFB steering wheel system) few years ago and had to dismiss them in favour of digital encoders however tempting they were...
Analogue output G sensors were too noisy and drifting with time.

[fsaviator]

Wow,

I never expected such a spirited discussion to stem from my question. There I was messing with my new phone, and playing with the bubble level app that came with it when I thought.... hmmmm.... how does that work?

As I'm getting ready to wire up some pots to my dual yoke setup it struck me that maybe tilt sensors would work.

Maybe down the road...

Warren

[Leo Bodnar]

...such a spirited discussion to stem from my question. There I was messing with my new phone, and playing with the bubble level app...

Was this intended?
It's a great and workable idea but like any other it has its pros and cons.
E.g. it won't work on a motion platform as expected.
Lots of aircraft have no or very little tilt on controls pitch axis.
However, the sensor is very easy to mount literally anywhere.

[Prof Bill]

Totally agree with you Leo!
I did a considerable amount of experimentation with quite a selection these devices in the lab and your suggestion is sound advice!

Bill.

[Westozy]

You just can't beat a pair of plastic gears and an eight buck potentiometer - game over!!!

Gwyn

[Shawn]

I am planning to build a helicopter cyclic and if I could use a tilt sensor instead of two pots that would simplify things considerably. I was thinking that you could mount the cyclic shaft in a gimbal, extend the shaft below the gimbal and attach a tilt sensor. Could I attach one of these sensors to Leo's BU0836X and calibrate it like a Pot? any recomendations on which sensor would work the best for this application?

[maussuam]

I am planning to build an Airbus-style sidestick where I use an Arduino board with reed sensors for detecting rotary movements down to 0.1°.
The Sensor is build by Melexis. The also build a three-axis Sensor: Sensor
The Arduino application can be found here: Arduino application
Perhaps this is an option...